Inlay Applique Chapter 10

Hand insertion stitches

Insertion stitch Sample:
I am the lucky owner of several vintage needlework books (1920s) and took some time out to read the insertion stitch sections. The stitches were traditionally used on lingerie and household linen. Many of them looked complex and time consuming!
I decorated strips of felt with snips of fabrics and threads and bonded them with net or organza.
The stitches I trialled from top are:
1. Slanted antique insertion (stranded cotton)
2. Herringbone insertion (perle 5)
3. Beaded insertion (fine perle)
4. Plaited insertion (coton a broder)
                                            5. Buttonhole insertion (medium perle)
                                            6. Laced insertion (perle 3 and stranded cotton)
                                            7. Knotted insertion stitch (cotton a broder)
                                            8. Straight insertion stitch

I haven't done anything like this before so followed the instructions closely, tacking everything to brown paper.   I was pleased with my stitching but felt the bonded strips were too 'busy' against the intricacy of the stitches. I particularly liked mastering the plaited insertion stitch - its not perfect but I'm sure it will improve with practice!

Machine insertion stitches:
There are many stitches on my machine that use a left/right needle motion that can be used to join two adjacent pieces of fabric. They obviously provide a much more uniform effect.
From top:
1. Heavy cross stitch
2. Decorative zig zag
3. Feather stitch
4. Feathered chain stitch
5. Herringbone stitch
All stitching was completed with machine embroidery rayon.



Simple Counterchange Sample:  I learnt to make felt at a workshop in Stroud years ago and thought this

was a good opportunity to use my Merino tops! The felt was lovely; blended purple and pinks and for my second piece I chose a dark purple from my readymade stash. My decision to bond the latter with lilac spider net and snippings, gave it an interesting texture BUT made it too similar in colour to the handmade piece. Looking at  the finished article it is difficult to see where the changed pieces are! The choice of sheers is really interesting as it has an almost optical mixing effect,
changing shades with quite unexpected results.