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Working on Black
Designs stitched on black or very dark fabric are very dramatic and eye-catching. Working on these colors, however, poses some unusual challenges. The following tips should make the experience less frustrating.
- Be sure you have
sufficient light. Dark fabrics absorb light, making it necessary to
boost or supplement your light source.
- Place a white
or very light colored covering on your lap if you stitch in hand. The
light covering will show through, making the holes in the fabric more
visible.
- If you are using
a floor stand, arrange to have a light source shining indirectly
on your work underneath; this will also highlight the holes in the fabric.
- If necessary,
use a magnifier. The combination of a dark fabric and a fine thread
count may simply be too much for eyes that would be fine dealing with
either one or the other of these characteristics alone.
- If you are very tired, don't stitch on anything that requires intense concentration.
If you chose to stitch a design on a very dark fabric, and the piece was not designed specifically for it, you may want to consider the following:
- Black (and to
a lesser extent, other dark colors) tend to "wash out" the colors stitched
on them.
- Many lighter
color shades may appear either white or very pale when placed on black;
be aware that subtle shading in a design not specifically designed for
dark fabrics may be "lost".
- Designs with bright or intense colors and uncomplicated shading will translate to black fabric the most successfully.
© 2000-2008 TW Designworks