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From: blessedmommyuv3
Date: 05-16-2005, 02:53 PM (1 of 20)
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I have been x-stitching for years now; longer than I have been sewing. I recently picked up an issue of Sew Beautiful magazine and was inspired by the smocking plate inserts they were using in dresses and shirts. I don't know how to smock yet; but could I xstitch as usual on aida and then just inset it? My concerns are: Stiffness of aida (scratchy??)---will it wash up ok with the garment--and should I line it so it won't scratch my dd. Or should I just prewash the aida before stitching it, as I prewash the garment fabrics before assembling them. Do I need to worry about colorfastness of the embroidery floss. (I'm betting it maybe safe--since that is what they were using in the smocking) If I should line can you give me suggestions on how you would do it. (ie: can I just sew the aida to a larger piece of batiste and then just inset it--will that be enough. Thanks so much!!!! Jen |
User: blessedmommyuv3
Member since: 05-18-2004 Total posts: 263 
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From: SummersEchos
Date: 05-16-2005, 04:06 PM (2 of 20)
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Jen, They sell waste canvas which is the same as Aida cloth only you place it ontop of the fabric and crosstitch. Then when you are done you remove whatever waste canvas is showing. Summer
Summer
FREE FALLIN |
User: SummersEchos
Member since: 09-29-2004 Total posts: 884 |
From: blessedmommyuv3
Date: 05-16-2005, 04:55 PM (3 of 20)
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Thanks, Summer. That is a good idea. I remember hearing about waste canvas and people using it to stitch on sweatshirts and the like. I think I want the aida to show though. Here (hopefully) is a link to the look I am after: http://www.sewbeautifulmag.com/pages/issue.html just scroll down to "designer debut" and "summer outings". In the magazine to me it just looked like a piece of x-stitched aida had been inserted in the garments. I had to go online and look up smocking plates to see upclose what it really looked like. Then I was able to see that it had been gathered and stitched. |
User: blessedmommyuv3
Member since: 05-18-2004 Total posts: 263
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From: SummersEchos
Date: 05-16-2005, 05:37 PM (4 of 20)
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They insert aida into towels and bibs and the such so you should be able to do it on a dress or top. I would wash it first to get some of the stiffness out. Lining I think would depend on what you are using to make the outfit out of. Summer Summer
FREE FALLIN |
User: SummersEchos
Member since: 09-29-2004 Total posts: 884 |
From: blessedmommyuv3
Date: 05-16-2005, 05:42 PM (5 of 20)
Thanks again, Summer  Thats exactly what I will do. |
User: blessedmommyuv3
Member since: 05-18-2004 Total posts: 263
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From: my2girlies
Date: 05-17-2005, 01:52 PM (6 of 20)
| My mother did this alot when she was still with us. I loved the outfits she made for my DD with cross stitch. She always put a backing of cotton material for summer or thin flannel for the winter on the back of the aida cloth. She also always used piping with bias cut material as a "frame" around the inset piece. They were almost always Gingham. Generally she would also make a peter pan style white collared shirt and pipe the collar with the same material and put a small cross stitch detail on the collar. There was one in particular I loved. A red gingham jumper - she made several different oval shaped plates that snapped on to the front of the dress - one with dd's name, one for Christmas, one for Valentine's and a couple of every day ones. These were smaller designs. She backed all of them and had what feels like several layers of stabilizer in these.She put small snaps on the back. Once again she piped around the ovals. I do believe she used the patterns for her smocked items to do this as the styles were identical. Once she cross stitched (sort of) a bishop style dress. Used a pleater and ran chalk lines horizontally across the pleats to form her squares for a guideline. I loved it - but she hated it. I actually had to rescue it from the trash bin. I say go for it!! The results are beautiful!! |
User: my2girlies
Member since: 03-25-2005 Total posts: 154 |
From: blessedmommyuv3
Date: 05-17-2005, 02:23 PM (7 of 20)
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Oh, thank you. Your reply was so encouraging. I am going to throw some aida in the washer and pick out a design. I think my youngest 2 dds would really love it. And I would love to be x-stitching again. Thanks so much!  Jen |
User: blessedmommyuv3
Member since: 05-18-2004 Total posts: 263
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From: DorothyL
Date: 05-17-2005, 05:01 PM (8 of 20)
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Jen You could also use a linen or other even weave that would be softer than aida. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: Zabelle
Date: 08-16-2005, 01:10 PM (9 of 20)
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As for the colorfastness of threads - regular DMC or Anchor threads shouldn't bleed. But brands of hand-dyed threads might! What a beautiful idea. English sewing journal: Kitty Couture
In French: Journal d'une cousette |
User: Zabelle
Member since: 02-25-2004 Total posts: 98 
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From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 08-16-2005, 06:39 PM (10 of 20)
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You better tape or bind all edges before you start.. That fabric ravels like crazy..... That is probably why the lady bound all her edges of her inserts..
