Stretching a Needleart Piece?

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MerpsMom

MerpsMom

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
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Leawood, Kansas USA
Just took a look at a piece of embroidery brought back from Tibet. About 18 by 18, it's amazingly fine work on a lightweight upholstery fabric, rather a sheen on the front, and one which curls up like a tired toddler. The Tibetan woman who did the work stitched right up to the edge so we need to add edge strips.

I haven't done this in awhile so what kind of stripping fabric should I use and what kind of stitch to attach them to the edges? After the addition, I plan to lace it. Any suggestions would be very, very much appreciated. I don't get these very often and that occasions the need for remedial education. :)

Cathie
 
I would couch it to a rag mat covered foam board, then cover the couching stitches with a mat that blends nicely with the background. Or other tasteful framing choice.
 
Thanx for the info to both of you. If you lay the artwork onto the muslim and edgestitch it to that muslim base, will the top piece stretch out nicely when laced onto bars? This top piece really needs discipline. It seems to be me it would work better if edgestitched with muslim strips and then pulled around to lace.

But I bow to you both as much more experienced in this than I!

Cathie
 
Cathie, this works out much better than you can ever imagine.
This method is the best I have used for textiles on flimsy backings and/or with no margins.
There is something about having the muslin covering the whole back that seems to lend lots of support.

You can also give the muslin a good yank to get unruly stitches to behave, plus you can staple right through the muslin. On a piece 18 x 18 I would probably lace the muslin mounted piece to a single or double thickness of 8 ply rag, if it's valuable or staple it to needleboard with a barrier layer if it's merely "Decorative."

Let us know how it goes.

Here are some facebook photos showing the process. Click through to see all twelve photos illustrating two separate projects.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...2292708093.148063.289564248093&type=3&theater

edie the workslikeacharm goddess
 
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