About Miniature Needlework

Carol Leather and Miniature Needlework...

Note: While building my website's section about miniature needlework, I was fortunate to meet Carol Leather online. From England, Carol is an accomplished needlework's artisan. As a teacher and designer she has traveled around England attending shows, workshops and shops, teaching blackwork, cross stitch, hardanger, needlepoint, and more for over 11 years.

She has traveled to the The Heart of Cross Stitch Show at Cherry Hill to share her artistry and skills with like-minded friends and stitchers here in the United States. She is now the proud owner of her own website and online business, Needlework Tips and Techniques

I felt so privileged and honored when she accepted my invitation to share with us some of her insights into dolls house miniature needlework. Here are her comments:

Miniature needlework...

Is miniature needlework necessary for your doll's house? Well we all love comfort don't we? Bare wooden chairs don't have the same appeal as those with padded seats and can you imagine a bed without smooth sheets and an attractive quilt or eiderdown? Just like our own houses a miniature dolls house wouldn't be complete without those finishing touches that make a house into a home.

Tiny things have a universal appeal and miniature needlework is no exception. It is no more difficult to create mini samplers than those of normal size; we just need to choose different materials.

What can I use miniature needlework for?

Anything that would use fabrics in our own homes can be re-created for your doll house. Cushions, rugs or carpets, chair seats, samplers, tablecloths, footstools and bed linen can be stitched in miniature. You could even hang embroidered Christmas stockings from the mantlepiece during the holiday period.

Don't forget the inhabitants of your miniature world. They need clothes and accessories which can be stitched, knitted or crocheted.

Fabrics for miniature embroidery...

When working fine miniature needlework the “count” of the fabric or canvas is important. If each stitch is worked over a fabric thread, the smaller that thread the more detail you can fit into a tiny area. Therefore, the higher the count, the smaller the resulting miniature embroidery will be.

For one twelfth scale needlework I would suggest not using anything bigger than 18 count canvas. For a softer feel, you could try using 22 count hardanger fabric or the slightly finer 28 count evenweave, which drapes well.

Although it sounds scary 30 or 40 count silk gauze is ideal for miniature needlework. The threads making up the cloth are very fine, leaving an easy to see gap in between them. In fact I find working on this easier than using 28 count evenweave where the fabric threads are thicker.

What threads can I use?

It is important to keep everything to the same scale; thick threads on fine fabrics would not give us the right effect. A single strand of embroidery floss works well on the fabrics I mentioned above. If you are working on canvas you may prefer to use fine crewel wool which is available in a wide range of colours.

For a luxurious piece of work you cant beat real silk. It isn't the easiest fibre to work with however, and will catch if you have any rough skin on your hands.

What equipment will I need?

Like with other miniature work, good lighting is essential. A daylight lamp will also make it easier to distinguish the different coloured threads from each other.

To avoid straining your eyes when working on fine fabrics a magnifier may also prove useful. There are various types, some you wear around your neck, others clip to your glasses, and still more stand on the table. Some daylight lamps also have magnifiers included, perhaps on an adjustable stem so they can be positioned where you need them.

As the fabric pieces you will be working on are small, mounting them in a frame will make the work easier. You can use a wooden embroidery hoop or rectangular frame for the purpose. If you are working on silk gauze you can make a frame from four lengths of stiff cardboard, taping the gauze to the back, to hold it square.

You cant sew without a needle of course, but it is important to use the correct size. Too big and it will push the fabric threads aside and create holes where you don't want them. Too small and it will be difficult to thread.

Sharp, fine pointed scissors are handy for snipping loose threads close to the work.

Get stitching!

Armed with your fabric, threads and equipment you are set to create soft furnishings that any tiny family would be pleased to own. Have fun!

Step into my world, that of a needlework designer living in the lovely English countryside and share with me your love of all types of stitching. Together we will explore everything and anything connected with needlework. Whether you want to learn a new technique or more about the one you already love. We will cover blackwork, cross stitch, hardanger, needlepoint and other types of whitework.

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