EMBROIDERY DESIGNS

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 148, 20 March 1934, Page 5

EMBROIDERY DESIGNS

Transferring to Material Due is frequently asked, when urging that needlewomen should work out designs of their own making, what is the easiest way of marking these designs on the material, writes H.D. in the “Manchester Guardian.” There are various methods to choose from, but the first essential in every case is flint the surface of the material should be as smooth and free from creases as possible; an iron and a damp cloth work wonders here. Here is one simple way of setting to work. Take a tracing of the design on ordinary tracing paper, using the special transfer ink which can now be bought.- When the ink has thoroughly dried, iron off with a warm iron in the familiar manner. Transfer ink, however, not being always available, try the following method. Take a pencil tracing of the pattern. Having fixed this in position on the stretched material with draw-ing-pins, slip a piece of carbon paper —the kind used for typewriters—lietween the tracing and the material. Go over all the lines of the drawing evenly and firmly with a pencil or the end of a knitting needle. The lines, if proper pressure on the pencil has been used, should show clearly at this stage, but they become faint as one works: it is therefore advisable to go over them with Indian or coloured waterproof ink or water-colour paint. There is yet another method—the old one in use for centuries before the in* vention of carbon paper and transfer ink. Take a pencil tracing of the drawing, place this on some felt oi lavers of blotting paper, and pricktiny holes with a darning needle or other fine point all along the lines of the design. Next prepare a little pad by enclosing some cotton wool tightly in several layers of linen or cotton and tying it up so that it rather resembles a mushroom. Powdered charcoal is frequently used as the pounce powder; when the pad face has been rubbed in some of it, pass it over the tracing affixed in position on the material. The powder will find its way through the little pricked holes and so mark out the design. Blow off any superfluous powder and go over tn lines with pen or fine brush, using ink or water-colour, as seems best. This last method may be infrequently used now, but in certain cases it is the onlv possible way. For instance, the material is black or any other dark colour transfer ink or carbon paper aie alike useless. Therefore use powdered pumice or chalk for the pounce powder and go over the lines with white or yellow oil paint.