Surface Embellishments

Surface Embellishment: is an important component of freeform, it’s a great way of bringing your personality, your style & your skills to your work & putting your own stamp on your project. There are 1000’s of ways to embellish; the following are but a few basics that I hope you find helpful & encourage you to experiment…

1. Surface Slip stitch: start where required, with right side facing & yarn at back, insert hook into sp between 2 sts & draw up a loop, * insert hook in next sp between 2 sts just made as required (above, or to the left or right) & draw up a loop through base-fabric & loop on hook, repeat from * to end, finish off & weave in tail ends on wrong side

2. Surface Slip Stitch can also be worked as follows: start where required, with right side facing & yarn at front, insert hook under a loop of stitch & draw up a loop, 1 ch to secure, * insert hook under next stitch loop (above, or to the left or right) & draw up a loop through stitch loop & loop on hook, repeat from * to end, finish off & weave in tail ends on wrong side. Use this method to bring in yarn for dc (US sc) & ruffles

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Crochet Dots: cut a long length of yarn approx 1metre (40”) or more – start where required, with right side facing & yarn at front, insert hook under a loop of stitch & draw up a loop, *1 ch to secure, * YO, insert hook under same loop & draw up a loop** (repeat from * to ** as many times as desired depending on size dot required), YO & draw through all loops on hook, 1 ch to close, then draw through remaining unused yarn, take this long end to wrong side & bring it back up where the next dot is required **, repeat from * to ** until yarn runs out

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Outlining & defining motifs: 

Stem stitch: is a versatile embroidery st that I use a lot… work in contrasting thread or even 2 threads at a time… it’s simple & quick

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Couching Stitch is another favourite: one yarn lies free on the surface & another yarn is used to tack it down. Use contrasting yarns, ribbons or cords.

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Crab stitch: (reverse dc (US sc)) – Although Crab stitch is most often used as edging, creating a rope-like finished edge to your project, it’s also a versitile stitch that can be used in freefom to tidy an unsightly seam or join or as an embellishment to liven up a dull, uniteresting patch. Crab stitch can be a little tricky at first but is soon mastered with a bit of patience & practice.

Crab st: (reverse dc (US sc)) always worked on right side & in the opposite direction as usual – join yarn as required, 1 ch, * insert hook into the next st on right, YO & draw up a loop, YO & draw through both loops on hook, repeat from * across

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Surface Ruffles: are made by working many stitches (5 – 8 – 10 – 15 sts depending on yarn used or desired effect) into a single stitch, these can be crochet or knit, both work well. Knit ruffles tend to lie flat while crochet ruffles will sit more upright.

Crochet ruffle: bring in yarn as for slip stitch (2) instruction & work across your fabric as desired.

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Knit ruffle: pick up stitches directly from fabric with your needle, then knit into the front & back of each stitch across, repeat for 2 or 3 rows more

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Buttons, Beads & Braids:

Buttons are an old favourite; we all have a stash of interesting buttons that we’ve collected over the years

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Beading: is time consuming but can make a real difference to your project. As a general rule I leave all beading work to last so that I can place them exactly where I want them. However, you can also bead as you go by stringing the beads onto your yarn before starting to crochet or knit. The following are just a few ideas for bringing some bling to your work:

How to thread small beads onto your yarn

1. Each bead is sewn on separately

2. String beads then attach every 2^nd or 3^rd bead to fabric

3. Attaching sequins for a scale effect

4. Attaching sequins with back stitch

5. Attaching sequins with a single back stitch

6. Attaching sequins with a tiny bead

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Braids & Cords: can be purchased pre-made from any good drapery but you can make attractive ones yourself by twisting, crocheting or felting interesting yarns together

Twisted cord: you’ll need a friend to help, with as many strands or threads desired & approx 3 times the length needed for your finish cord, knot each end & slip over a pencil or knitting stick, keep yarn taut while each person twists in opposite directions, when your cord is very tight, catch the centre (use a door knob or chair rail), bring pencils together for your friend to hold, then find the centre of your cord & slowly & evenly release it so that it twists onto itself, knot ends together to secure

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Crochet Cord: you can find instruction for this crochet cord on the Novel Stitches page

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Weaving yarn, ribbons or cords through crochet mesh can create simple but stunning effects

Use multiple threads to weave though crochet mesh – leave long tail ends that can later be fasten as you would for tassels

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Weaving ribbon: estimating the length of ribbon required can be difficult so it’s always a good idea to make a trial weave before cutting – leave approx 12 cm (5”) for turn over at end, fasten with safety pin & weave ribbon through to end – fasten with safety pin, leaving enough for turn over – neatly sew turned over ends.

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Fancy Rouleau fastening & frogging are coming back into vogue – the following is a basic guide for those who’d like to give it a try – fabric tubing (cords) can be purchased from most good draperies – use single strands or twist, plait multiple strands together

To make the more elaborate Rouleau fastening: draw your loop shapes onto a piece of cardboard – with cord seam facing, follow your drawing to shape your fabric tubing or cord & hold with pins – stitch all the loop crossings securely being mindful that your ends must be neatly hidden & secure, when satisfied that your Rouleau fastening is the way you want, give it a light press – re-used the cardboard master to make more of the same – experiment with different cords, colours , buttons & beads….