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: DorothyL
Date: 08-16-2005, 07:56 PM (11 of 20)
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Don't tape it. Use a zig zag around the edge or serge it. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: blessedmommyuv3
Date: 08-17-2005, 12:54 PM (12 of 20)
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Thank you all so much for these great suggestions!!! Guess I'd better find some time to get started on one of these-lol! I've been so busy just getting the basics - jeans & knit tops- sewn, that I haven't had time to make anything really creative. Jen |
User: blessedmommyuv3
Member since: 05-18-2004 Total posts: 263
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From: SewAddict
Date: 08-18-2005, 09:05 PM (13 of 20)
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I think cross stitched inserts would be beautiful!!!! I would ziz zag your edges first. I would insert it with piping around the edges. Line it with a light batiste. The only floss colors I have had problems with running are reds. You should test them before you use them! These sound like gorgeous dresses. I hope you have pictures to share when you have finished one! Angela |
User: SewAddict
Member since: 06-03-2005 Total posts: 25 |
From: blessedmommyuv3
Date: 09-08-2005, 12:19 PM (14 of 20)
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Pics of the finished shirt with inset x-stitch And huge thank yous to you all who responded with such helpful suggestions and encouragement. DD #3 (6 yrs old) likes it alot & is wearing it to school today. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/PrincessJenny/gabbysxstitchshirt.jpg closeup of xstitch: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/PrincessJenny/gabbysxstitchcloseup.jpg |
User: blessedmommyuv3
Member since: 05-18-2004 Total posts: 263
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From: Zabelle
Date: 09-08-2005, 12:32 PM (15 of 20)
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Awww... So cute! Both the outfit and your daughter! She's a doll I love the way you matched the x-stitch design with the print. Well done! 
English sewing journal: Kitty Couture
In French: Journal d'une cousette |
User: Zabelle
Member since: 02-25-2004 Total posts: 98
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From: blessedmommyuv3
Date: 09-08-2005, 04:15 PM (16 of 20)
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Thanks so much I snuck the mouse in with the fruit just to spice things up a bit-lol! |
User: blessedmommyuv3
Member since: 05-18-2004 Total posts: 263
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From: DorothyL
Date: 09-08-2005, 06:42 PM (17 of 20)
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Turned out great. Keep her away from the Kool-Aid! Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: blessedmommyuv3
Date: 09-09-2005, 10:07 AM (18 of 20)
lol! Didn't think of that before hand!  Maybe the next aida inset will have to be done on a darker blue or black background! Thanks for the kind compliments.  Jen |
User: blessedmommyuv3
Member since: 05-18-2004 Total posts: 263
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From: SewAddict
Date: 09-09-2005, 09:16 PM (19 of 20)
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That turned out just beautiful! What a darling outfit....and daughter too!! Just curious, what method did you end up using to add the insert? Angela |
User: SewAddict
Member since: 06-03-2005 Total posts: 25 |
From: blessedmommyuv3
Date: 09-10-2005, 05:33 PM (20 of 20)
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Thank you I serged around the aida, x-stitched it, left it unlined and just sewed it in between the top and bottom portion of the peasant blouse. I then just trimmed it out with red bias tape. |
User: blessedmommyuv3
Member since: 05-18-2004 Total posts: 263
|
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