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Tracing Your Original Designs

© Sharon Washam

The resources for pre-stamped designs have dwindled over the past few years and choices become limited as to the designs that the beginner embroider would attempt. The beginner, however, can create his or her own designs and trace them onto the fabric. The following tips will help in this process.

Before you start the process of transferring designs, you will need some basic equipment. They are: Dressmaker's carbon and tracing wheel (smooth or serrated), tracing paper (ordinary paper can be used), powdered dressmaker's chalk, dressmaker's marking pencils and transfer pencils.

Hot-Iron Transfer

One of the easiest ways to stamp a design is to find hot-iron transfers which are preprinted designs on heat sensitive paper. You can find these in retail and craft stores or in some of the finer magazines. In transferring the designs, you do not use the steam setting of your iron. You should test the stamp on waste fabric for print and wash qualities before using it on your final project.

Make Your Own Transfer Using Transfer Pencil

1. Draw your design on heavy tracing paper. (Tip: You can use regular stock paper and trace against the pane of a window.)
2. Turn the paper over and trace over the lines with a transfer pencil.
3. Turn the paper over again and press the design onto the fabric.

Make Your Own Transfer Using Dressmaker's Carbon

1. Position the pattern on fabric with the pattern facing you.
2. Pin each corner so that pattern stays in place.
3. Slip dressmaker's carbon paper with carbon side down between the pattern and fabric.
4. Using the tracing wheel of your choice, copy the design lines of the pattern.

Transfer Your Design Using Hand Pricking (Pouncing) Method

1. Lay the pattern on a cork board.
2. With an awl or sharp pin, prick along the design of the pattern. (Tip: Keep holes close together.)
3. Put the pricked design on the fabric right side up.
4. With a felt pad, gently rub the dressmaker's chalk over the pricked design.
5. Remove the pattern carefully and gently blow off the excess chalk.
6. If you desire, you can use a dressmaker's pencil to connect the dots.

Transfer Your Design Using Machine Pricking (Pouncing) Method

In this method, you will prick the design onto the pattern using the sewing machine. Use the basting stitch width. Then follow steps 4 through 6 for the Hand Pricked Method.

The Computer Age

The following sites contain methods of transfers using your inkjet printer:

http://www.kodak.pt/US/en/digital/inkjet...

http://www.pcworld.com/software/internet...

http://www.hanes.com/home/2.html

Basic Tips for all Methods

Choose a simple design at first and a small project. Get used to making transfers until you are comfortable with them. When transferring your designs, remember to leave enough border around the design for your border. My favorite borders are crocheted thread edgings but store-bought lace works if you do not know how to crochet. Set up your work area where you will have plenty of light and very few distractions. You want to be able to draw the design in one sitting.

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