Fill in the Blanks

by Rebecca Kemp Brent

Blanks are ready-made items primed for decoration in your favorite style. While textile blanks may be the first that come to mind, you’ll be surprised to discover the variety of blanks just waiting for embellishment.

Who, What & When
Who uses blanks? Anyone, of course, but they are especially useful to crafters with crowded schedules who want or need to accomplish a project quickly. In the same way, blanks appeal to those who prefer embroidery or embellishment over construction sewing, as the pre-finished blanks eliminate cutting, seaming, fitting, etc.

Blank items lend themselves to decoration in a multitude of ways. Quilters can utilize orphan blocks as appliqués on blanks, hand needleworkers can use transfers or waste canvas to embellish items, painters can use blanks as a canvas for their work.

What kinds of blanks are available? In addition to the usual towels, tees and sweats, blanks include table and bed linens, jar toppers, clocks, coasters, mouse pads, baby accessories and more. To expand embellishment possibilities, look for blanks that cross over traditional boundaries between craft techniques. Paper and stationery goods can be embroidered, plastic utensils with removable inserts can be decorated with stitched fabric or painted paper, and blanks for hand cross stitchers can be adapted for machine embroidery with the proper stabilizers.

As for “when,” blanks are especially useful in last-minute situations, when a quick gift or token presentation is needed. Naturally, blanks can also be the basis of a planned and pre-scheduled class, which leads to sales of blanks as students build their own stashes of ready-to-embellish items.

Blanks can also be used when a shortcut for a project is desirable, becoming the building blocks for pillows, lingerie keepers, purses, etc.

Where & Why
Guides and placement tools are available to overcome a customer’s hesitation about where to position an embellishment. This eases the fear of “getting it wrong.” Stock some carefully chosen guides and rulers with the unembellished blanks to provide a framework for those who like definite guidelines. Both Embroidery Arts (www.embroideryarts.com) and Designs in Machine Embroidery (www.dzgns.com ) market placement kits designed for the purpose.

Positioning an embellishment on a blank is a matter of tradition, personal taste and pragmatism. For example, pillowcases are usually embellished just above the hem, centered on one side because the motif is then visible while the pillowcase is in use. Traditionally, bath towels are monogrammed 5" above the lower hem and shirts are stitched on the left chest.

But do you know why? If not, chances are good that the placement has become fixed by familiarity, and there’s no reason not to change the location for variety and style. Embroider a motif at the center back neckline of a shirt or along the hemline of an overblouse rather than dropping a motif on the center chest area. Stitch a fanciful appliqué on a towel in place of the usual initial, or angle a design across the corner of a washcloth rather than placing it parallel to the edge.

So why stock, embellish or purchase blanks? The reasons are as varied as the blanks themselves!

Reprinted from SQE Professional, August 2007