These days adding bling in the form of jewels or other embellishments has become very popular. In fact canvases often come, as this did, with the embellishments included. When considering adding jewels you need to take into account both the kind of jewel it is and the method you’ll be using to put it on your canvas. These jewels can come in any size, shape, or color.
These jewels are sew-on plastic jewels. You can also sometimes find these in glass. What unites them all is that they have one or more holes drilled in them that allow you to sew them onto fabric or canvas. Generally they have flat backs, as these did, so they will sit flat against the fabric.
A newer type of jewel, made for needlework and other crafts is the hot fix jewel. These embellishments have a heat-activated glue on the back. You use a special iron to heat the glue and place it onto your item. Once cooled the glue is permanent. Because the jewel size is limited by the tool’s tip (they have to be the same size), these jewels are small.
The final type of jewel has neither holes nor glue one the back, these are plain jewels, for lack of a better word. They cannot be sewn on unless use create stitching around them, such as creating a cup or using a Shisha technique. If you don’t want stitching around your jewel you will need to use a strong 2-sided adhesive (Kreinik sells some) or glue.
Usually with sew-on jewels matching colors of embroidery floss are suggested to sew them on. I’m pretty sure this advice came from a time when metallics were not available in colors. The matte texture of floss would show up against the glittery jewel.
Metallics in a matching color are a far better choice. Their sparkle causes them to disappear against the jewel. When the color matches (red and green jewels here), you can’t see the stitching. When the match is not exact (the blue here), it is still not obtrusive.
Use thin metallics, either #4 or Petite in Rainbow Gallery. You will want to make multiple stitches but these give you the best control.
You do not need to use a beading needle, generally a #24 needle or smaller will work.
Bring your needle out of the canvas and thread one end of the jewel on it. You will need to hold the jewel steady against the canvas until both ends have been secured by at least one stitch. You will use more thread but hold less if you make the second stitch in a different hole. You will use less thread but you will need to hold longer if you make several stitches at the first end before securing the second end.
I used both but was more comfortable holding the jewel for less time.
If your canvas doesn’t come with jewels, you can always got to your local craft shop to buy them. You will usually find them near the beads. Take your canvas with you so that you can test fit what you find.
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
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