Embroidery Thread Looping Tips
Embroidery involves making looped stitches in fabric to display a pattern, scene or monogram. Embroidering can be either easy or difficult depending on the type of fabric, embroidery thread and design you are going to undertake. There are several embroidery thread tips that can make it easier to create long-lasting designs.
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Polyester Embroidery Thread
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Polyester embroidery thread is stronger than rayon thread. Its strength makes polyester thread easier to use if it is being looped in tight designs. This thread is particularly useful in machine embroidery, which tends to provide tighter looped stitches and often supplies more tension to the thread. Polyester thread also does not bleed, shrink or fade.
Knot Alternatives
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Many professional embroiderers do not tie knots in their embroidery because knots can easily become undone and they can also cause bumps in the surface of the fabric. To begin the knot, take double the amount of thread that you would need and fold it in half so that the ends are together. Thread both ends through the needle's eye and pull it through several inches. Make your first embroidery stitch and pull the thread through until the loop is 3 inches long. Push the needle through the loop and pull it until the loop and the stitch is tight.
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Looped Fabric
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If you are embroidering a towel or a piece of fur, you might be having trouble keeping the looped stitches on top of the fabric. To remedy this, embroiderers may cover the area they are embroidering with a water-soluble film. They embroider over the film. When they are finished they place the item in water and watch the film dissolve. This process is particularly vital when embroidering velvet, corduroy, fur, fleece or terry cloth. If your item cannot be soaked in water, you can simply cut away the film with a pair of fabric scissors.
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References
- Photo Credit thread image by Mijakowska from Fotolia.com
