I've done this a million times on light fabric, but suddenly I want to mark some dark forest green fabric with a complicated (celtic knot-like) appliqué design. The fabric's too dark to see through it on a light box and the design area is quite large (about A3 size). I thought this would be easy, but I find myself stumped!
Can anyone offer some ideas please?
I have some dressmaker's chalk pencils, but no idea how to actually trace the design. I thought of pricking and pouncing, but it won't work for me (lines too indistinct and they rub off as I handle the fabric).
Years ago when I used to make my own clothes I used to use "dressmaker's carbon" to mark onto dark material. Worked very well too. It came in about 4 colours including white. I was always able to get it off because I never pressed really hard. I haven't tried it with appliqué patterns but I imagine it should work.
I have laid designs down using the dressmaker chalk, then do a running outline of the design in a contrasting thread [say red on black] by hand. That way if the design is rubbed off, no big deal, and you can still see where you are heading. It worked for me, YMMV
G> I've done this a million times on light fabric, but suddenly I want to
Carbon paper - it does come in various colors in the art supply section here. I can get it in white and yellow (and red and blue too I believe) Some stores also sell dressmakers carbon.
If the design is simple and pouncing doesn't work you could always turn it into a stencil and mark that way.
Tissue paper - trace the design on tissue paper. Using a contrasting thread baste along the design lines. Carefully remove the tissue paper. Now you can stitch - removing the basting as you go.
Tissue paper - I've also seen people just place the design on the tissue and baste around the design to hold it to the fabric and then embroider through the tissue and when all the embroidery is done carefully remove the tissue paper.
I also saw some special (wash away maybe?) interfacing type stuff used the same way. It was at a not a local quilt shop I was visiting and I don't see it listed on their website. But you traced your design, stitched through it and washed away the design paper.
Iron on transfer pencil - these pencils let you trace the design onto paper and then place the paper drawing side down on the dark fabric and iron the paper. This will melt the pencil lines and transfer them to your fabric. It will reverse the image unless you make a reverse which you trace and then transfer so be careful with words, etc where direction matters.
I used to sometimes transfer a quilt stencil by drawing it on nylon netting fabric with a permanent marker. Then I could pin that onto my top, trace it with a white colored pencil, remove the netting and see the design fairly well. I should think that might work with embroidery designs as well.
Marcella's just hit on a brilliant idea. There's some Floriani 'wet & gone' here that's intended for the embroidery machine. However (!) I'm betting it could be used for a celtic design. The 'wet & gone' really does go away and it would be very easy to trace the design onto it, attach it to your dark fabric, do your appliquéing and rinse it away. 500 points and a gold star to Marcella. For sure, the Floriani isn't the only 'wash away'. There are some other brands. Do try that idea and report back. Polly
--Glue or pin the pattern to the back of the fabric; FMQ or straight stitch the design on with a sewing machine with water soluble thread in the bobbin. Soak the completed design to remove paper and basting thread when you're done.
--Baste the design through paper or water soluble stabilizer by hand.
--See if a fine metallic silver thread will transfer (like a heat pencil transfer).
--See if you can see the design through the fabric on a window on a sunny day (sunlight is MUCH stronger than a light box)
--Draw the design on water soluble stabilizer with a silver pen and baste or glue that directly to the fabric.
Thanks so much for all the excellent suggestions! I'm still not completely sure which method I'll be using, but I went to shop in Spotlight today in the hope of finding dressmaker's carbon paper and light-coloured transfer pencils. Hah! Fat chance! So, it's looking as though I might be needing to baste through tissue paper. I'll give it a go and let you know how it worked out.
Thanks again to everyone who posted and emailed. It makes me feel so much more confident to have moral support! ;D
That might be just as well, Trish. Dressmaker's carbon sometimes is seriously permanent and if you had an oops, you may have had to live with it. One more suggestion - when I was transferring a celtic, I grew weary of basting both lines and finally decided I would just baste the middle of the road. That worked well but it was for a crib quilt that was hoping to have a rough and tumble life. Polly
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