Embroidery is a fairly old type of handicraft. Ornaments with patterns on fabric appeared in antiquity. New techniques gradually appeared, they were improved and spread to all countries. An example of such handicraft is embroidery on a net, or bargello. It is an old Florentine embroidery, the art of creating unusual flame patterns on any canvas. This material will introduce this style of embroidery in more detail and tell you what is needed for embroidery on a net, what embroidered fabric-net looks like in beautiful works.
Application of grid embroidery
Despite the fact that embroidery on a grid has been known for many years, it is still popular today. There are several basic ideas for using ready-made patterns and ornaments in your work, qualitatively embroidered on a grid:
- If it is made on thick fabric, the product can be used as a coaster, tablecloth or napkin;
- The embroidery can be stretched onto wood or cardboard and used to decorate your home, or used as a gift or as a lid for a gift box;
- Flame patterns can be used to decorate plain towels and many other fabric items.
Important! There are many applications for embroidered patterns. Everything depends on the quality of the material and the work done, the type of threads. The application is almost unlimited, since you can decorate anything with it.
Types of methods
There are two main ways to do this type of embroidery: darned style and weaving. Using the latter type involves running the threads through the cells of the stack in the form of a snake. The thread should remain only in the mesh in the position below or above. On both sides, you need to wrap only every second thread from the top side.
To make the work more beautiful, high-quality and attractive, it is important not to miss any cells and fill them quite often. If the cell is large, to give the product strength you need to use one or two thick threads.
Important! Using two threads will allow you to reduce the cell by tightening it: the pattern will look more aesthetically pleasing, and the fabric will become denser.
The first method is darning, based on stitching patterns with threads along the cells. It serves as the base of the cloth. Then, cross-stitching is performed. In this case, it is necessary to leave the threads of the lengthwise, alternating them at the top and bottom. Externally, the cells after such manipulations should resemble the darning technique.
If the base size is small or the embroidery uses thicker threads than usual, the filling should be done in two stitches. In this case, it is recommended to choose one direction: either vertical or horizontal.
Please note! If the craftsman uses a thin thread, then more than two stitches will be required to complete the work.
Technique of execution
Below is a step-by-step instruction that will help you understand how to embroider on a grid:
- Before starting the process, it is advisable to thoroughly soak the mesh with gelatin;
- Stretch the net over the frame while wet and let it dry;
- Work out the pattern on squared paper. A simple notebook sheet can be used. The number of squares on the paper should exactly match the number on the canvas.
- Thread the embroidery using a long needle. Its size should depend only on the thickness of the thread and nothing else;
- After completing the process, the remaining thread must be tied to the corner of one of the cells;
- If the pattern is completely ready, the last step is to make sure that its beginning and end are masked for beauty.
The work can be done with threads of absolutely different colors and shades. The rule does not apply to curtain embroidery, since they usually use solid colors.
Preparing for work
First of all, you need a net for work. You can make it yourself, or you can buy it in a sewing and handicraft store. There are several ways to make it yourself:
- Cut a mesh from the fabric. In some places, the fibers are pulled out evenly from the canvas;
- Weave with a shuttle;
- Knit a net with a crochet hook. Such a cloth is a simple pattern and it does not require much effort to knit it.
There are some tips that will help you with embroidery:
- It is always necessary to cut the mesh to a certain size so that it does not get tangled underfoot during the work process;
- Perform embroidery only on a stretched net. If the fabric is soft and lies on your knees, the pattern will be crooked and of poor quality, since it will not be possible to tighten the thread properly;
- For convenience, you can sew the mesh to the cardboard while you work;
- Soft mesh can be made more rigid by soaking it in gelatin.
Embroidery on the mesh yourself
This kind of handicraft is one of the favorite activities of home art lovers. In order not to spend a lot of money on various devices, you need to understand something. Everyone who embroiders with a cross knows that a large canvas costs a lot. This also applies to the carpet technique. If you want to embroider a real picture, then you can’t do without a canvas.
A mesh comes to the rescue, but not a simple one, but a construction one. Its name is reinforcing mesh for plaster. You can buy such material in any building materials store in different colors. You can easily embroider on it without stretching it on the canvas. Then everything is done according to the instructions described above.
How to finish mesh embroidery correctly
All grid embroidery must be finished correctly. If this is not done, the work will look sloppy. This can be done in several ways:
- Release the end of the thread at the very beginning of the needlework. To do this, take the beginning and end of the thread as carefully as possible and tie them together. The tying knot is made as flat as it can be made. This way, it will not stand out against the general background of the picture or pattern;
- Pull the thread along the edges of the embroidery grid cells that have already been embroidered. Then you just need to secure the thread securely and cut it.
Everyone chooses the method that, in their opinion, will be more optimal, reliable and will not spoil the overall appearance of the work. It is important to pay attention to the thickness of the material and thread used. If the thread is thick, then it is better to use the first method of finishing the work. Otherwise, it may happen that the borders of the drawing on one side will not look very beautiful and thicker.
The finished work can be used as a gift or its decoration. You can insert the picture into a frame and stretch it on cardboard. You can even put it under glass, or you can use it as a decoration for another gift.
Mesh embroidery is an old method of needlework, but despite this, it is still very popular among lovers of this art, remaining as a main hobby for many years. The main thing in this type of embroidery is to learn to follow step-by-step instructions and available techniques. They include not only recommendations for stretching and choosing a canvas, but also advice on how to properly start and finish embroidery, how to choose the right threads and needles. After studying all the details, the technique will be available even to a novice craftswoman.
