US3779190A

US3779190A - Method of working tartan or gingham on canvas

Info

Publication number: US3779190A
Application number: US00262483A
Authority: US
Inventors: S Hower
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-06-14
Filing date: 1972-06-14
Publication date: 1973-12-18
Anticipated expiration: 1990-12-18

Abstract

A method of preparing a canvas for needlework, and of making a tartan or gingham pattern on canvas, comprises tramming both horizontal and vertical rows of canvas to form an intersection of yarn which defines the combination of colors and the boundaries of the pattern. The yarn is secured to the canvas with yarn of the same colors used in the trame to complete the pattern.

Description

United States Patent 1 Hower Dec. 18, 1973 [54] METHOD OF WORKING TARTAN 0R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS GINGHAM ON CANVAS 149 468 5/1937 Austria .1 112/266 [76] Inventor: Sara Hower, 101 Manorview Rd., 73.339 1/1894 Germany .7 112/266 Scott Township, Pa. 15220 P mary Examiner-Werner H. Schroeder [22] Flied' June 1972 Aii0rne v-William H. Logsdon [21] Appi. No.: 262,483

[57] ABSTRACT 52 us. Cl. 112/262 A method of Preparing a canvas for needlework, a 51 Int. Cl. D05b 95/00, D05b 97/00 of making a tartan or g g pattern on canvas, 58 Field of Search 112/78, 116, 262, Comprises tramming both horizontal and vertical ro 112/266 439 of canvas to form an intersection of yarn which defines the combination of colors and the boundaries of [56] References Cit d the pattern. The yarn is secured to the canvas with UNITED STATES PATENTS yarn of the same colors used in the tram to complete the pattern. 1,869,386 8/[932 Marzak 112/266 X 1,185,245 5/1916 Sadtler 112/266 X 10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ll l2 B B B R B R R B B B B B Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y B B' B R B R R B B B B B 2 e I e G e e G e G e e G 5 R B B i/ G G G G G G s 6 6 6 6 6 B B B B B B B B B 4 R R R R R R R R R R R R /10 B B B R B R R B B B B B- B 5 s e s e s e e e e e G e 6 B B B R B R B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B 7 R R R R R R R R R R R R R 8 B B B R B R R B B B B B B G G G G G G G G G G G G G 9 B B B R B R R B B B B B B G G G G G G G G G G G G G B B B R B R R B B B B B B e s e e e e s G e e e e e METHOD OF WORKING TARTAN OR GINGHAM ON CANVAS This invention relates to needlework and particularly to a method of hand stitching a canvas to produce multi-colored patterns thereon. My method is especially applicable to making tartan plaid patterns on canvas, such as a pattern on the Andrew Carnegie Memorial Kneeler which is presently lodged in St. Johns Chapel of the National Cathedral in Washington, D. C.

The art of needlework is many centuries old. In that time, many hundreds of different hand stitches have been used. While a complete listing of all the stitches is not feasible, most of the basic, often-used stitches are cataloged, for example in the Dictionary of Embroidery Stiches, Thomas, I-Iodder and Stoughton Ltd. (London, 1965) and in Needlepoint for Everyone, Picken and White, Harper and Row (New York, 1970).

A number of different methods have been used in canvas work to determine where the stitches are to be placed on the canvas to produce the desired final colored needlework pattern. In one case, the canvas itself has been colored by oil paint or silk screening to identit'y where a stitch is to be placed as well as what color yarn is to be used in the stitch. Another method is the art of tram by which colors to be worked on canvas with a needle are indicated. Trame' is an underlay of colored yarn placed over the horizontal meshes in a canvas, usually a double thread canvas.

Particularly in making tartan plaids and gingham, since tartan plaids require yarns of at least two or more colors and gingham requires yarns of two colors, specific stitch and color identification on a canvas of either single or double mesh is extremely difficult. Considerable time and patience is involved in making a plaid pattern on a canvas since it has been necessary to use a written pattern, such as a chart, and to count spaces in a canvas to determine correspondence of the chart and the canvas. The oil painting or silk screen method of preparing canvas is not applicable to plaids and horizontal tram alone will not result in a plaid pattern.

