Tips for Curve Stitching
(Adapted from Curve
Stitching by Jon Millington, Tarquin
Publications, 2001)
Getting Started:
ALL MARKING IS
DONE ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE FILE FOLDER!!
Marking Lines: Use a
ruler to draw the lines and to make equal divisions on the lines. It won’t matter if you use inches or
centimeters, just choose a convenient length and mark it. Generally, ¼ in. marks work very well and do
not overcrowd the design. Also ½ in.
marks are too few and don’t allow the desired design to show.
Marking Circles: With
your compass, draw a circle of the desired size. I would suggest keeping it under 3 inches in
radius because a lot of thread is required for a design of this size. It is also very convenient to use your
protractor to draw your circle. It will
make marking off the angles extremely easy.
After you have the circle, you will need to divide the circumference
into a number of equal lengths. It is
always easier to work with whole numbers that divide evenly into 360. So, for instance, if you needed 36 points,
you would mark every 10 degrees on your circle.
If you wanted 30 points, you would mark every 12 degrees on your circle.
After you have marked all the points, take
a pin or the needle and poke holes in all of the points. This will make it easier when you are sewing.
How to sew a parabola:
Draw two lines to make an angle of any
size less than 180. Mark equal divisions
on each line. Label the lines A and
B. On line A, begin at the end of the
line and number each mark toward the vertex.
On line B, begin at the vertex and number each mark toward the end of
line B. Sew from A1 to B1, B2 to A2, A3
to B3, etc. until you are finished.
How to sew a circle: Eight
patterns are listed in the book. The
first six will be described below.
1. Equal chords –
1.
Mark out a 36 point circle
2.
Sew from each point to a point 15 steps further around the circle.
There is nothing magical about the
number 15. You may try other odd numbers if you desire, but the closer you get
to 18, the smaller your circle in the
middle will be.
2. Two sets of equal chords-
1.
Mark out a 36 point circle.
2.
Using the first color, sew from each point to a point 11 steps further around the circle.
3.
Using the second color, sew from each point to a point 15 steps further around the circle.
Again, there is nothing special about
these numbers. You may choose others if you like.
3. Nine point mystic rose –
1.
Mark out a nine point circle.
2.
Join every point to each of the other points.
3.
It is probably best to sew all the longest threads first, then the next longest, etc. On the back, all threads cross only as far as
an adjacent hole.
4. Twelve point mystic rose –
1.
Mark out a 12 point circle.
2.
Join every point to each of the other points.
3.
It is probably best to sew all the longest threads first. No threads cross the back but only go to the adjacent hole.
5. An incomplete mystic rose.
1.
Mark out a 40 point circle.
2.
Starting at the top, mark 4 equally spaced points.
3.
Sew from each marked point to every other point. The back of this design looks very much like the front.
6.
1.
Mark out a 36 point circle.
2.
Mark the bottom point and the points two steps away on either side.
3. Sew each marked point to every other
point. The back of this design looks very much like the front.