An easy way to create smaller and smaller miniatures is to gradually take your techniques down in size. This is easily done with miniature needlework by using silk gauze for your miniature stitchery. A time honored material for fine petit point, silk gauze comes in sizes from 24 up as fine as 112 holes per inch. Wonderfully flexible, it is an easy material to start with at 30 - 40 holes per inch. If you try a simple cushion project in this size, you can refine your technique and move up to more detailed work on finer gauze.
You can work any of the miniature needlework charts on silk gauze. If you'd rather start with a ready made kit, most dolls house needlework suppliers have cushion kits suitable for beginners. I'll be showing a few more detailed projects in the coming months which use silk gauze as a base, including some designs for Christmas stockings and chairs and settees in 1:12 scale.
Comments
Great tips! Thanks, Lesley! And hey…stop by today and see the miniature cake and serving set Jeannette Lewis made with low-fire clay!
I get so excited when i receive the About.com email. Keep up the good work and all the wonderful miniature ideas. Thanks
Hi,
Good article. Where can I purchase the high count silk gauze such as in the 60 to 112 count range? OK, guess I am a demon for punishment but 40 count has become pretty easy to stitch. The 112 counts sounds so tempting… lol
If you do a web search for (number) count silk gauze you’ll find several suppliers, mostly in the UK. Kreinik in the U.S. list up to 90 count.
It is fun!