Jenny Haskins Designs 2002

ANTIQUE CUTWORK TABLECLOTH

Jenny Haskins 2002
Cutwork is traditionally done by hand with an antique cutwork tablecloth as the inspiration for this embroidery CD.
Instead of taking years to complete this magnificent tablecloth, thanks to modern day technology, this intricate
cutwork can be done in a matter of weeks with a minimum of effort and cutting with a maximum effect.
MATERIALS:

1yd x 54in (1m x 137cm) fine white linen fabric

9 1/3yd x 7 1/2in (9m x 20cm) edging lace
Antique cutwork embroidery CD by Jenny Haskins
Software and transfer device to download embroidery designs to the sewing machine/card
Vellum tracing paper to print design templates
Soluble stabilizer such as Romeo
Photocopy paper for added stabilizer
Threads: white cotton 30/40 denier or rayon 40 embroidery thread for needle
Pre-wound fine bobbin such as Madeira
Fabric-marking pen purple (air) /blue (water) fading
Basting spray
Quilting ruler, rotary cutter and self-healing cutting mat
Small sharp scissors
Pins

TECHNIQUES:

1.)

Marking the Linen:

a.)
b.)
c.)

2.)

Use a heavy-duty spray starch and a hot steam iron to press the linen using several coats of spray
starch ironing in between coats.
Use the quilting ruler and fabric-marking pen to draw lines on the vertical, horizontal and diagonal that
intersect in the center of the linen rectangle.
The intersecting lines dividing the fabric are now used as guidelines for placement of the embroidery
cutwork designs always measure from the center of the fabric to the outside edge to maintain the
center of the total design.

Printing and marking the Vellum embroidery placement templates:

a.)
b.)

c.)

Use the software and the vellum tracing paper to print all the embroidery designs needed to make the
cutwork tablecloth.
Use a small sharp object to punch holes through the printed designs on the Vellum, in the center and
on either side of the center on the vertical and horizontal lines that intersect through the center of the
printed design. These holes are used for marking placement positions with a fabric-marking pen for the
embroidery design on the tablecloth.
Place the template over the fabric, then use the fabric-marking pen to mark through the holes punched
in the template. Use a ruler and the fabric marking pen to connect the dots vertical and horizontal
lines that intersect through the center. This center position and the intersecting lines mark the starting
position of the design (center) and vertical and horizontal lines to keep the design straight.

Jenny Haskins Designs 2002

DIAGRAM NO. 1

Position to hole punch the vellum

3.)

Combining templates to form one design:

a.)
The following designs on the tablecloth are combination designs:
center, made up of two combination designs Cutwork 4a and 4b
center of the long sides, cutwork 3a and 3b
diagonal corners, cutwork 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d
b.)
Place the templates that go to make up a single design together, overlaying them to form a single
design then hold in place with pins.
c.)
Find the center of the single design (combined templates) by folding the design on the vertical and
horizontal so these folds intersect through the center of the total design. Use a ruler and pen to mark
in the lines over the folds.
d.)
Refer to step No2 (b) and (c) and mark in the positioning lines for the first section of the design. When
this section of the design is embroidered use the second (and subsequent) template/s to make up the
complete design lining the next section of the design up against the previously embroidered section of
the design.

Jenny Haskins Designs 2002

A
C

A
C

A
C

C
A
A Template placement points for design Cutwork3a
B Template placement points for design Cutwork3b
C Center of combined design

4.)

B
DIAGRAM NO.2

How to use the Cutwork Embroidery Designs:

NOTE: All Cutwork embroidery uses soluble stabilizer in the hoop, spray adhesive, size-80 Microtex needle, and fine
pre wound bobbin and white cotton thread in the needle.
a.)
b.)
c.)
d.)

Place the soluble stabilizer in the 125mm x 240mm embroidery hoop and spray with basting spray then
place hoop in the machine
Place the fabric in the hoop matching the center of the intersecting placement lines under the needle
and making sure the vertical/horizontal lines match the corresponding marks on the hoop.
Use the outline basting function on the machine to secure the fabric to the stabilizer.
Place a piece of photocopy paper under the hoop (soluble stabilizer) then embroider the design/first
section of a multi hooped design.

Jenny Haskins Designs 2002

e.)

Remove hoop from machine not fabric from hoop and use a small sharp pair of scissors to cut away
the fabric only from inside the running stitches that designate the area that will have cutwork bars
embroidered over, in the embroidery design be careful not to cut the soluble stabilizer.

TIP: If you accidentally cut the stabilizer, add more stabilizers to the top of the embroidery in the areas needed. If
the paper comes away at the back of the embroidery, place a new piece at the back to embroider the cutwork
bars.
f.)
g.)

Place hoop back in the machine to complete the embroidery.

