Friday, May 25, 2007

Acid-free interleaving paper?

Technical question here: if I choose to use acid-free interleaving paper for backing my squares, do I sew it all the way around the edge of my square first as the way to attach it? If so, how far in, about 1/4 inch or so? I've never done this before, so any advice will be most appreciated!

Thanks, Christi

4 comments:

Robin said...

Hi Christi... I just baste the fabric to the paper about a half inch or so in from the edge. I keep my beading within the basting stitches. When I'm ready to finish my piece, I tear away the paper from areas with no beading, like around the outer edge or any other area where I didn't bead. Hope this helps. Robin

Jackie (Tillie's Daughter) said...

Like Robin, I use the basting as a guide. I draw the shape of the finished piece on the acid free paper, then baste it to the fabric (I usually leave about 1/2 inch beyond the basting line). Viola -- you have your backing for your beading and your guide. Thanks, Robin, this really helped me.

Sweetpea said...

Thank you both, Robin & Beadin' Gram, that makes so much more sense to me now and gives me a guideline for an edge (which I was very confused about). Robin, since I have some of YOUR interleaving paper (thanks much!) it seemed a good option....but....as you now know, I wasn't quite sure how to use it. That makes a lot of sense to tear away the paper where there's no beading, too!
Christi

Mary Timme said...

Hi Christi,
I think your question has been answered by the pros, but I sometimes use it differently. I'll draw my design on the paper, color it in with acid free pens or coloring tools, then attach it my machine to the front of the piece. Then I bead it solidly and tear off the outside edges. I do this particularly when I have something figurative or that I have fractured. On this type of piece I usually have used size 15 beads and they are very small. I've also used a small stitch on my machine so it tears quite easily. If you'd like to see an example you can go to http://beadfluff.blogspot.com and the date of the blog is May 15th and the title is The Photo Above is Ready to take to the framers. It is just a different way of using it that I found works for me. I also use Robin's method except I go around the exact outside and then take the stitches out when I reach the end if I need to. I'm never good at guessing 1/2 " after the line is covered up is why I do that. So now you have two ways to choose from.

I also think that All of Robin's books are inspirational as are many others such as "The Beader's Guide To Color" by Margie Deeb.