Each needlewoman, who first thought about trying cross-stitch or bead embroidery, comes to the same question: "What materials and tools to choose for a new kind of creativity?" Of course, the same problem arises for novice lovers of needlework. The easiest way is to buy ready-made kits for a start and gain experience and knowledge directly in the process of creativity. But what if you really want to repeat a beautiful picture according to the scheme taken from a thematic magazine or a website on the Internet? For starters, it's worth learning the basics. In the literal and figurative sense, the basis of any project is canvas.
What it is?
Canvas is a fabric with a clear structure in which transverse and longitudinal strings form a strict ornament in a cage. Between the cells there are holes into which a thick needle with a blunt end easily passes. It is enough to lay two ordinary stitches “forward the needle” crosswise across the cage - and now the first cross in the work is ready! The technique is very simple, but the choice of materials is a bit more complicated.
First you need to decide on the desired size of the future picture. If you plan a small plot for a greeting card, it is better to choose a special perforated paper, not fabric. Canvas is the base ideally suited for large paintings and all kinds of household items: napkins, tablecloths, etc.
Dimensions
- Aida-14 is the most popular type of canvas for needlework. Fabric of this size is equally suitable for large patterns, and for small elegant crosses. No wonder such a canvas for embroidery was especially liked by manufacturers of ready-made sets.
- Aida-16/18 is suitable for needlework with a large number of parts. As a rule, it is used by craftswomen who prefer complexity and richness of shades. The only negative is that you need good vision.
- Aida 8/11 are the two largest sizes. Such Aida is used for large works like tablecloths, carpet, homemade covers for diaries, etc. School children often learn to embroider it.
Color
Canvas is a universal canvas that varies not only in size, but also in color and material. The most popular color is, of course, white; on it you can arrange any plots and ornaments, using threads of all shades. Some needlewomen prefer to work exclusively on a color basis. If you chose a black canvas for the picture, do not forget to put a white canvas under it, otherwise you can make a mistake - you get a curve, an ugly cross.
An interesting option is a canvas with a pattern. There are designs on which a color or symbolic scheme is completely applied, and you only need to repeat it with a thread and a needle. But partial schemes involving partial embroidery are more popular. Most often, a background that does not need to be sewn is applied to the interweaving of threads.
Other varieties
For the manufacture of voluminous crafts (for example, Christmas tree decorations) usually take plastic. A plastic canvas is a fabric with a rarer weaving, which serves as the basis for voluminous things, rather than paintings or home textiles. Working with it is as simple as using ordinary fabric.
Mention should be made of the patch canvas. It also serves as the basis for embroidered work, but, unlike the usual canvas, is deleted after the completion of the last cross. It is used to manually decorate items of clothing, bags and other accessories that do not have uniform weaving.
It is still not entirely clear whether linen can be considered canvas . Although literary sources disagree about this, it can be assumed that flax is just a fabric, while otherwise (with a canvas) it is assumed that there is a uniform weave - into a cell.
Choose the perfect option? It's time to start the selection of floss or woolen threads, hoop or loom, needles, scissors and markers!