Tips and Tricks

Have you ever wondered what secret details are added to a finely finished, prize winning, embroidered project? Well we have compiled a few lists of what Canadian and United States judges are looking for. We hope to help you get a step closer to that perfectly completed project.

General Embroidery Tips for All Projects.

1. Have you checked the rules for the specific embroidery contest you are entering? The rules should be clearly defined for each contest.
2. Make sure to accurately follow the type or types of threads and fabrics indicated, and that the variety of embroidery has been clearly defined for you.
3. Ensure that your project is clean, completely finished, and ready to use.
4. Ensure all traces of transfer patterns and design pencils have been removed.
5. Make sure all hand-made articles are completely hand finished with no raw edges visible.
6. Make sure no thread ends or knot ends are showing.
7. Ensure that you enter your piece in the correct class. For example Cutwork may be entered in the open embroidery class along with Hardanger and others, but only true Cutwork may be entered in the Cutwork class.
8. If a class calls for three pieces of an article, provide the exact number- no more and no less.
9. Handmade articles are considered superior to articles with some manufacturing in them.
10. All the materials used should be worthy of the amount and quality of the work that goes into them.


Crewel Embroidery

1. Use a stylized pattern
2. Use crewel wool in a variety of muted colors.
3. Complete your project on a twilled linen background.
4. A wide variety of stitches may be used.


Crochet
1. Are the color, material and design suitable for the article's purpose?
2. Is the pattern accurate, with even tension displayed throughout?
3. Are the stitches even and the work regular throughout?
4. Is the edging in proportion to the overall size of the article?
5. Is the article lying flat?
6. If it is a child's article, are the holes too big, where small fingers could get caught?
7. In crochet, a good judge will recognise that a spider stitch is more difficult to keep regular than in stitches that are close work.


Cross-stitch

1. Should not be judged against stamped work.
2. Use an even weave linen, 21 threads to the inch
3. An original pattern is preferred to purchase stamp good.
4. Make sure your work is as neat on the back as it is on the front face. This shows you have mastered this art.


Cut Work

1. May be worked on any good linen or cotton, comprised of even weaving.
2. Is worked with suitable thread.
3. Is generally done in a buttonhole stitch.
4. Areas of material are cut out to enhance the pattern.


Drawn Thread Work

1. Should be worked on an even weave material, using white thread.
2. Some threads are withdrawn; the remaining threads are drawn together in groups to form a pattern.
3. Material may be fine or course.


Drawn Fabric Work

1. Does not have threads withdrawn.
2. Should be worked on an even weave material.
3. The fabric should be fairly loose
4. The open work pattern is created when the tension on the stitch draws the threads of the material apart.


Hardanger

1. Is the traditional form of drawn thread work
2. Is worked in blocks with a satin stitch
3. Threads are drawn or cut back to leave square holes.
4. Not to be confused with cut work


Lace

1. Are the color, material and design suitable for the article's purpose?
2. Is the pattern accurate, with even tension displayed throughout?
3. Are the stitches even and the work regular throughout?
4. Is the edging in proportion to the overall size of the article?
5. Is the article lying flat?
6. If it is a child's article are the holes too big where small fingers could get caught?
7. Laces should be clean, starched, and well pressed when indicated.


Needlepoint

1. Is worked on embroidery canvas.
2. The stitches cover the entire background material.
3. If framed or mounted, make sure the judge has access to the back.
4. An entire piece can be worked in one stitch or a variety of stitches
5. Make sure the stitches are of even tension.
6. Make sure the work is done on a good quality background
7. On the back of the project, there must be no long loops of thread, or knots showing.
8. Work with pieces of thread no more then 30 inches long as thread wears thin and will not cover the canvas if it is too long.


Stamped Goods

1. Make sure all the tracings are removed by washing or dry-cleaning if it is not completely covered by the embroidery. Wood alcohol will remove the more stubborn stamp marks.
2. Make sure the material is of a good quality.
3. A hand-stitched hem is preferred over a machine-sewn hem.
4. Machine stitching is preferred for the seams
5. Should be well washed, starched and ironed.


Tapestry

1. Should be shown clean.
2. Do not wash tapestry. It may be dry-cleaned.
3. Make sure it is pressed and blocked.


Tatting

1. Are the color, material and design suitable for the articles purpose?
2. Is the pattern accurate, with even tension displayed throughout?
3. Are the stitches even and the work regular throughout?
4. Is the edging in proportion to the overall size of the article?
5. Is the article lying flat?
8. If it is a child's article, are the holes too big, where small fingers could get caught?


Quilting

1. Should contain 6 to 8 running stitches to the inch.
2. Should be worked with a quilting needle.
3. The space between the stitches should be as long as the stitches.
4. Stitching should not jog or zigzag where the needle enters and exits the running stitch row, but be perfectly straight.v 5. Make sure there is no more then one inch between the rows when cotton or wool batting is used.
6. When terylene or sythetic batting is used, the spaces may be as much as two inches between rows.
7. Cotton thread is preferred to synthetic threads, as they anchor better.
8. No thread ends, pattern marks, or knots may be showing
9. The colors of the quilt must be harmonious, and pleasing to the eye.
10. The fabric and threads must suit the quilt, and be of equal quality throughout.
11. Material should be soft, not glazed or so tightly woven it is difficult to stitch.
12. Make sure you have a row of quilting (minimum ¼) inch outlining your pattern.
13. The lining and backing of the quilt should have no puckering.
14. No machine stitches are acceptable on the surface of a completed quilt.
15. Preference is usually given to originality of design.

NEWS

• Packed full of special offers for subscribers only as well as what's new and hot.

• Workshop Information