Preparations for Embroidery

Tools for Silk Embroidery 

Fabric and tools we need for silk embroidery:

Fabric: Silk textiles are used for silk embroidery.
Silk Threads: Delicate threads from China for silk embroidery
                                                                                                
Scissors: Scissors specially use for silk embroidery, 3 3/4’ x 2 1/4’                
                                                                                             
Needle: Special, thin needle are used. 7/8’ long
                                                                                       
Hooks: hooks are used to tighten the fabric. There are several sizes.
                                                                                                   
                                                    Terms

Fabric: Silk satin is what we will be embroidering on.
Pattern: The printed designs on the fabric.
Split thread: Split strand or filament one or more times.
Thread: Silk thread.
Strand: ½ of thread.
Filament: 1/12 of floss.  2 Filaments: 2/12 floss.  3 Filaments: 3/12 floss.And so on
Center Point: Center position of partial or whole image.
Center Lines: Center lines of partial or whole image.
Stitch Method: The method of stitches and form of embroidery lines.
Stitch-direction: The general direction of all or section stitches.
Sections: The parts of whole pattern. We divide the pattern into several sections and finish them one by one.
Beginning: The first section we start to embroider.

Steps to tighten fabric to hook

1)      Loosen screw on outer hook and put fabric on inner hook, then put outer & inner hooks together [Figure A(1)];

2)      Stretch the fabric then tighten the screw [Figure A(2)]; 

3)      Continue to stretch fabric on the hook and make sure latitude and longitude are 90° and tighten the screw again [figure A(3)];

4)      Fabric has to be flat and tight [FigureA(4)].

[Figure A]

Silk Threads & How to Split the Threads

The silk threads you have in your hands are called threads. Two strands form one thread. One strand can be split into 12 pieces and 1/12 of strand is called a filament. Try to remember the names because the unit of the thread you use will become important when you make silk embroidery.

Strands can be split once, twice, three times and more. The techniques to split strands evenly are important for shine, smoothness and exquisite silk embroidery.

The steps to split a thread: keep thread tight with your thumbs and forefingers and loosen the thread counterclockwise, then split the thread into two strands with your small finger while you keep it tight again. It is easier to split strand into Filaments. You have threads are wound in circle.  Cut the circle so you can have thread in pieces. You can take one thread at a time to split or use it to embroider. You can use different colors of threads to make embroidery richer. 

     
[Figure B]

Knotting

You need to know how to knot before starting embroidery. There are two ways to keep the ends of silk threads steady when you are embroidering: knot or hide them. You need to use one of two knotting methods each time when you start from a new segment of thread.

Knotting: 1) End of thread is between needle and your finger [Figure C (1)];

               2) Wind thread twice on needle [Figure C (2)];

              3)  Pull the needle up and finish the knot [Figure C (3)].

                 (1)                                         (2)                                             (3)
                                                      [Figure C]

Hiding: Leave about 1-2” of thread when you start embroidery. Lay the 1-2” of thread underneath the area you will be embroidering, and embroider over it several times, securing and hiding the thread.