I am fairly new at this but am now ready to bead a design on a black stretch lycra top. The fabric is matt, so I can use sparkly or plain iridescent beads.
Has anyone a source for motifs? I guess I could trace a flower off another piece of fabric. I am no good at creative art at all. Is there anything out there in the embroidery world like those transfers we once used for embroidering babies clothes or tarting up plain teatowels or samplers?
I have tried the recommended technique using overlapping circles as a learning exercise, and it worked just fine. I drew the circles onto a piece of tissue paper and attached to fabric with large tacking (or basting) stitches around the edge. Then I beaded through the tissue paper and ripped it off afterward. This actually worked just fine, but it was just an experiment.
When I bead the garment should I first perhaps iron on some sort of stabilizer on the wrong side first, so the beads don't sag or pull?
Can I put the garment piece in an embroidery hoop? I have a largish one (about 7 inches - or 23cm - across)?
I'd just like some advice on these points please. I find this newsgroup very helpful indeed. I live in New Zealand where there is not a really big range of products for beading, although it is growing.
Cheers
Daisy