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How? Decorative hole punched in fabric I want a group of holes punched in fabric - not necessarily near an edge. And I want decorative shapes.
threadgenie   Intermediate GA Member since 5/16/11 Posts: 26	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 6/19/12 10:38 AM I've seen photos in magazines of fabric that has been hole-punched somehow. The Columbian hottie from Modern Family has a "got milk" ad and she is wearing a white dress with small triangles punched out near the bottom hem. I've also seen throw pillow covered in two layers of fabric. The outer layer has punched holes and the inner layer, in a contrasting color, doesn't. How is this done? A chisel and hammer? A knife? Any help would be much appreciated.
justgail Intermediate IA USA Member since 1/19/06 Posts: 513	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 6/19/12 11:03 AM For straight cuts, a chisel would work fine, or depending on the fabric, a *very* pointed scissors normally used for embroidery could work. for round holes, you'd need a punch. I have a buttonhole set with both a flat chisel and a round punch, and a pliers with 6 sizes up to about 1/8" of round punches on a wheel. I think the pliers was intended for leather, so I don't know how that would work on fabric. I'm not sure what you'd use for round holes larger than that.
diane s Intermediate OR USA Member since 8/24/02 Posts: 3885	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 6/19/12 11:11 AM It's called embroidery 'cutwork' Embroidery is done around the shape and the inside is cut out with fine scissors. It can done by hand, with a regular machine using an applique type stich or done with an embroidery machine. If you google cutwork embroidery you'll find lots of things ------ My grandmother taught me to sew when I was 10, and I've been sewing ever since.
edot Intermediate NC USA Member since 1/9/06 Posts: 290	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 6/19/12 11:56 AM I've seen some lasered fabrics, too--where the cutout is factory-done and the design isn't finished off with an applique stitch or anything. Gorgeous Fabrics has a few colors of a microfiber right now, and fabric mart has a couple different colors of a lasered leather hide. ------ "You have a better life if you wear impressive clothes." -Vivienne Westwood
stirwatersblue Intermediate KS USA Member since 12/13/08 Posts: 2465	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 6/19/12 3:53 PM I have some beautiful laser-cut ultrasuede in my stash. It's going to become a set of Renaissance sleeves someday. These decorative punched holes were *very* popular during the Renaissance; the technique is called pinking (that's where we get pinking shears, altho' the designs were in the body of the fabric and could be any shape), and was done with chisels and stamps. Typically you want to do the designs on the bias as much as possible (so it won't fray), but there's been a lot of speculation about other methods to seal the edges. There's a distinct difference between cutwork embroidery, where you stitch around the edges, and pinking, where the edges are left raw. This message board has a great discussion on the technique and some good links: http://tribes.tribe.net/elizabethan_clothing/thread/6224e2f4-a18e-49d6-bd91-fddca1560436 ...And here's my great fabric find! http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL417/1033223/23241773/396722095.jpg http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL417/1033223/23241773/396722098.jpg ------ ~Gem in the prairie
goodworks1   Advanced IL USA Member since 7/19/03 Posts: 3293	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 6/20/12 0:57 AM A leather shop will have all sorts of punches that work fine with just a hammer and a block of wood. ------ blog: goodworks1.wordpress.com
unfinishedprojects   Advanced AB CANADA Member since 8/26/07 Posts: 522	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 6/20/12 10:03 AM How about spray starch and craft punches?
Glynis Ann Intermediate Member since 11/7/10 Posts: 84	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 6/21/12 12:39 PM I used to do Richelieu cutwork with my old Pfaff 7570 along the neckline, sleeves or bottom of dresses and aprons. Easy to do with the embroidery unit, probably a lot easier now with the newer machines. Like diane s mentioned, it doesn’t take a lot of special tools to do it. Thanks for reminding me of this pretty technique...time to look through the old design cards again.

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