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Machine Embroidery for Garb - Yarn Couching

9/20/2012

8 Comments

 
Picture
I love working designs in thread by hand, but I also very much love my embroidery machine.  And, as I have said before, I also love having a more than a fair amount of garb for events like Pennsic.  I do occasionally use the very modern looking embroidery designs as they are, even though they do not pass for period even from 10 feet.  But what I enjoy most in this medium, is playing with patterns and thread choices to try to get items that not only pass the 10 foot rule but often draw someone in to take a closer look.  My experiments so far involve yarn couching by machine and decorative stitches or embroidery designs with wool blend thread.

The image to the left is a tunic/gown in linen with machine couched yarn.  The pattern in this case is applied by the machine and I merely go back when its done and finish the ends and possibly tack down a few missed spots.   The red trim on the facing at the neck is a 5 strand braid I did out of the same yarn and hand tacked to the garment.  (The over and under tunics are rectangular cut tunics with underarm gussets and side gores and are machine sewn.)

For those wondering, I use a Husqvarna Designer SE machine with an adapter kit that has a special foot and hooks/yarn guides that attach to the back of the machine.  The pattern used on this gown is one of the patterns that comes with the kit.

I had to play with several types of yarn before finding one with which I was happy.  Some yarn had an issue of it unplying as it was sewn, some would not feed smoothly, and one seemed to apply well but fuzzed up too much after washing.  My favorite yarn so far is definitely Caron's County yarn - a Marino/Acrylic blend yarn - that has some sort of cable plying that allows the structure to remain intact when passed though the foot of the machine.

Picture
Detail of the trim stitched for the dress above.
Picture
Machine couched Celtic design on a hand sewn linen bog dress. This pattern I created/digitized myself.
Picture
Greek key pattern on a linen bog dress that is machine sewn, but done free-hand, rather than via the embroidery unit.
8 Comments
Margaret
3/30/2013 10:49:02 am

Great work. I have just opened a yarn couching feet set to find that the CD does not open on my little PC yet and definitely won't open on my imac so I found your site trying to discover what yarn to use. I really want to make a hair tie to match an Indian long dress, I had to cut a strip off the lining to shorten the dress and thought I could use that little piece of fabric... as you do... The Indian dress has shiny black thread chain stitched in a swirling design and some gold with white. It is beautiful. Wonder if you can give me some tips. I am in Australia.

Reply
Alfrun
4/1/2013 02:27:20 am

Thank you!

I can say that did not have much success with standard worsted weight knitting yarn. When the embroidery turns corners the yarn can come unplied. The Caron Country that I use is a multi-ply yarn (it almost appears cabled or something) that does not separate when going around curves. I also noticed that the yarns they sell in the sewing machine shops that are supposed to be used for this embroidery are also multi-plied (though more fine than the Caron I choose to work with).

I did experiment with some other yarns and things like soft spun singles worked well also. I think it is just a matter of experimenting until you get something that suits your taste. (Just an FYI, it will not chain stitch at all, it is just for surface couching with cord or yarn.)

I hope you find a yarn that works for you! :-)

Reply
Margaret Rose
4/1/2013 07:31:58 am

Thanks Alfrun,
I managed to get the CD working on the PC so a little mystery has been solved. I understand about the yarns. I looked at a chain of cotton from my overlocker and thought that could be usable too, although quite thin. I think the type of 'wool' you are describing that has a 'cable' is called crepe knitting wool. Typically I sold my knitting machine last year and gave the buyer every cone of wool I had in the house. All I have now are some woollen tapestry threads and some embroidery threads left over from my mother's stash. ONWARDS!

Reply
Margaret Rose
4/1/2013 07:31:12 am

Thanks Alfrun,
I managed to get the CD working on the PC so a little mystery has been solved. I understand about the yarns. I looked at a chain of cotton from my overlocker and thought that could be usable too, although quite thin. I think the type of 'wool' you are describing that has a 'cable' is called crepe knitting wool. Typically I sold my knitting machine last year and gave the buyer every cone of wool I had in the house. All I have now are some woollen tapestry threads and some embroidery threads left over from my mother's stash. ONWARDS!

Reply
Margaret Rose
4/1/2013 07:31:25 am

Thanks Alfrun,
I managed to get the CD working on the PC so a little mystery has been solved. I understand about the yarns. I looked at a chain of cotton from my overlocker and thought that could be usable too, although quite thin. I think the type of 'wool' you are describing that has a 'cable' is called crepe knitting wool. Typically I sold my knitting machine last year and gave the buyer every cone of wool I had in the house. All I have now are some woollen tapestry threads and some embroidery threads left over from my mother's stash. ONWARDS!

Reply
Jason Robinson link
12/30/2014 10:52:50 pm

I enjoy most in this medium, is playing with patterns and thread choices to try to get items that not only pass the 10 foot rule but often draw someone in to take a closer look. My experiments so far involve yarn couching by machine and decorative stitches or embroidery designs with wool blend thread.

Reply
my site link
10/25/2015 04:35:04 am

My experiments so far involve yarn couching by machine and decorative stitches or embroidery designs with wool blend thread.

Reply
Bass Embroidery Designs link
4/29/2016 05:18:06 am

This article gives us a good insight about. Highly appreciated, very thoughtful.

Reply



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