suraface embroidery cloth

What are you going to make that requires a stiff ground? You can always get any ground you envision and back it with muslin. That's what I did on my silk dupioni piece.

I know that in Australia, stiffer poly/cotton is a top choice. Brazilian embroiders (using No. 10 milliners) opt for heavier poly/cottons (brand name "Trigger" for a comparison).

You could also use cotton satin jean. Drapery fabric departments carry this in just about every color of the rainbow. I made my den draperies in this stuff and love it.

You can also heavily starch the ground prior to working on it, which is how the imported Irish satin jean is made.

Dianne

P_B snipped-for-privacy@cox.net wrote:

Thanks for the help Dianne. I am doing the entire ground in French knots and afraid it would become weekened or limp.

What is Cotton Satin Jean?

Lucille

Lucille asked:

I'll presume you know what satin is? How the threads are all loose on one side and tight together on the reverse side?

I don't know how the word "jean" got attached, except that it is a twill weave as is jeans, and heavier weight than you think of satin. I tried looking in my book of weaves but can't find the darn thing to explain it correctly (the type of weave).

And it's cotton rather than acetate, rayon, or polyester. It's heavier than a plain weave, for instance. Makes beautiful draperies and is perfect (actually a requisite) for Mountmellick embroidery because of its nice sheen.

It is lovely for surface embroidered grounds. As is regular satin. Dianne

Thanks Dianne,

It sounds lovely. Now if I can only remember to ask my LNS the next time I'm there if she has a piece of it to show me?

Lucille

I ordered linen twill from Jenny June, after seeing some in a British embroidery kit. It is heavier, and has a lovely feel to it. I highly recommend it. :)

Dianne Lewandowski wrote:

explain it

Linen twill is great for embroidery and often used as a ground for crewel embroidery because of its weight (enough to hold the heavy embroidery). But you may need a larger needle to go through it, depending upon the quality (weight) of the twill.

Jenny June also carries the white cotton satin jean. It's not cheap. But neither is linen twill. :-)

Dianne

jules wrote:

What is good for holding French knots and can handle a size 10 tiny needle? You have been of great help , y'all! barbie

Anything is good for holding Fr. knots. From the sheerest lawn to heavier satins and twills. It simply depends upon getting a ground that suits the embroidery. You wouldn't want sheer lawn for a "heavy" embroidery.

Go to the fabric store and see what it is that pops out to you. If it ends up being a more flimsy fabric, you can always back it with muslin.

Dianne

That is the true answer Dianne. I will end up choosing what "looks good" and deal with it after that ! 10 to 1 it will end up watered silk. I love the stuff !

It is what we also call moire silk. America is the only place that created the true moire BUT now that factory closed so we do not . When i found out I ran to Hancocks which is the only real fabric shop with decorator fabric I had close at the time and bought ALL of it. I have an entire bolt of it. (antique white) I love the stuff.

By "true" moire, do you mean it doesn't wash out? Oh, how I wish I had a piece of your stash. :-) Lucky you! Americans simply don't realize how much we are losing. I made flannel pajamas two weeks ago for hubby and I didn't have time for a long drive so picked it up locally. What junk! It's a shame we are losing quality ever so slowly over a period of time. I'd like to investigate purchasing silk, but there's no place to look at it. So, I just have a very small stash.

Dianne

P_B snipped-for-privacy@cox.net wrote:

It is a chemical process. It has to be dry cleaned and can not get washed. The chemicals used in dry cleaning are safe however. America used it extensively and not other countries. Even JC Penny's sold full draperies of it quite cheaply up until 1990 or so. I know I have an entire wall of navy left as it did not fit this house so cut off the lining and now hoarding and using up the navy. I watched the process done once. I love the stuff. If you can find Moire silk online buy it. It is a dinosaur.

BE aware though as companies like Benartex and Hoffman do a "print" of moire on cotton and it is simply a print of it on top of the fabric, not the true thing. It must be silk to be true.

The reason I asked:

I have a very old handkerchief bag that is made in moire. It is washable (the pattern stays). Not sure if it is silk or acetate. I learned the hard way that moire washes out. So, I was wondering what the heck this is made of, and why I can't get any. :-)

Dianne

P_B snipped-for-privacy@cox.net wrote:

Well moire is a process and it can be done on lots of different fabrics. The design is easily done on cotton and thus why it is still produced. When it is done on silk it works it's way through and you can see it on both sides. (big clue when searching for it ) I only know the silk can not be washed. I do not know about the other fabrics. I am assuming you can easily wash the cotton version since it is used in quilts all the time. It is printed on it as opposed to etched. The only reason we can't get any more is cuz they don't produce it. The machines have been shut down.