Thread Sketching: What exactly is it?

I often get asked, What exactly is thread sketching? This article sets out to explain the difference between thread sketching, thread painting, and free machine embroidery.

If you’re confused about the difference, all will be revealed below!

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission (at no further expense to you) if you click through and make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases from Amazon websites.

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Thread sketching, thread painting, and free machine embroidery: Variations on a theme

Thread sketching, thread painting, free machine embroidery and free motion quilting all fall under the same (large) umbrella, for the simple reason that they are all techniques using free motion stitching on a sewing machine.

However, there are some subtle differences.

The background

Traditionally, embroidery was first worked by hand.

When sewing machines came along, patterns could be reproduced over and over. Even before computer programming, embroidery machines were ‘programmed’ to work stitches in a particular order or pattern, to create designs.

Long-arm quilting machines can be programmed to work specific designs over a quilt top to enhance and finish the quilt.

They also allow an artist to stitch ‘freely’, working any design of their choosing, freehand.

This is generally referred to as ‘free motion quilting’ and often incorporates intricate and beautiful designs.

At first, these designs were quite formal, and often still are.

However, the advent of smaller, domestic sewing machines that can be set to ‘free motion’ stitching has led textile artists and quilters to explore the possibility of stitching entirely freely.

‘Free motion’ has become a term with which we are now all familiar.

Of course, these days, nearly all sewing machines – from domestic to professional – can operate free motion, with some designed for this purpose alone.

Get started in thread sketching

If you’ve ever used a sewing machine — and even if you haven’t — it’s likely that you already have the necessary underlying skills to embark on thread sketching and thread painting.

If you have ever ‘free motion’ quilted a quilt, then you have already mastered the underlying technique involved in thread sketching and thread painting – being ‘free motion’ stitching.

Contemporary textile artists use free motion stitching to enhance their work in dozens of different ways.

This is from where the terms Thread sketching, Thread painting, and Free machine embroidery have derived.

Now let’s explore the subtle differences between thread sketching, thread painting, and free machine embroidery.

Thread Sketching

Thread Sketching involves drawing an outline, shape, design or picture with a sewing machine, usually with the feed dogs down.

Designs are often minimalist, or thread sketching can be used to enhance specific details of an art quilt.

Thread Painting

Thread painting involves filling shapes with free machine stitching, shading with thread, or covering all the fabric with stitch.

Many stunning and intricate pictures, often resembling paintings, can be created using the thread painting technique.

More formal designs that resemble hand embroidery are also very popular.

Free Machine Embroidery

Free machine embroidery encompasses both thread sketching and thread painting.

Free machine embroidery is usually less formal than programmed machine embroidery.

It allows the stitch artist free rein to work any picture or design of their choosing. These may encompass both thread sketching and thread painting in the same work.

The Bottom Line

The bottom line, in my opinion, is that these terms are largely interchangeable, with the common thread being that they are worked ‘free motion’, usually with the feed dogs lowered on the machine.

The stitcher is in control of the design, rather than the design being pre-drawn or programmed to be stitched using a computerised sewing machine.

Any thread sketch, thread painting or free machine embroidery can be formal or informal.

The choice is yours!

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Creative Thread Sketching: a beginner’s guide [2nd Edition now available]

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Appliqué Art Quilts Inspired by Stained Glass [2nd Edition]

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