Sewing Techniques

Trapunto

Trapunto, often found on quilts, home décor and garments is a padded decorative design. One method is to simply stitch a design with a water-soluble thread on the right side of the fabric through one or more layers of cotton or polyester

Materials

Darning presser foot
11/75 needle or machine embroidery needle
Water soluble thread
Lightweight neutral coloured thread
Embroidery thread
Quilt wadding (batting)
Backing fabric

Getting started

Lower the machine feed dogs and install the darning foot. Thread the 11/75 needle or embroidery needle with water soluble thread and fill the bobbin with a lightweight neutral coloured thread.

Stitching a Trapunto design

1. Transfer the design to the right side of the fabric. Pin or baste a single or double layer of wadding to the wrong side of the fabric, behind the design area.

2. Place the wadding and fabric under the darning foot with the right side up. Bring up the bobbin thread and hold both threads. Straight stitch just inside the marked design line.

3. Stitch the entire design. Remove the fabric from the machine and cut the excess wadding close to and outside the stitching on the wrong side.

4. Secure a piece of backing fabric or interfacing (large enough to cover the design area) to the wrong side, sandwiching the wadding. Baste the layers together. Rethread the machine with decorative thread.

5. With right sides up, stitch over the original stitching lines. This stitching is permanent so be sure to stitch slowly.

6. Immerse the fabric in cool water to dissolve the water-soluble thread. Dry the trapunto flat and block to shape.

Further information

This technique has been reproduced from Singer’s Simple Decorative Machine Stitching book. This useful guide presents dozens of techniques and creative stitches that you will refer to again and again. Spiral bound for ease of use when sewing, Simple decorative Machine Stitching is published by CPI and the rrp is £12.99 (ISBN 978-1-58923-341-6)

ISEW Offer

ISEW browsers can buy this book at the special price of £10.99 with free post and packing (to UK addresses only). Valid until end May. To order please call Grantham Book Services on tel: 01476 541080 or email: orders@gbs.tbs-ltd.co.uk quoting discount code DL15.