Embroidered Slips

[Carol-Anne]

I have just added my latest Needlework Nibble to my gallery. This kit is a tent stitched tulip in silk on linen that is appliqued to pure silk velvet.

The tent stitch slip was easy enough to do but attaching it to the velvet was a nightmare.

The linen frayed when trimmed and so I had little sticky-outy bits that were very difficult to turn under but the worse part was that the slip 'crept' during stitching and was no longer in the centre by the time I had finished.

Does anyone have any tips of doing this kind of work.

I know that Sulgrave Manor made a new set of bed hangings using this technique, they must have found an answer to both problems.

[Jenny Burns]

Hi Carol-Ann,dilute PVA and brush it around the edges of the embroidery, when dry you can cut it out without it fraying.
Regards Jenny B

[Carol-Anne]

Thank you Jenny.  Do you meat to paint the unstitched canvas around the stitching? 

[Jenny Burns]

Add the pva on the stitched edge as well as the unstitched canvas around the stitching on the back of the embroidery and because it is diluted it isn't going to show on the right side. This method is used for Calico gardens. Hope this helps,try it on a sample. Regards Jenny

[Barbara/Hopscotch]

Beaten to it by Jenny :)

 I also find pva a very useful glue/sealant as it dries clear, but always test a piece of your fabric first as some stain.

Barbara

[sharonb]

Carol-Anne I iron on some interfacing the shape of the slip but cut a little smaller - on the RIGHT side of the velvet - in other words I flatten the pile with the interfacing - if you have one of those fiddly little irons that doll makers use it is easier to do this without flattening the velvet around the edge (I always test on a scrap first) - then I sew on the slip as normal making sure none of the interfacing shows and then steam the velvet over a boiling kettle to get rid of iron marks if it needs it. 

[Barbara/Hopscotch]

I love starting the day learning something!  Thanks, Sharon :)
 
sharonb said:

Carol-Anne I iron on some interfacing the shape of the slip but cut a little smaller - on the RIGHT side of the velvet - in other words I flatten the pile with the interfacing - if you have one of those fiddly little irons that doll makers use it is easier to do this without flattening the velvet around the edge (I always test on a scrap first) - then I sew on the slip as normal making sure none of the interfacing shows and then steam the velvet over a boiling kettle to get rid of iron marks if it needs it. 

[Carol-Anne]

Thank you for your tips and suggestions.  I will try these out next time I use this technique.