Dear Jenny and Others interested in using cursive writing on lace, Have you considered embroidering the words using whipped chain stitches? Success will depend on which lace stitches will be under the words. You could make your lace without doing the lettering. Then, do as I do for delicate embroidery that I wish to personalize. Whip stitch over chain stitched words. Practice on plain fabric to test thread options for scale. A chain stitch can navigate curves, but whipping the chain will make cursive writing flow even better. Chain will have 2 threads on surface. One more will be added as slightly slanted whipping stitches draw chain threads together into smooth curves. Make embroidered chain-stitched words, using a pointy needle. When you switch to doing this on lace, you can try not to pierce holes in the tops of lace threads so lace threads will show no holes if you do not like result and decide to unravel. You could test this concept on a lace bookmark. Leave a starting thread tail long enough to thread into a sharp needle later so the cut end can be woven under the back of the first letter of each word. Though Jenny has chosen no words that present a challenge (Love/Hope/Joy), some letters, like "t", can be worked as you go along, or the horizontal bar can be done on the return trip when you are whipping the chain. This needs preliminary practice. Hide carrying stitches under the cursive "writing". The last chain stitch in a word requires practice so the hold-down stitch does not get pulled to the underside. (The last plunge should not share the exact same hole as thread came up in.) Whip stitches? Do not cut thread at the end of each chain-stitched word. Secure the last stitch with a tiny backstitch underneath and bring needle to the top at the end of the last chain stitch, trying not to pierce the underlying lace. Switch to using the eye end of your threaded needle to whip stitch each chain stitch loop together on the surface, and whip back to the beginning of the word. Do not whip stitch down through the foundation fabric or lace. Drop the needle from time-to-time if thread kinks, or re-twist if it loses the normal spun appearance of thread. Be sure to practice whip stitch, so your slant of stitches and tension are even. Do not over-tension. Weave ends under the letter at the beginning of each word, if the result pleases you. If not, chain stitching can be easily removed. Whip stitching over a chain stitch will yield a delicate, precise, smooth, slightly raised cord-like appearance. This has always been my way to personalize embroidery, and also to outline parts that others might use a stem stitch or outline stitch to do. Extra special: Use a very fine quality gold thread for the whipping. It will be subtle and elegant. Dot for an "i". Not everyone knows how to make a nice plump French Knot that does not flop over, but sits up straight with a dimple in the middle. The trick is not to add more twists for a larger knot. A preferred method is to add more threads to the needle and only twist around the needle once, plus just a tad beyond. Practice a row of these and see how consistent they can be. Like chain stitches, the down stroke of the needle should not share the hole of the thread when it came up at the beginning. Please write privately if this does not work for you, and I will work with individuals. Sometimes I am terribly sorry Arachne does not have illustration capabilities. Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace and Embroidery Resource Center -------------------------------------------------------- In a message dated 12/16/2016 9:20:17 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes:
I am going to design a wedding garter for my daughter's May wedding, but wanted to use torchon ground with gimp writing words like Love, Hope, Joy. My problem is that I am not sure how or even if gimp can do cursive writing - can you direct me to a book, website or person who may have the alphabet and or words already sorted out? Jenny Brandis - To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to [email protected]. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
