MADE IN GERMANY CANVASES An explanatory guide on the unique ZWEIGART® canvas range 2 ZWEIGART - Made in Germany ZWEIGART - Made in Germany 3 MADE IN GERMANY Our trademark is the "Orange Line". The orange thread is woven into the edge of all the ZWEIGART® fabrics and means: Top-quality producti on. A unique range of fabrics, easy-care and woven with absolute precision: that is ZWEIGART® Made in Germany. 04 THE HISTORY OF 32 EMBROIDERY TECHNIQUES CANVASES KEY INFO ON THE TECHNIQUES THE USE OF CANVASES – HALF-STITCH . SIMPLE GOBELIN STITCH THEN AND NOW UNDERLAID HALF-STITCH GOBELIN STITCH DIAMOND STITCH 06 WHAT ARE CANVASES? DOUBLE DIAMOND STITCH PROPERTIES & SPECIAL FEATURES CROSS-STITCH AN OVERVIEW OF CANVAS BINDINGS FILLED CROSS-STITCH CARE INSTRUCTIONS STAYING STITCH IN PATTERN REPEAT RIGHT STAYING STITCH LEFT STAYING STITCH AN OVERVIEW OF ALL 08 CHESSBOARD STITCH CANVASES DIAGONAL STITCH . BASKET STITCH 500 STRAMIN VERTICAL KELIM STITCH 510 STRAMIN DIAGONAL KELIM STITCH 504 STRAMIN HORIZONTAL KELIM STITCH 505 STRAMIN MOSAIC STITCH 1231 PENELOPE CANVAS RIGHT FISHBONE DIAGONAL 1010 CAMILLA LEFT FISHBONE DIAGONAL ZWEIGART & SAWITZKI 9281 ROYAL CANVAS GmbH & Co. KG 1282 MONO CANVAS Fronäckerstraße 50 414 CORDOVA . ETAMINE 44 OTHER TECHNIQUES 71063 Sindelfi ngen 9604 ZWEIGART TWIST LATCH HOOK Germany 9699 ZWEIGART TWIST WASTE CANVAS 905 SUDANSTRAMIN POM-POM TECHNIQUE Tel + 49 (0) 7031 795 - 5 955 FEINSMYRNA . SUDAN CANVAS Fax + 49 (0) 7031 795 - 410 820 SMYRNASTRAMIN [email protected] 9106 ZWEIGART TWIST . RUG CANVAS 52 SUSTAINABILITY www.zweigart.com 9116 ZWEIGART TWIST . RUG CANVAS 1136 RUG CANVAS 9118 RUG CANVAS 54 KEYWORD INDEX Photos & Layout: Simone Pfeff er 4 ZWEIGART - The history of canvases ZWEIGART - The history of canvases 5 THE HISTORY OF CANVASES THE USE OF CANVASES – THEN AND NOW One of the oldest embroidery techniques, widespread since centuries throughout the world, including Asia, Southern Europe, France and England, is known as the "tapestry technique." Tapestry in vivid patterns was often used to cover chairs and sofas, or for large wall hangings, purses and other useful items. Today, many of these gorgeous works can be admired in museums. A characteristic feature of tapestry is that it is embroidered on canvas. In the process, the canvas is completely covered by embroidery stitches, meaning that both the motif and the background are embroidered on. One can choose a single form of embroidery to do so, but multiple types of embroidery can also be used. This depends on whether one wants to create an regular or irregular texture. There are two reasons why tapestry is Tapestry has been embroidered on canvas embroidered on canvas and not on normal, for many centuries, fully covered so that the countable fabric: For one thing, canvas is much texture of the canvas is no longer visible. less expensive than other countable needlework fabrics and for another, it is a very firm mesh thanks to its thick finish. With canvas, the mesh threads are very far apart in comparison with other fabrics and cannot be shifted. This has the benefit that the fabric will not contract when being embroidered on. Tapestry is a counted technique, which is why the motifs to be embroidered are counted on the canvas. There are many patterns available on the market: the canvases are usually pre-printed with the pattern and only have to be embroidered over. However, there are also canvases on the market Cushions / tapestry . ©Elizabeth Bradley which are already traced out, meaning the motif or parts thereof have already been pre-stretched with the necessary threads, making them easier to embroider and giving opulent results. into pom-pom rugs or the use of "waste The tapestry technique is still used on canvases today. Many modern as well as traditional patterns canvas," can also be found with artists, Nowadays, traditional tapestry is often and motifs can be found in the most diverse of countries and cultures today. Other classic canvas designers or do-it-yourselfers all over the supplemented by many other modern techniques like latch hook are also widespread. More recent techniques, such as working the canvas world. techniques. 6 ZWEIGART - What are canvases? ZWEIGART - What are canvases? 