Machine Embroidery: Variegated Thread
suitable designs
Test-stitch any embroidery motif you plan on using, with the colors as originally designed. To see where a variegated thread may fit in, watch carefully as your design stitches out and note the following:
Fill patterns: Where does the stitching begin and what is the stitch direction (horizontal, vertical or angled)?
Satin stitch as an outline: Does it match the color of the fill? Is there a stop in between the fill pattern and the satin stitch?
Satin stitch other than outline: Is the width always the same or does it vary?
Straight stitches: Is high contrast critical to delineating fine details or outlining? Are straight stitches layered on top of fill patterns to add shading or other details?
Overlapping colors: Which color is on top?
There are embroidery motifs especially designed for variegated threads--to find them, try entering the word "variegated" into the search box of a Web site that sells designs.
Although not specifically planned for variegated threads, embroidery designs such as cross-stitch, cutwork, eyelets, geometrics, polka dots and stencil-like motifs are naturally well-suited and produce fascinating results.
It's tempting to think that repeat colors in even lengths could be used to create realistic stripes for a bumblebee, wallpaper background or candy cane. Unfortunately, having a variegated thread stitch out in stripes of uniform width is more likely to be pure luck and has to do with the motif shape. Unless a motif is perfectly square or rectangular--and embroidered in a fill pattern that's perfectly horizontal or vertical--the contours of the motif will affect the width of each stripe (3).
The same holds true for hoping that variegated thread could be used to provide the dark/light contrast necessary to add depth, perspective or shadow to a design. It's possible that a variegated thread will stitch out with all the right features in the right places, but don't count on it unless you're willing to experiment.
|
