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Mary Corbet

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I learned to embroider when I was a kid, when everyone was really into cross stitch (remember the '80s?). Eventually, I migrated to surface embroidery, teaching myself with whatever I could get my hands on...read more

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Garniture: Trim Out Your Needlework

 

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What’s in my Stash? Here’s another look at a something in my needlework stash. The purpose of these “stash” posts is to show you some things I have in my supply closet that you might find interesting. It’s not to “sell” you on anything, but just to let you know that this stuff is out there, in case it’s something that you would find fun or useful for your stitching needs.

Today, I’ll show you some Garniture! Garniture, by definition, is something that decorates or embellishes. And there’s a whole line of Garniture on the market that is perfect for finishing needlework items. Have you ever made a pin cushion, an ornament, a needlebook, or some other item, and been stumped about how to finish the edge? Garniture helps solve that problem!

Garniture: Trim for Needlework

These specialty trims come in windowed envelopes, in varying lengths from a meter to three meters, depending on the stuff.

Garniture: Trim for Needlework

Garniture is available in all kinds of pretty and unique little trims.

Garniture: Trim for Needlework

Some of the trims are quite dressy!

Garniture: Trim for Needlework

And some are a bit more casual, like this natural fibery tassels and swirly trim.

Garniture: Trim for Needlework

Garniture can be colorful, like this tiny purple ric rac, green satin piping, or red picot edging.

Garniture: Trim for Needlework

There are also various types of lace that come in this line of Garniture, from the above crocheted laces to very delicate insert laces and so forth.

Garniture is the perfect stuff for finishing off a project. You can probably imagine its many uses on your own. Some ideas that pop into my mind are doll making, crazy quilting, ornament finishes, pin cushion & needlebook edging, trim on embroidered or fabric boxes, and on and on!

You can find Garniture at your local needlework shop. If they don’t have it in stock, ask them to order it for you! You’ll find the whole range of garniture (with photos) on the Access Commodities website.

 
 

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(8) Comments

  1. Hi Mary, Welcome back! Thanks for having me as a guest poster while you were away. 🙂

    Now, Garniture… I do not think that this range is available here in Australia. Never seen it in any needlework store here or at any craft show stall. What a pity. However, I used to love going to a shop in Newtown, Sydney for all sorts of lovely passementerie. I can’t remember if they’re still open though. The sort of shop you can happily buy way too much – “just in case”!

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  2. Hi Mary

    Lovely garnitures, but the bottom ones dont look like crochet to me, they seem to be machine made bobbin lace, at least the top parts do, I can’t see more detail on the bottom half of the laces.

    cheers
    Julie in Australia

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  3. G’day Mary,

    These are really appealing and your suggestions inspiring.

    Tiny trims are good for doll house items too. Bedspreads, table cloths, rugs, curtains and like you mentioned, dolls too.

    You can get tiny trims at specialist doll house stores. I was looking for gifts for some girls who have a doll’s house. Looked up the minitures and doll house sites on line. Besides the beautiful little cakes and tiny black gollys I got for the girls, I also got some tiny ric rac for myself. It is so sweet.

    Cheers then, Kath

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  4. Welcome back!

    Ah – somewhat like the garnishes on the plate. Not *neccessary* for the item, but they certainly make it much nicer looking.

    Does the term apply only to the pre-made trims, or does it also apply to the items that you make yourself, such as twisting fibers to make cords, or if you crocheted or tatted a bit of trim?

    I was getting my courage up to remove those odd (less than 1 foot long) bits of ribbon and trims from my “bits & bobs” collection, maybe I should re-think that? Maybe I’ll just remove them from the sewing drawer and put them … elsewhere?

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  5. I’m always pretty impressed with how crazy quilters incorporate trimmings like these with their needlework–the results can be amazing. I use trims more conventionally in garment making, but share appreciation that between vendors like this (and others like Mokuba) are reviving production of quality trims. Wonderful stuff is returning to sale!

    BTW–I echo Julie–the lace really appears to be machine bobbin lace.

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  6. Thanks, all, for the input! And thanks for the heads up on the machine-made bobbin lace. The one on the left reminds me of a crocheted lace trim that my grandmother made on pillowcases, so I “assumed” – which can always get a person in trouble!

    Another suggestion about the garniture: a lot of the little twists and cords can be couched directly on embroidery projects, to add dimension.

    The dollhouse / miniatures idea is excellent! Which reminds me – I’ve got to finish formatting an upcoming post on miniatures….

    Back to work!

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  7. Definitely bobbin lace–crocheted lace is always made by hand, so if it was really crocheted, it ought to cost twice as much as machine bobbin lace. However, because crocheted lace is so much easier to make at home than bobbin lace, the patterns are very similar–simply because many bobbin patterns have been “reproduced” in crochet. But crochet can never be done by machine.

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