More on Vintage Monograms and Machine Embroidery

Working with the Vintage Monograms I collection, I found more different uses for the designs. I had visions of using the designs on totally Victorian era type items but we do not live in that era so I had to think of ways to use the designs on not just heirloom but also every day use items. I had hoped to share a baby quilt that I have been working on using the designs but had a bit of an accident involving my finger and the commerical embroidery machine….the machine sewing right through the nail coming out the other side….pretty gross. Oh well! I blame it on old age and poor reflexes….

One of the ideas that sort of came to me was to use the Large and small monograms to create personlized linens. With that in mind, I took a plain pillowcase and created my last name “Andrews” using the Medium size Monogram A and the small Monogram set letters for the rest of the word to create a different and unusual design. I further used the border designs to decorate underneath the name.

Word of advice when working with pre-made pillowcases….do not open the hem to do the embroidery. Otherwise you will have to sew the hem back by hand, unless you like seeing the straight stitching on top of the embroidery. Another word of advice, do not use tear away stabilizer(my fault…what was I thinking???) rather use water soluble stabilizer. There is nothing that mars fine work like hints at the stabilizer in the back.  As the designs are quite airy, the water soluble stabilizer is perfectly fine (not the plastic type please).

One of my most desired wishes is to encourage our younger generation towards a proper table setting and atmosphere at meal times. Seems like more and more we tend to just throw on any place mat and sit down to eat…okay not all of us, but many of us. A decorated table before a meal gives one a feeling of gradeur and relaxation. With that in mind, I decided to use the smaller monogram along with a border design to stitch out on napkins and placemats.  I wanted to use a matching thread with the tapestry placemat and napkin but realised the tapestry print would hide all the embroidery so went a shade darker. Ofcourse, after washing out the water soluble stabilizer, I realised the thread color I had used was a bit too dark for my liking…Oh well, it will have to do for now until I can find some more placemats.

Somewhile back on the AEC Yahoo group, we had a napkin swap organised by Susan Mars of http://www.allaboutblanks.com   The swap consisted of some of the most wonderful white damask napkins. I had saved them thinking one day I might embroider. Finishing the Vintage Monograms I, I immediately went searching for them in my various to be embroidered boxes and found the napkins. I had to see what tone on tone effect would look like using the designs.

Using an offwhite thread, I embroidered the same design on the corner of the napkin (this time my placement was better, LOL). The effect was stunning and has given me ideas to use the designs on some more vintage look items.

I have a firm belief that one can never have enough throw cushions around. Ofcourse, dh keeps on groaning as I yet complete another throw cushion. So, instead of another cushion, I decided to create a throw pillow. Using Dupioni silk, I stitched out the Large Monogram letter in the center and then kept on adding the Vintage Monogram borders until I had quite a large design (the pillow measures approximately 25″ wide). I did use the tone on tone effect of using a light and dark thread to showcase the monogram and the borders. Using matching faux suede, I then finished the pillow by adding a plain band at the top and bottom. I did think about adding some tassles but decided not to distract from the work already there.

Speaking of the Vintage Monogram Borders, they can quite easily be used by themselves. As all of them (except one) uses one color, one can really create a wonderful all over embroidery look to just about anything (more ideas!)

Last but not least…Samplers have always been a weakness of mine. I collect vintage samplers and just go totally weak kneed when I see one. Looking at the monograms I decided to give a shabby chic look (vintage mixed with modern sort of effect) by stitching out the Middle size Monograms on a bell pull. The idea is great but the fabric just did not want to cooperate. This is definitely going to be repeated but with much better fabric. As I collect antique linens, I have tons of damask table cloths. In my moment of “Brilliant idea” (not) I decided to use one of the damask linen table cloths to embroider the sampler. The fabric just does not want to stay put….it moved every which way but the way I wanted it to go. I did manage to finish the bell pull but was not totally pleased.

If I had stipple quilted the bell pull rather than just adding a backing, perhaps I would not have had so much drag. But then if I had not used the type of fabric, perhaps this would not have come about anyway! I do like the idea though and while I was making this, I had the idea of using the Monograms to make a baby quilt or a quilt. The quilt however, is not yet finished. The blocks are all embroidered and stitched together but the quilting and finishing touches are not yet done.

A sneak preview of the quilt….and speaking of colors, I don’t know if it is myself or just the time of year but I kept finding myself using blues or browns lately. Looking at the various fashion houses upcoming trends for 2007….guess what I found…blues and browns with a mixture of purples and reds!! LOL. No! Definitely I’m not a clairvoyant but it was interesting!

As for the release of the collection…tonight or tomorrow. I do know one thing though. Creating a Monogram collection is perhaps one of the most difficult digitizing times that I had. Digitizing that many files was a bit of work. I certainly do know my ABC’s now but they definitely took their time being created.  In digitizing, I had to take pains in having absolutely no jumps, yes also in the borders. However, it also didn’t help that I decided to make the same monogram in three different sizes (necessity…) but also I decided to create some borders and also the numbers. Overall, however, I have to say in the end, it was a good experience. My hats off to digitizer friends who create complete sets of Monograms all the time. In end, I am rather pleased with the look, the feel and the stitch out of the first in the series of Vintage Monograms. The designs are airy yet have a presence.