I have invented a method of preparing a canvas for needlework, and of making a tartan or gingham needlework pattern on canvas using a plurality of colored yarns selected according to a predetermined arrangement, comprising tramming at least one horizontal row of canvas with a first yarn, tramming at least one vertical row of canvas with a second yarn forming an intersection of the yarn on the canvas. Beginning at the intersection formed by the first and second yarn, the yarn is secured to the canvas by stitching two yarns simultaneously about the intersection, one of the yarns corresponding in color to one of the intersecting yarns and the other of the yarns corresponding in color to the other of the intersecting yarns at the intersection being covered. That is, the intersection is covered with a thread of the first yarn and a thread of the second yarn simultaneously stitched thereto. The intersection of the yarns, therefore, defines the combination of colors in the pattern and the boundaries of the pattern.

Preferably, the tramming is done in the horizontal and vertical threads of the canvas mesh, as will be explained in further detail. However, the method is also applicable to making a tartan plaid or gingham pattern by orienting each of two lines of trammed yarn, which are perpendicular to and intersect each other, at an angle such as 45, to the selvage of the canvas. In the latter case, one line is placed on the canves in a diagonal, similar to the known web stitch or laid work, and a second line is trammed so as to intersect with it to form an intersection of yarn which also identifies the colors to be used in making the pattern and the boundaries of the pattern. I

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown, as an example, a section of canvas prepared according to my invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary section of a chart diagramming a part of a pattern to be made of the canvas;

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a part of a prepared tartan plaid pattern of yarn of four different colors;

FIG. 3 is an enlargement of the circle III of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an enlargement of the circle IV of FIG. 2 showing a conventional stitch applied to the canvas prepared according to my invention.

Cross sections of the individual yarns used in the example and their respective colors are shown adjacent FIGS. 2 and 3.

In all of the Figures the canvas shown is double mesh canvas; however, my method is equally applicable to single mesh canvas. Double mesh canvas is preferred because the yarn is held more tightly in the canvas, but experienced needleworkers can obtain the same excellent results on single mesh canvas. Single mesh canvas of sizes 12, 14 or 16 and double mesh canvas of size 10 are preferable.

Referring to FIG. 1, the chart 10 indicates a part of the pattern to be applied to the canvas. While the form of the chart is not a part of my method, I did originate the particular type of chart shown for use in doing and teaching needlework. The section of chart 10 includes a number of horizontal and vertical rows which I have numbered for convenience of description. Each row includes a number of blocks 11. Within each block is at least one letter which identifies a color, for example Y=yellow, G=green, B=blue, and R ed. The color indicated by a block letter is the same as the color of the yarn to be used in the corresponding space on a canvas 12 shown in FIG. 2. Where two letters appear in a single block in chart 10, two colors of yarn are to be used in the corresponding space on canvas 12. Where one color appears in a single block, as in block 13 in chart 10, two yarns of the same color are to be used in the corresponding space in canvas 12.

I-Ieretofore, it has been extremely tedious for needleworkers to locate the space in the canvas 12 corresponding to a block on a chart like chart 10 since each block and space had to be counted. By my method, this labor is reduced considerably.

The double mesh canvas 12 shown in FIG. 2 comprises horizontal and vertical rows of mesh, known as the weft or woof and warp, respectively. The horizontal mesh extends normal to selvage 14 of the canvas while the vertical mesh runs parallel to it. Each horizontal mesh 15 and vertical mesh 16 is spaced closer to one next to it on one side than it is to a mesh next to it on the other side. For example, vertical mesh 17 is closer to mesh 16 than mesh 17 is to mesh 18. This uneven spacing in the mesh permits yarn which is stitched between the closer meshes to be caught and held by the canvas resulting in a tight pattern.

