how do you wire the leaves in stumpwork embroidery?

Question

stumpwork embroidery is a raised embroidery eg 3dimentional and the leaves and other parts of a scene stand up away from the work to create the 3d effect

Answer 1

To make the wired leaves for stumpwork I use "trapunto in aria" technique.

Have the shape of the leaf on a piece of brown paper. Cover this with a piece of clear shelf paper or architech film.

Baste thread (I use two or more strands of size forty tatting cotton.) and wire that will pad the edges of the leaf along the edges and details with reg thread.

Begin to work your filling stitches.

When you have finished the filling stitches, begin to cover the padding thread and wire with your button hole stitch. You can add picots or whatever.

Once you have finished the leaf, turn the piece over and remove the basting stitches on the back. use tweezers to help pull them out if necessary.

From the front you will now have a piece of "stitches in air" freed from the pattern to use in your stump work.

Hope this helps

Answer 2

See the links below for some great tips.

I often sew the petals on a separate piece of cloth, and then cut them out and sew them on the flower. This requires sewing both sides on the fabric, top and bottom, and the very careful cutting.

Sometimes your local embroidery shop will have classes. Call around and find out. Also, there a lot of excellent books on the subject, as you can see on the search list I have provided.