7 WHAT ARE CANVASES? Mono canvas is a single-threaded canvas. It is plain-woven, meaning that the verti cal warp and horizontal weft move up and down and cross at the same distance – all openings between the threads are PROPERTIES & SPECIAL FEATURES woven checkers. The mesh threads are sti ff ened with a fi nish in order to stay in shape. Canvases are open fabric meshes usually made of cott on. They form a woven basis for many embroidery Double-threaded canvases are also plain-woven, except the spaces between the mesh threads and latch hook techniques. Canvas is usually covered with embroidery over its enti re area. High- are not equal. Instead, it has two threads packed close together, forming a stable woven checker made up quality canvas makes it easier to embroider and makes the embroidery last longer – att enti on should of two warp and two weft threads. With double-threaded canvas, the fi neness is not indicated with the always be paid to this when purchasing. number of mesh threads, but with the number of woven checkers. The opening or puncture site between the woven checkers is large and simplifi es counti ng and embroidering. It is a classic cloth for tapestry such Canvas comes in diff erent thicknesses: The number behind the slash aft er the item number indicates as Gobelin embroidery. On double-threaded canvas, parti cularly fi ne patt ern fi elds such as faces can only the numbers of sti tches per 10 cm. Fine canvases with 26 to 70 sti tches per 10 cm (6 - 18 ct.) are be embroidered using a single weaving thread, even with split or thinner thread, which means there isn’t for cross-sti tch, needlepoint, sati n sti tch and other sti ches for counted embroidery; while coarse just one sti tch for patt erning at these places, but four. canvases with 13 to 20 sti ches per 10 cm (3 - 5 ct.) are for cross-sti tch, sati n sti tch and Twist canvas is a special fabric in which two warp threads each turn around weft threads. It resembles The special thing about all ZWEIGART® latch hook. Canvas thickness, embroidery or the single-stranded canvas, but here the threads can not be moved due to the interlock/twist weave and canvases: they are woven absolutely straight latch hook threads as well as needle or latch result in a high surface stability. & square – a guarantee for best results. hook must match the technique in questi on, so it is always a good idea to make a sample. A special fi nish lends the fabric a fi rmness which makes it easier to embroider. Canvases from CARE INSTRUCTIONS ZWEIGART® are woven from sturdy, evenly rounded multi ple threads, heavily fi nished and feature CHARACTERISTICS If necessary canvases should only be a square and sti tch-precise surface. All canvases are 100% made at the company’s headquarters in carefully washed by hand / Dry cleaned Sindelfi ngen, Germany. OF ZWEIGART® aft er the embroidery is fi nished. The rigid fi nish oft he canvases will be lost when in CANVASES: A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF CANVAS BINDINGS contact with water – thus becoming much soft er. Therefore the canvases are only to • woven absolutely straight & square There are three diff erent kinds of canvas bindings. Each one has diff erent properti es and works especially be washed aft er the embroidery is done. • given a rigid fi nish well with specifi c embroidery or the latch hook techniques. These three bindings include mono canvas on Hoewever when washing and ironing, care • suitable for many diff erent one hand, and "twist canvas" as well as the double-threaded canvases on the other. instructi ons of all embroidery materials embroidery techniques The canvas which is used depends on various factors, such as the embroidery technique or material used. – especially yarns – need to be taken into • 100 % Made in Germany Our canvases are oft en printed on by partners with a wide variety of moti fs as a basic design for the considerati on. The canvas can be pulled • wide assortment of counts embroidery. For exact prints on canvases a straight and square quality is essenti al. back into a rectangular shape aft erwards. and widths 8 ZWEIGART - An overview of all canvases ZWEIGART - An overview of all canvases 9 the canvas should be selected one number tighter, so that the thread covers it well. A coarser canvas AN OVERVIEW OF can also be selected for a more transparent effect. In general, it is always recommended to test the yarn with a small sample on the canvas. With remaining threads of similar thickness, you can achieve additional effects, for instance by combining smooth, shiny or fluffy threads like patchwork to form a ALL CANVASES pattern-material mix. Stitches Suggested threads Needles Techniques 500 / 26 Sudan wool No 16 Gobelin stitch = half-stitch 6 ct. Merino wool needle strength 4,5 - 5 500 STRAMIN 500 / 26 Merino wool needle strength 7 - 8 No 16 Cross stitch 2,6 . 3,0 . 3,4 . 3,8 . 4,0 . 4,4 . 4,8 . 5,2 . 5,6 . 6,0 . 7,0 / cm - 6 . 7 . 8 . 9 . 10 . 11 . 12 . 13 . 14 . 15 . 18 ct. 6 ct. 100 % CO I 60 cm . 24" 500 / 30, 34 Tapestry wool No 18 Gobelin stitch = half-stitch 7, 8 ct. Merino wool needle strength 7 - 8 Canvas 500 is a very open, light meshwork fabric which retains its rigidity thanks to its stiff finish.