Special shape embroidery refers to an art form that breaks through the limitations of traditional regular shapes (such as circles, squares, etc.) and creates embroidery on various irregular and unique shaped substrates according to specific design needs. It combines embroidery craftsmanship and design, bringing richer visual effects and unique artistic charm to embroidery works.
Common types of embroidery with special shapes
1. Three dimensional embroidery design
Features: It presents a three-dimensional effect in embroidery works, breaks through the limitations of flat surfaces, enhances visual impact and artistic appeal.
Example: Embroidery decoration is applied to the surface of puppets and dolls, using techniques such as filling and stacking to give the embroidery patterns a three-dimensional effect. For example, the eyes, nose, and other parts of the puppets are embroidered with a three-dimensional effect to make them more vivid and realistic.
Key points of production: It is necessary to first design the outline of the three-dimensional shape, select suitable filling materials (such as cotton, sponge, etc.), gradually fill them during the embroidery process, and pay attention to the use of needlework to ensure the firmness and beauty of the three-dimensional part.
2. Embroidery with irregular contours
Features: The embroidery base has an irregular shape, which may be customized according to specific design themes or object shapes, such as leaves, flowers, animal contours, etc.
Example: Using a real leaf as the base, embroider within its edge contour to create patterns related to the leaf theme, such as leaf veins, insects, etc., so that the embroidered work naturally blends with the leaf and is full of natural atmosphere.
Key points of production: Before embroidery, it is necessary to accurately depict the contour of the irregular shape, which can be assisted by tools such as tracing paper or projector. When embroidering, attention should be paid to the flexible use of needlework to adapt to irregular contour lines and ensure smooth and even embroidery lines.
3. Embroidery with hollowed out shapes
Features: Creating hollowed out areas on the embroidery base to create unique patterns and lighting effects, enhancing the layering and artistic sense of the work.
Example: Embroider a floral pattern on a piece of gauze, and hollow out the center of the flower. When light passes through the hollow out part, it creates beautiful light and shadow on the background, making the embroidered work more dreamy.
Key points of production: The treatment of hollow parts requires caution, and sharp scissors or laser cutting equipment can be used for precise cutting. During the embroidery process, attention should be paid to protecting the hollow edges and avoiding situations such as thread detachment.
Selection of embroidery materials for special shapes
1. Base material
Fabric: Choose suitable fabrics based on special shapes and design requirements, such as cotton, silk, linen, denim, etc. Cotton fabric is soft in texture and easy to embroider, suitable for most special shapes of embroidery; Silk has good glossiness and is suitable for making high-end and exquisite embroidery works; Linen has a natural texture and feel, which can add a rustic atmosphere to the work; Denim fabric is relatively thick and suitable for making some personalized embroidery works.
Other materials: In addition to fabric, leather, paper, wood, etc. can also be used as the base for embroidery with special shapes. Leather has a tough texture and is suitable for making embroidered works with texture, such as decorative embroidery on leather bags and shoes; Paper can be used to make some small embroidery artworks, such as greeting cards, bookmarks, etc; Wood can be carved into special shapes and then embroidered to create unique wood carving embroidery works.
2. Embroidery thread
Material: Common embroidery thread materials include cotton thread, silk thread, yarn, metal thread, etc. Cotton thread is affordable in price, rich in color, and suitable for daily embroidery; The silk thread has high glossiness, and the embroidered works are delicate and exquisite, often used in high-end embroidery; The texture of the yarn is soft, suitable for making warm embroidery works, such as decorative embroidery on sweaters; Metal wire can add a gorgeous effect to a work and is often used for embroidery decoration in some special occasions.
Color: Choose the appropriate embroidery thread color based on the design theme and overall style of the special shape embroidery. Color matching can be used to highlight the characteristics of special shapes and enhance the visual effect of the work. For example, in the embroidery of irregular contours with nature as the theme, colors that are in harmony with the natural environment can be chosen, such as green, brown, blue, etc.
3. Auxiliary materials
Embroidery frame: used to fix the embroidery base, maintain the flatness of the fabric, and make the embroidery process smoother. Choose the appropriate embroidery frame based on the size and complexity of the special shape, such as circular embroidery frame, square embroidery frame, oval embroidery frame, etc.
Scissors: Used for trimming embroidery threads and fabrics, choose sharp and compact scissors for easy operation.
Needle: Choose the appropriate needle based on the thickness of the embroidery thread and the different embroidery techniques, such as embroidery needles, woolen needles, etc.
Embroidery Needle Techniques for Special Shapes
1. Contour stitching technique
Needle embroidery: commonly used to outline special shapes, with tight and uniform stitches that can clearly depict the lines of the shape. In the embroidery process, the needle is inserted into the fabric from the starting point, and after walking a short distance forward, the needle is retracted from the same side to the vicinity of the starting point, and then continues to embroider forward. This process is repeated to form a continuous stitch.
Contour embroidery: Similar to loop stitch embroidery, but with finer stitches, suitable for expressing fine contours. Insert the needle into the fabric from the starting point, walk a short distance forward along the contour line, thread the needle out from the same side, and then insert the fabric again near the starting point, repeating this process to tightly connect the stitches.
2. Filling needle method
Satin embroidery: suitable for filling large areas of special shaped parts, the embroidered surface is flat, smooth, and has a glossy feel. Insert the embroidery thread into the fabric from one edge of the shape, and then arrange it in parallel with longer stitches along the contour direction of the shape to fill the entire shape. The stitches should be closely connected to avoid gaps.
Long and short needle embroidery: commonly used to fill irregular shapes or areas that require gradient effects. The length of the stitches varies, and by combining different lengths of stitches, the filling part becomes more natural and rich. When embroidering, start from one side of the shape and fill a portion with longer stitches, then gradually shorten the stitch length and transition to the other side to create a gradient effect.
3. Stereoscopic needlework
Chain embroidery: It can create three-dimensional line effects and is commonly used to depict edges or decorative parts of special shapes. Insert the needle into the fabric from the starting point, wrap the embroidery thread around the needle tip, and then thread the needle out of the fabric from the same side, tighten the embroidery thread, and form a chain like stitch. Repeat this process to continuously arrange the chain like needle marks, forming three-dimensional lines.
Seed embroidery: By planting seeds on the fabric surface to create a three-dimensional dot effect, it can be used to decorate certain parts of special shapes and increase the layering of the work. Insert the needle into the fabric from the starting point, wrap the embroidery thread around the needle tip a few times, then thread the needle out of the fabric near the starting point, tighten the embroidery thread, and make the thread wrapped around the needle tip form a seed shape. You can adjust the number of turns of the winding as needed to change the size of the seed.