In making a tartan plaid of yarn of four colors such as yellow, green, blue and red yarn as indicated in chart 10, a single yarn of each color is selected for tramming. I prefer to use tram initially in the horizontal mesh; however, either the horizontal or vertical mesh may be trammed first, so long as one is completed before the other is begun.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, as in horizontal tram, a thread of yellow yarn 19 is passed with a needle, preferably a type of tapestry needle, from beneath the canvas 12 through opening 20 formed between closely spaced threads 21 and 22 of the mesh horizontally across the top of the canvas to opening 23. The yarn is then passed down through opening 23 and from beneath the canvas up through opening 24 to catch it and then continued across the top of the canvas in accordance with the chart 10. Openings 23 and 24 are not fixed but are selected an appropriate distance from the beginning to anchor the yarn in the canvas. As the tram is continued across the canvas, additional stitches are taken through the canvas for the same purpose.

A single line of tram is ended at the space where the pattern ends, such as at opening 25. If the chart 10 calls for the same color to be used in another horizontal row, the same yarn can be passed beneath the canvas from one vertically spaced horizontal row to another and that row trammed as before. For example, a thread of green yarn 26 is passed from horizontal row 2 to horizontal row 3. The same procedure can be followed until a single yarn is completely used or the yarn may be severed at any point where it is secured in the canvas. As seen in FIG. 2 and according to the chart 10, only the first horizontal row is trammed with yellow yarn 19. Once completed, a different color yarn, such as green yarn, is selected pursuant to the chart for continued horizontal tramming of the canvas. In this case, green yarn is used to trame' horizontal rows 2 and 3 and while red yarn 27 is used to tram horizontal rows 4 and 6. The same procedure as described with regard to the yellow yarn is followed. Tramming of row 3 proceeds from right to left as viewed in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 3, I have enlarged a portion of the pattern to show clearly the manner in which this embodiment of my method is carried out. The green yarn 26 used to trame' horizontal row 2 passes over the canvas between threads 28 and 29 of the mesh to opening 30. The yarn is then passed beneath vertical threads 31 and 32 of the mesh and up through opening 33 in the canvas. Each horizontal row is similarly trammed.

When the entire pattern is trammed in the horizontal rows on the canvas, vertical tramming is begun. A thread 34 of yarn of blue color may be selected as indicated by the chart however, vertical tramming may be started at any convenient place. As shown, for example, in row 4 of FIGS. 2 and 3, a thread 35 of red yarn is stitched from beneath the canvas through opening 36 between vertical threads 37 and 38 of mesh and over the top of canvas 12 to opening 39 where a stitch is taken down through opening 39 and up through opening 40 to anchor or catch the yarn in the canvas. The single line of tram is continued to the edge of the pattern. Additional stitches may be taken at appropriate points, such as 41, along the canvas. The first three vertical rows, as shown by chart 10, are trammed with blue yarn as is row 5. In the example, red yarn is trammed in vertical rows 4 and 6. The ends of a line of tram may be left extending from the body of the pattern as is yarn 19, or they may be cut at the edge of the pattern. The remainder of the pattern is vertically trammed according to the same procedure.

At this stage, the canvas is prepared for the finishing stitching comprising covering the trammed canvas with individually stitched yarns of the required colors using conventional stitches, for example tent or half-cross stitches such as the continental, rep or diagonal stitches. In the case of a right-handed needleworker, the individual stitches are taken from the lower left of an intersection formed by the trammed horizontal and vertical yarn to the upper right of the same intersection on the canvas; for a left-handed worker, the converse IS true.

Assuming a right-handed needleworker, two yarns of colors corresponding to the colors of the yarns intersection at a point on the canvas are selected and threaded together in a needle. As shown in FIG. 4, a tent stitch 42 of the two yarns is then taken at such intersection, for example, over two yarns 43 and 44 forming the intersection from spae 45 through space 46 in the canvas 12 to secure them to the canvas. Successive stitches of the same type are made about every intersection having yarns of the selected two colors. The yarn may be severed or carried beneath the canvas for short spaces from intersection to intersection maintaining the generally lower left corner to upper right hand direction of the tent stitches.

