Instructions for Teneriffe Weaving
Teneriffe weaving originates from a 16th century embroidery technique called Teneriffe lace. Modern-day stitchers can pursue this old art without having to prepare their work with complicated measuring or tracing. Teneriffe stitchers used to remove individual threads from the fabric, then weave their designs into the fabric with new threads. By using modern materials and techniques, you can make a needlepoint creation, using long stitches, then weaving to make a butterfly.
Things You'll Need
- Aida cross stitch fabric
- Sewing needle
- Sewing thread
- Embroidery floss
- Small tapestry needle
- Embroidery hoop
- Scissors
Instructions
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1
Prepare the edges of your fabric by whip stitching around the edges all the way around. Preparing the fabric keeps it from raveling as you weave. To whipstitch, fold the fabric under 1/4 inch. Thread a sewing needle with thread and make a knot in the end. Bring the needle and thread up from the bottom of the fabric. Bring the needle back around to the bottom and repeat until you have finished whip stitching all the way around.
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2
Find the center of your fabric ---- fold it lengthwise, then crosswise. Crease the folds with your thumbnail. Using your sewing needle and sewing thread, baste temporary guidelines in the pattern you will be weaving. Bring the sewing needle and thread from the bottom of the fabric at the end of one of the folded guidelines you created, then baste down to the opposite edge. Make a knot and cut the thread. Repeat for the second folded guideline.
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3
Thread your small tapestry needle with three 40-inch strands of embroidery floss in the desired color. Make a knot large enough that it won't slip out through the front of your fabric. Place the fabric on top of the inner embroidery hoop, then position the outer hoop right over both the fabric and bottom hoop. Tighten the top hoop so your fabric is stretched tightly.
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4
Position your tapestry needle in the center of the guideline threads you basted earlier. The center of the butterfly's back is the center of the basted guideline threads. Your tapestry needle and the embroidery floss have to pass through the center hole several times ---- this is hole number 1. Bring the embroidery needle and floss through the center of your fabric, where the two guideline threads meet. Position the needle 10 squares up and push it back down through the fabric ---- hole number 2 ---- and back up through number 1. Push the needle down through number 3, immediately below number 2. Continue with the butterfly wing, making sure that spokes 1 through 7 end next to each other without creating a curve. Spokes 8 through 13 should begin to curve in at the bottom of the wing. When you get to hole number 13, do not cut your floss. Repeat for the other butterfly wing.
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5
Bring the tapestry needle and embroidery floss out from under the back of the wing. Pull the floss over one of the outside spokes (numbers 2 or 13), then under 3, over 4, under 5, until you have woven each strand of floss. As you get to the outer spoke, turn the hoop and fabric, going under the spokes you wove over and over the spokes you wove under. By this point, your butterfly wings should be taking a "woven" appearance ---- the weaving may not be very even.
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6
Weave the length of your tapestry needle through the spokes and push it toward the center of the butterfly wing, gently pushing the woven stitches to lie more closely against each other. Weave several more rows on your spokes and repeat this process.
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7
Weave the three separate spokes at the bottom of the butterfly body in between the two wings just as you wove earlier. Following the pattern referenced here, backstitch the butterfly antennae and the lettering with the indicated color of embroidery floss. Use two strands of embroidery floss. Use a straight stitch, bringing your needle up from under the fabric to start a letter. Bring the needle and floss down in the next hole, then back up in the next hole, following the stitching diagram for each letter.
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Tips & Warnings
As you are stitching the spokes of the butterfly's wing, position the floss so each spoke lies right next to its neighbors. Make sure the spokes are not too loose or too tight on the fabric.
Don't weave so loosely that the woven floss begins buckling on the end spokes. Maintain a tension on the thread as you weave and pull it through the spokes.
Don't pull so tightly that the outer spokes begin noticeably curving. Try to pull just tightly enough that the outer spokes of the wings just begin to develop a gentle curve.
Teneriffe weaving is also called spider webbing. This form of embroidery can be used to create a variety of shapes, from oval to diamond.