Remove hoop from machine, unpick basting stitching then cut away excess soluble stabilizer and
remove the photocopy paper from the back of the design.

NOTE: Do not worry if you have small pieces of paper left in intricate design areas of the cut work, this will come
away when the stabilizer is washed out and a small brush removes those stubborn pieces.
PREPARATION:
1.)
2.)

Referring to the techniques section, mark the intersecting lines on the fabric rectangle to be used for
the cloth, following the directions in step No 1.
Refer to diagram No 3 using a fabric-marking pen and ruler to mark the cutting edge of the cloth and
the embroidery rectangle 6in (15cm) inside the cutting edge on the fabric for the tablecloth. The inside
marked rectangle denotes the guide line to center each design over when embroidering.

6" (15cm)

Red line edge of fabric

Blue line actual cutting edge of cloth
Green line center line for embroidery placement
Circle corner designs
Square center long side designs
Star center short side designs

51 (130cm)

51 (130cm)

DIAGRAM NO. 3

6 (15cm)

33 (84cm)

3.)

Print, mark and combine printed placement templates of the designs following the directions in Step
No 2 and No 3.

Jenny Haskins Designs 2002

EMBROIDERY SEQUENCE:
DIAGRAM NO. 4
5a

5b

5c

2a

5d

5a

5d
5c
5b

s
1a

3a

Black
Embroidery
design number
Red
Embroidery
sequence
number

13

4b

14

3b

3a

n
4a

4b

11

1a

4a

3b

1a

12

5b

1a

q
5d

5d

5a

5c

2a

5b

5a

Jenny Haskins Designs 2002

4.)

Make sure you identify the areas in the design that have the fabric cut away from the front of the hoop
inside the straight stitch area of the design that is to have the free standing cutwork bars embroidered
over refer to the vellum print out. You may choose to mark these areas with a colored pen to make
them easier to identify once the embroidery is done.
5.)
The embroidery designs are in several colors, you may choose to use shades of one color or do them
all in the one color I do not however recommend that you use several different or bright colors as I
personally do not think they enhance these designs.
6.)
Embroider the tablecloth using the embroidery layout diagram (diagram No 4) and diagram No 3 as a
guide to positioning the designs and referring to the embroidery sequence marked on diagram No 4 to
embroider the cutwork designs. These are very large designs and in some cases a combination design
could take up to 4 hours to embroider, so be patient it is worth it.
center (1), combination cutwork 4a and 4b
center (2), combination cutwork 4a and 4b mirrored to and matching up to center (1)
diagonal corners (3, 4, 5 and 6) combination cutwork 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d. I prefer to embroider cutwork 5b,
then cutwork 5c, 5d, and finish with 5a.
center of long sides (7 and 8) combination cutwork 3a and 3b
center of short sides (9 and 10) cutwork 2a
centered between the corner designs and the center design on the long side of the tablecloth (11, 12, 13,
and 14) cutwork 1a
connecting the designs cutwork 6 a, b, c, d, e, f these bars should be positioned to suit the distance
between the designs and can be used to suit the space. (This allows for any small deviations from the mean in
embroidery.) Note where the bars join the larger embroidery designs so as to appear as an extension of the
larger designs the designs See diagram No 5 on page No.7.
FINISHING THE TABLECLOTH OFF:
7.)

8.)
9.)
10.)
11.)

When all the embroidery is complete and you have removed all the paper and as much of the stabilizer
as possible from the back of the embroidery and any excess thread or jump threads soak the fabric in
warm soapy water, swishing it around in the water at regular intervals and repeating the process if
necessary. Finish with hot water to rinse the cloth; making sure the water is clear before the final
rinse. Fold the cloth in a towel, and roll and squeeze to remove excess water, and then dry in the
shade.
Press with a hot steam iron from the wrong side of the embroidery over a towel to keep the
embroidery high.
Square the cloth up using the marked cutting edge as a guide remember the cloth size can vary
according to the amount of embroidery on it.
Attach the edging lace, mitering the corners, in your preferred method.
You may choose to use a wing needle and a hem stitch to add a finishing effect to edge of the lace
then cut away any excess fabric from the back of the lace.

Use and show off your cloth with pride, this will be an heirloom to pass on to many generations.
Do not limit yourself to this one project there are many ways to use these designs on clothing, curtains, pillows and
table runners not to mention sheets and pillow cases, so let your imagination run wild.

Created and produced by Unique Creative Opportunities Pty Ltd, Sydney

Text, photographs, machine embroidery and project designs copyright Jenny Haskins 2002
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or
introduced into a retrieval system, transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise),
without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. The notes may be printed for personal use only.

Jenny Haskins Designs 2002

DIAGRAM NO. 5