For those who are afraid to try embroidery on wood.
I've been experimenting some more today, so I took more pictures.The box I had was 80mm square and the balsa strips were 75mm so a join was needed.
I hooped tearaway stabiliser and scribbled over it with a glue stick - particularly down the centre line where the join would be. I laid two pieces of wood on it, pushing them together firmly. (They are not exactly the same length so you can see where the join is.)
Next I embroidered the design. On this occasion I used wss on top (that was the experimental part.)
When the embroidery was complete I rinsed the satabiliser away under the tap and then put the wood to dry.
As my box has a hole in it, I glued a piece of balsa inside the lid to cover it. When the embroidered wood was dry, I covered it with PVA glue and laid it upside down on a cutting mat with a heavy weight on it.
Lastly I cut away the extra wood and lightly sanded the very edges to chamfer.
I don't think I will use wss again. The water has affected the fibres of the wood, making the surface look rough.
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173694I used to do quite a bit of embroidering on Balsa wood and found gluing the wood to stabiliser (either cut away of tear away) which I left on the bottom and just removing the excess worked well and gave the wood some stability. I used (regular paper glue). I also found cross stitch was a wonderful look on the wood and can be used to make Christmas Ornaments to hang on the tree by covering the back or sticking on Christmas cards.
2 comments
by spendlove
01 May 2015
I'm planning to get some 1/32" balsa to make some double sided things. (Bookmarks and ornaments.) I haven't tried cross stitch yet, but I will!
2023I would never have thought to embroider on wood. Doesn't it affect the timing on your machine?
When I used certain types of fabric ( I can't think of the word for it - it is spongy and you can compress it with two fingers, and if you let go it springs back to its origanal thckness - 5mm high) it affected the timing on my machine and I had to send my machine in for a service.
Wouldn't something like wood affect the timing?
Best regards and thanks for a great idea.
Anneliese
2 comments
by spendlove
01 May 2015
It is so soft, it stitches just like fabric, although it does sound like card!
80371265i would be very interested in knowing what kind..size needle you used..thanks!! grate job!!!
1 comment
986I have been embroidering on balsa wood for years and always use wss on top as it helps keep the stitches from sinking into the wood. When the embroidery is finished stitching, I just tear the stabilizer away. I would use my tweezers to get the wss that stays between the lines. I have never used water, but if you would feel better - use a damp Q-tip to remove the excess.
1 comment
by spendlove
01 May 2015
You have much more patience than I do! The tweezers have only got to dig in once to make a permanent mark. I was planning to leave the wss over the actual design in place but I didn't like the look of it at all.
2753LOVE the Celtic knot! Looks fantastic! I have a few carved wooden boxes with knots, but I think I will have to steal your idea and make some balsa wood box tops with knots. Thanks for sharing your photos.
1 comment
31625Thanks for the tutorial with photos! Yes, water does raise the grain of wood, but I like the look of this. Sort of a rustic feel to it.
33641great job.. I have used the wss on my designs.. but have not rinsed it yet.. I have the top glued down and sanded the sides already.. but I think I will try a wet wash cloth and tap it wet and see what happens.. I will let you know..
1 comment
70767Nice...and thanks for the extra tutorial information...probably the water that affected the wood texture. Did you notice any difference in the stitches not sinking into the wood with the WSS...or was it about the same? Love the Celtic designs.
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743303Thank you for this tutorial - it answered some questions I had had. Very very pretty!!
96279Very good and thanks for the detailed instructions. still not got to town :(
115763very neat Sue, thank you for taking pictures for us of the whole process. ~hugs~
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