Cross stitching is one of the oldest types of needlework, which originated in primitive times, when details of clothing from animal skins were sewn with crossed stitches.
Its popularity has not only been preserved over the centuries, but also turned embroidery into a real art, accessible to everyone. You don't need to be a great artist to embroider, for example, the Bull, the patron saint of 2021. In this article, you can beautiful diagrams and all the information about the sequence of work.
Content
- a little about the symbol of the year;
- what can be decorated with embroidery;
- tools and materials;
- how to transfer a schema;
- sequence of work;
- how to care for embroidery;
- a set of beautiful schemes;
The bull is a symbol of the coming 2021
The patron saint of the new year 2021 according to the Eastern calendar will be the White Metal Bull. This is a noble, strong-willed, decisive and wise animal. The bull will bring confidence and tranquility in relationships and finances in the new year. He will patronize honest, responsible and hardworking people.
Lovers of cross-stitching cannot be called lazy, because how much patience and hard work is needed to assemble a picture from individual crosses. So maybe by the time the Bull comes into its own, it is worth trying to embroider the symbol of the year in order to enlist his support or just have a pleasant and useful time.
What can be decorated with embroidery?
Before proceeding directly to work, it will be correct to decide where the Bull embroidered with a cross will be used. Let's consider the possible options, and be sure, some of them will surprise you:
- Bull embroidery as a picture - the finished work can be taken to the baguette workshop, where the master will arrange it in a frame so that the picture can be hung on the wall;
- decoration of pillows - you can decorate pillowcases or sofa cushion covers with large embroidery;
- kitchen textiles - embroidery can be done on a kitchen apron, tablecloths and napkins, a bottle case, towels, potholders and more;
- New Year's decor - the embroidered Bull can be placed on a boot or gif.webpt bag or made a Christmas tree toy out of it;
- accessories - a cross stitch can be used to decorate a case for glasses, a cover for a passport or diary, a belt, a case for a mobile phone;
- bags - a simple shopper for purchases will become an original thing if an embroidered bull appears on it, small schemes are suitable for decorating a cosmetic bag, clutch or children's handbag;
- clock - old wall clocks can be updated by embroidering a new dial for them, on which the symbol of the new year 2021 can be placed.
Do not forget that in using embroidery it is important to show a sense of proportion, since an embroidered picture above a sofa with embroidered pillows, in front of which there is a coffee table with an embroidered napkin, will be overkill.
Materials and tools
Experienced craftswomen know what tools and materials they need to work, and beginners need help in this matter. In addition to the cross stitch pattern, the basic set for this type of needlework includes:
- Fabric - use a special fabric with clear meshes called canvas. Its main characteristic is count, the number of blocks in a square with sides of 25 mm. Canvas comes in counts 14, 16, 18 and even 22.
- Tapestry needles - they differ from ordinary ones in shorter length, wide eye and blunt end. For canvas with a count of 14, usually use # 24 or 26 needles.
- Embroidery floss, twisted into a skeleton of 6 threads. The most common are cotton floss. They do not fade during washing and fade less in the sun, so a product with an embroidered Ox will delight you with its appearance longer.
- Embroidery hoops - can be of different sizes and made of different materials. When choosing them, it is important to pay attention to how tightly the outer side of the frame adjoins the inner one, whether the "lock" is securely fixed, whether the tension of the fabric can be adjusted. For a large design, a large hoop or machine will be needed.
- Scissors - embroiderers usually use "herons" with sharp blades that will cut even the shortest thread, but they can be perfectly replaced by sharp nail scissors.
In addition, you may need a thimble, a water-soluble marker for marking, and wax to help the treated thread curl and knot less.
How to transfer a diagram to the canvas
In handicraft stores, you can buy ready-made kits that include cross stitch patterns, immediately printed on the canvas. Work according to this scheme is called "uncountable cross", because you do not need to count each embroidered cross, you just need to follow the marking symbols on the fabric.
But the reality is that the scheme of the picture you like (for example, the Bull) is easier to find and download for free on the world wide web. In this case, the scheme is transferred to the canvas during the embroidery process. Such work is called "counting cross".
To make it easier for yourself in this case, you need to make a markup on the canvas. First, a piece of fabric is folded in half along and along the fold, a stitch is laid with a seam "forward needle" with a contrasting thread. Repeat everything, folding the canvas across. Mark squares with sides of 10x10 crosses from the resulting center with a marker or contrasting thread. This will make it easier to navigate the diagram and count crosses.
Sequence of work
Regardless of what complexity and what size the Bull's drawing is chosen, the embroidery process will include:
- Preparation of the canvas - you need to calculate and cut off the required piece of fabric so that the work is neat, you should definitely overcast the edges with a buttonhole seam.
- Marking - using a marker or thread of a contrasting color, mark the center of the work and break the canvas into squares of 10 crosses on each side.
- Fasten the thread of the desired color and start working. It is better to start large Bull embroidery from the center of the diagram. And be sure to make sure that the top stitch of the crosses is always directed in one direction.
- The ends of the thread are hidden from the front side under the crosses and cut off. It is important to keep an eye on the seamy side, there should be no knots or protruding ends of the floss on it.
Remove the marking threads from the finished work, wash it, dry it and iron it.
How to take care of the finished embroidery?
If the Bull's embroidery is placed under glass, then the picture only needs to be wiped from dust from time to time, but if it is not protected by anything, then it needs another care.
From time to time, this embroidery should be hand washed with a mild liquid detergent in warm water. Then rinse well and spread out on a horizontal surface covered with a white terry towel to drain the water.
Slightly damp work is ironed with a hot iron from the wrong side. To keep the crosses the same embossed, put a terry towel under the fabric.
Beautiful New Year's schemes
