Bead embroidery in the large format covers 917 kits on artist canvas with the full-colour design printed on it. This is the core of the Abris Art range: pieces from 220×220 mm upwards holding between 10,000 and 30,000 Czech Preciosa beads.
How the technique works
The design is printed straight onto the canvas in colour. The needle goes where the matching colour is drawn, so there are no squares to count and no paper chart to check. There is one main stitch, the monastery stitch: the bead lies diagonally and every row leans the same way. It is that consistent tilt, rather than any difficulty in the stitch, that makes a finished piece look even.
Formats and workload
| Stitched area | Beads | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 220×220 mm | 8,000–12,000 | 30–50 hours |
| 300×300 mm | 15,000–20,000 | 50–80 hours |
| 300×400 mm | 20,000–25,000 | 70–100 hours |
| 400 mm and up | over 25,000 | 100 hours and more |
The most common format is 300×300 mm. The bead count is listed in the specifications of every kit.
Difficulty and colours
643 kits are rated medium, 237 above medium and 33 easy. They typically use 14–22 colours, and at that size of palette some shades are bound to look close, so an organiser with labelled numbers saves time.
Subjects
Decorative designs (215), landscapes (110), flowers (91), animals and birds (90), still life (79), romantic subjects (56), winter (45) and religious subjects (41).
Questions and answers
Is everything included?
Yes: the printed canvas, Preciosa beads sorted by colour, a needle and illustrated instructions. The only thing you may add is a hoop or frame on the larger formats.
How long does a 300×300 mm piece take?
50–80 hours, roughly two months at an hour an evening.
How does this differ from microbead embroidery?
By the size of the bead. Size 13 microbeads are half as large and give finer detail, but there is more work. Those kits are in microbead embroidery.
How do I finish the piece?
Stretch it on bars or frame it: stretcher bars, framing.