Impressions - April 2019 - 35

Stephen Wilson's "Laughing in the
Face of Casualty and Sorrow" was
completed in 2018 in oil and pigment
on board with embroidered butterflies.
Its diameter is 48 inches.

Wilson has
captured the
look of fine
embroidery
in textile art,
introducing
precision on
the art side
with specialty
threads.
A master-level digitizer, Wilson has been creating embroidery designs and quilting patterns for more than 20 years. His
understanding of the technology behind embroidery design
and digitizing serves him well when bringing to life his 3-D
statements on luxury, fashion, Americana, arts and crafts, quilting - all while capturing attention and leaving others asking,
"How did he do that?"
Enter Metallics
To stand out from the norm, Wilson first used metallic embroidery thread. He incorporated it into a collection titled
"Winter Wonderland" using silver metallic thread to enhance
snowflakes, stars, snowmen and ice skates. Silver borders and
other embellishments also are supplied for embroiderers to
create pillows, quilts and wall hangings for all sorts of home
décor. Suggested needles were kept to #75/11, since 40- and
50-weight metallic threads were specified.
"The fact that the home-embroidery side was only
using rayon and polyester thread really drew me in to using
other special-effect threads,"Wilson says."In the beginning, the
home-embroidery side didn't see these types of special-effect
threads being used and I wanted to use them in my art to make
them visible, and then educate the consumer on how to use
them on their own machines."
Beyond the Basics
Just how much is too much when it comes to special effects and
the extra time required to prepare a machine to stitch a design
that requires something other than 40- or 50-weight thread?
There's a reason Anita Goodesign's offerings specify #75/11

needles and don't require a needle change.Time is an important
factor when it comes to embroidery production. Slowing machine speed - as some threads demand - changing a needle or
checking tensions are necessary for ensuring best results when
threads are used for special effects.
While a smooth, 50-weight metallic thread can be substituted
into a stock design digitized for 40-weight thread, other metallics
that are twisted, or 20- or 30-weight, not only require a larger
needle (#90/14), but also increasing density from 4.0 to 6.0 for
a 30-weight thread, or as high as 8.0 for a 20-weight metallic
thread, which requires a #100/16 needle.There is a wide range
of metallic embroidery threads available, giving embroiderers
a variety of options, from highlights in a stock design to focal
points that need to be digitized specifically to accommodate the
thread's thickness or twists.
Following a manufacturer's recommendations will deliver best
results with some of the more demanding metallics.
Hand-Embroidered Looks
Some thick wool or cotton-blend embroidery threads can provide a hand-embroidered look, even though the design has been
stitched on a commercial machine."Typically, the public is used
to seeing this type of art as being more primitive or Americana
in style,"Wilson says.
He has captured the look of fine embroidery in textile art, introducing precision on the art side with specialty threads. He also
can charge more money for designs that require more knowledge
to execute - a winning commercial venture.
"I want to be able to showcase the capability of these materials,
increasing the desire of the general public to seek out and create
unique looks and artistic embroidery," he says.
APRIL 2019

P.35
Impressions - April 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Impressions - April 2019
