Embroidery is a type of applied art. The ability to embroider, like two hundred years ago, and in the 21st century, develops womanish qualities and creative skills in women. The house where things are done by the hands of the hostess is filled with light and warmth.
There are masters of embroidery among men. But the ability to embroider icons with beads, as a rule, is considered to be female creativity. This is useful for decorating your own home. You can work on request - for the sake of earning.
Bead embroidery
Women who have even twenty years of experience embroidering with satin stitch and cross-stitch often cannot quickly switch to beads, performing creative work. This is a subtle technique, but mastering it is easy. But because it is available even to the master, who embroiders for the first time.
The main thing in working with beads is to feel the color and work with pleasure. Moreover, embroidered icons with beads is not only a technical work, but also a spiritual one. After all, the face itself carries great power. And then this process is akin to prayer.
As for technology, there are special schemes of icons with beads in sets. As a part of which there is a canvas (fabric for embroidery already with a picture), threads and needles, beads, a pattern. They are just right for those who are doing the work for the first time.
The origin of embroidery
According to archaeological excavations, the art of beadwork for at least 12 centuries. This means that the origin of the embroidery craft dates back to the era of Ancient Russia.
Since ancient times, embroidery with gold and silver thread has been popular. Gemstones, river pearls, and mother of pearl were also used. Thus, the embroidered product acquires additional decoration, value and expressiveness of the image.
Further, the art of embroidery continued to develop. Initially, it was distributed among nuns and women from noble families. And from the 18th century, peasant women also embroidered.
In the Middle Ages, clothes for kings and ministers of the church were made of silk and velvet. And embroidered with gold and silver threads with precious stones. Such a skill for a woman of noble origin was a mandatory part of education.
And when the art of embroidery reached girls from poor families, this skill became an important occupation for many young peasants. The bride for 5-6 years before marriage was preparing a dowry, which included embroidered things for her husband and home.
Embroidery in the 21st Century
The fashion for embroidering home textiles (pillowcases, tablecloths, rushnyks) has returned to today's craftswomen. Pictures, portraits, icons are also embroidered.
Embroidering the icon of the Mother of God with beads, as well as the icon of St. Nicholas and other saints, is a popular and sophisticated hobby. According to the legend, the home icon embroidered by the hands of the hostess protects and protects. And also such works are presented to christening and Orthodox holidays for relatives.
Where to start embroidery with beads?
Prepare everything you need at once.
- Workplace. Embroidery is an activity that lasts several weeks, or even months. And therefore, the place where the craftswoman decomposes additional materials and settles herself during work must be prepared and carefully thought out.
- Workplace lighting. In the art of embroidery with beads, it is important to see color shades, each bead. Therefore, bright lighting is required.
- Tools for work.
Firstly, the hoop on which the fabric is stretched. For work sizes 20x30, 30x40, 40x50 centimeters and others, a hoop with a diameter of 20 centimeters will be required; for small ones - with a diameter of 10 centimeters. There is also a special embroidery frame.
Secondly, the fabric for embroidery is canvas. It is made of dense fabric (for example, flax).
Thirdly, needles and durable threads for embroidery. - Beads will need to be selected according to tone, color and shape. Today, the best products are those manufactured in the Czech Republic and Japan.
But to work in this way - without the pattern on the canvas and the already selected beads in the set - only true professionals can. For beginners, special embroidery kits are suitable.
Embroidery of icons with beads according to the pattern
Such patterns resemble those used for embroidery with satin or cross stitch.
Only when embroidering icons with beads, is it important to carefully choose each bead, threading a needle into it with a thin and strong thread, and attach to the canvas. Thus, the picture is collected bit by bit.
In the set of "Icons with beads" you will find everything you need for work.
The instructions for the embroidery kit indicate how and where it is better to start work. If from left to right, then the needle is threaded from the inside to the lower left corner, while fixed in the upper right; and if from right to left, then the needle is pulled out of the upper right corner and goes into the lower left.
Recommendations for embroidering icons with beads:
- tightly pull the canvas on the hoop and secure it;
- at the beginning of the work, determine: where to start embroidery from top to bottom or vice versa (but in no case do not change the direction of movement when the work has already begun);
- Spread and sew beads evenly and in one direction.
Successful embroidery of icons with beads!
Sets are sold in the store "All for needlework" or in stores for artists.