The technique of using two yarns of the same color as those at an intersection of trammed yarns, stitched simultaneously, is followed to complete the pattern. It should be noted that the lines of the trammed yarns forming an intersection may be of the same color, as shown by the single letter in block 13 of chart l0 and the corresponding intersection in FIG. 4, in which event two yarns of the same color are tent stitched to the canvas. The needlework is completed by conventionally blocking and mounting the canvas as desired.

Preparation of a canvas for needleworking according to my method facilitates finishing the pattern in a much shorter time than by following a chart and counting spaces. Thus, canvas may be marketed as prepared and the hobbyist may work the pattern at leisurle.

Having described preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A method of preparing a canvas for a needlework pattern of tartan or gingham using a plurality of colored yarns selected according to a predetermined arrangement comprising the steps of:

A. tramming at least a line of a first yarn on the canvas,

B. tramming at least another line of a second yarn on the canvas, the lines being perpendicular to each other and intersecting on the canvas, said intersecting yarns identifying the yarns to be used to cover the intersection to make at least a portion of the pattern.

2. The method of claim 1 in which one line is trammed in a horizontal row of the canvas and the other line is trammed in a vertical row of the canvas.

3. The method of claim 1 including completing the needlework pattern by tramming all of the lines of yarn in the pattern and by stitching two yarns simultaneously about each intersection, one of the yarns corresponding in color to one of the intersecting yarns and the other of the yarns corresponding in color to the other of the intersecting yarns at the intersection being covered.

4. A method of preparing a canvas for a needlework pattern of tartan or gingham using a plurality of colored yarns selected according to a predetermined arrangement comprising the steps of:

A. tramming at least one horizontal row of canvas with a first yarn,

B. tramming at least one vertical row of canvas with a second yarn intersecting the first yarn on the canvas, said intersecting yarns identifying the yarns to be used to cover the intersection to complete at least a portion of the pattern.

5. The method of claim 4 in which the first yarn is of a color different from the color of the second yarn.

6. The method of claim 4 in which the canvas is a double mesh canvas.

7. A method of making a needlework pattern of tartan or gingham on canvas using a plurality of colored yarns selected according to a predetermined arrangement comprising the steps of A. preparing the canvas by:

1. tramming at least one horizontal row of canvas with a first yarn, and

2. tramming at least one vertical row of canvas with a second yarn intersecting with said first yarn on said canvas; and

B. completing the pattern by:

l. tramming all of the lines of yarn, and

2. stitching two yarns simultaneously about each intersection, one of the yarns corresponding in color to one of the yarns forming the intersection and the other of the yarns corresponding in color to the other of the yarns forming the intersection to be covered.

8. A method as set forth in claim 7 in which the pattern is a tartan plaid and yarns of more than two different colors are used in forming said pattern.

9. The method as set forth in claim 7 in which the canvas is a double mesh canvas.

10. The method as set forth in claim 1 and including completing the preparation of the canvas by tramming all of the lines of yarn to provide a plurality of intersections of yarn, each of which comprises two yarns identifying the yarns to be used to cover said intersection to complete the needlework pattern.

Claims

1. A method of preparing a canvas for a needlework pattern of tartan or gingham using a plurality of colored yarns selected according to a predetermined arrangement comprising the steps of: A. tramming at least a line of a first yarn on the canvas, B. tramming at least another line of a second yarn on the canvas, the lines being perpendicular to each other and intersecting on the canvas, said intersecting yarns identifying the yarns to be used to cover the intersection to make at least a portion of the pattern.

2. tramming at least one vertical row of canvas with a second yarn intersecting with said first yarn on said canvas; and B. completing the pattern by:

4. A method of preparing a canvas for a needlework pattern of tartan or gingham using a plurality of colored yarns selected according to a predetermined arrangement comprising the steps of: A. tramming at least one horizontal row of canvas with a first yarn, B. tramming at least one vertical row of canvas with a second yarn intersecting the first yarn on the canvas, said intersecting yarns identifying the yarns to be used to cover the intersection to complete at least a portion of the pattern.

6. The method of claim 4 in which the canvas is a double mesh canvas.