1. Fabric Enhancement
Fabric Enhancement

2. Fabric Enhancement Fabric Enhancement
There are many different decorative techniques that can be used to embellish fabrics and make them look more attractive.
You will find many of them on the following slides, but if you discover a new decorative technique that you think should be included on this PowerPoint, then please do let us know and we will put it on here for everyone to see.

3. Applique Fabric Enhancement
In the context of textiles, an appliqué refers to a needlework technique in which pieces of fabric, embroidery, or other materials are sewn onto another piece of fabric to create designs, patterns or pictures.
Fabric shapes are cut out and then tacked, glued of fused into place and then sewn around either by hand or by machine.
Reverse applique is when layers of fabric are sewn down and then the top layers are cut away to reveal the layers underneath.
This technique is particularly good for:
Children’s textile products because it is safe and washable.
Bags, cushions, home furnishings

4. Quilting Fabric Enhancement
This is a layering technique in which there is an outer (top) layer of fabric, then some inner soft padding and an underlining fabric. These are stitched in a pattern either by hand or machine. This creates texture, pattern and warmth.
This technique is particularly good for:
Warm clothing – it adds insulating properties to fabric.
Home furnishings
Upholstery products

5. Quilting Fabric Enhancement
English quilting is where two layers of fabric are stitched together with wadding placed in between.
Italian corded quilting is where pairs of parallel lines are sewing and then cord or wool is threaded through them to make a raised pattern.
Trapunto quilting is padded after the stitching is completed leaving a design that stands out in relief. The enclosed stitched shapes are slit in the back and padded from behind, the slit is then sewn up.

6. Embroidery Fabric Enhancement This technique is particularly good for:
Embroidery is the art or handicraft of decorating fabric or other materials with needle and thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as metal strips, pearls, beads, quills, and sequins.
Embroidery can be done either by hand or by machine, and can be applied before or after the construction of a textile product. There are many different types of embroidery from traditional techniques on the one hand to Cad Cam on computerised sewing machines.
This technique is particularly good for:
A wide range of different textile products
It is usually decorative
It can be functional. E.g. around a button hole, or neatening an edge

7. Hand Embroidery Fabric Enhancement
There are three basic hand embroidery stitches:
Flat stitches: these lie on the surface of the fabric, e.g. running stitch, satin stitch and cross stitch.
Knotted stitches add texture to a fabric, e.g. french and bullion knots.
Linked stitches are stitches that loop together like chain and daisy stitch.
By varying the stitch sizes, changing threads and combining different stitches there is enormous scope to be creative.
French Knots: these are made by looping the thread around the needle.
Chain stitch:
The first looped chain is held down with the next stitch to form a chain.
Satin stitch:
Repeated long horizontal or diagonal stitches that sit on the surface of the fabric worked parallel and closely together.
Petal chain stitch
Blanket stitch:
Used to strengthen the edges of blankets.
Cross stitch:
Often used on fabric with an even weave.

8. Machine Embroidery Fabric Enhancement
Computerised machine embroidery (CAD CAM).
Computerised sewing machines can be used to embroider complex designs onto fabric. Designs created on a computer can then be made into stitch files that the machine can read and sew. The fabric has to be put into a hoop and stabiliser of some sort used to stabilise the fabric during the machining process.

9. Machine Embroidery Fabric Enhancement Freehand machine embroidery
To create free-hand machine embroidery, the embroiderer moves tightly hooped fabric under the needle to create a design. The operator lowers or covers the "feed dogs" or machine teeth and moves the hoop around.
This technique is effectively using the machine as a pencil and drawing with it, and so a variety of stitches can be used, from straight stitch to a tight zigzag to convey thicker lines. This is often used in art textiles.

10. Couching Fabric Enhancement
In embroidery, couching and laid work are techniques in which yarn or other materials are laid on the fabric and fastened in place with small stitches of the same or a different yarn. The couching threads may be either the same colour as the laid threads or a contrasting colour. When couching threads contrast with laid threads, patterns may be worked in the couching stitches.

11. Machine Embroidery Fabric Enhancement
Decorative stitches on our big Janome embroidery machine

12. Patchwork Fabric Enhancement
This is the technique of joining together pieces of fabric to make another fabric, it is a good way of recycling fabrics. Patchwork is traditionally hand sewn, but a machine can be used to speed things up.
This technique is particularly good for:
Many different textile products, but especially associated with bedspreads and quilts.
Bags, cushions, home furnishings
Clothing.

13. Patchwork Fabric Enhancement
This is the technique of joining together pieces of fabric to make another fabric, it is a good way of recycling fabrics. Patchwork is traditionally hand sewn, but a machine can be used to speed things up.
This technique is particularly good for:
Many different textile products, but especially associated with bedspreads and quilts.
Bags, cushions, home furnishings
Clothing.

14. Beads, sequins etc Fabric Enhancement
Beads, sequins, diamantes, buttons, studs etc are added to decorate by adding colour and texture, and catching the light and adding weight. They can be sewn, glued, heat pressed or machine stitched in place.
Beads can be stitched down individually or threads of beads can be couched down.

15. Key facts to remember The exam: Fabric Enhancement Key words:
Applique
Quilting
Patchwork
Beading
Embroidery.
Key facts to remember
Different enhancement techniques suit different purposes.
Safety (in the case of children) and comfort are important considerations.
Many of these techniques are time consuming and add to the cost.
The exam:
You may need to write out and sketch instructions in the exam for how to do one of the decorative techniques. Make sure that you know how to do applique and quilting.