Improvements in Ground Material for Fancy Work.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 15th Nov., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ground Material for Fancy Work.
I, MARIE HAESSLER of Magdeburg, Fancy Work Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN GROUND MATERIAL FOR FANCY
WORK and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
My invention relates to a ground material for fancy work of every description,
such as wool work, crewel work, embroidery, working silk into perforated card, and
the like, the object being to adapt almost any kind of stuff to form such ground
material, so that the same shall possess all the advantages of canvass, perforated
card and similar materials employed for the purpose, up till now.
Up till now canvass, or perforated card. has generally formed the ground
material for wool, silk and bead work, in short for almost every description of
fancy work, done in cross, or similar fancy stitching, perforated card, however,
being almost exclusively confined. to knick-knacks made at home, and hardly
ever appearing in the industry. Both materials possess the great advantage, that
their regular perforations form a guide for the worker, assisting him or her in
working in the most complicated patterns with perfect symmetry. Neither of the
two materials, however, is very durable, and consequently both generally have to be
mounted, after completion of the work, on some stronger stuff. Further, in both
cases, that part of the canvas or card, not covered by the pattern, usually has to
be filled out, by hand, in some ground colour in order to impart to the work a
finished appearance.
In the case of perforated card, it is almost impossible to
accomplish this filling out, which fact almost entirely prohibits the employment of
this material as ground stuff, in the industry. Canvass too, gets drawn together, rolls
and crumples, whilst being worked so that it has to be ironed or pressed after com-
pletion and previous to being mounted.
Thus the employment of both canvas and perforated card as groundwork in making
patch work is entirely excluded.
On the other hand, in attempting to work on other materials, endless trouble is
caused in marking out the pattern in the first place. whilst few workers succeed
in producing a thoroughly symmetrical result, when working in cross or similar
fancy stitch.
By my invention however, I have succeeded in adapting any kind of stuff for
use as ground material in such fancy work, without weakening it by perforation, or a
loose manner of weaving. It is clear that such an adaptation must tend to develop
the industry to a tremendous extent since it permits of the employment of materials of
any colour and texture, as ground stuffs.
I make a series of depressions in the material, at regular intervals from each other
and of equal size, this being accomplished by means of plates, rollers or dies or any
other convenient mechanical means, so that a network of embossed or raised lines,
is formed over the whole surface, such network serving as a guide in working in the
pattern, exactly as the perforations of the canvas or card.
Whole pieces of material may be impressed in this manner, thus for instance, rolls
of felt. of 180 cm. width have been treated in this manner.
As these impressions are only intended to serve as a guide in working, they may be
very shallow or flat and may be easily removed entirely by laying damp cloths on the
work. This is in most cases unnecessary as the impressions generally vanish entirely,
after the completed article has been in use a short time, so that the ground then
appears smooth, nor does it require filling out.
The employment of such ground material, enables the worker to arrange the greatest

page_text: variety of forms and colours so that for patch work he can arrange the separate pieces
in almost any conceivable manner.
To obtain really perfect work, the process for impressing the material is the only
possible means, since by drawing a network of lines on the material, its colour
generally suffers.
1, do not confine myself, to simply pressing the stuff in its natural state, nor to
any particular form or depth of impression, reserving to myself the right of moistening
or evenly warming the material or the rolls or dies employed in creating the impression,
should such procedure appear to be of particular advantage for any particular
materials.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and manner of performing the same, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters
Patent is:
1) The process for adapting any kinds of stuff for use as ground materials in wool
work, crewel work, embroidery and similar fancy work, substantially as herein before
described.
2) Making on the said material, a series of depressions so as to leave an
embossed or raised network of lines, in the manner and for the purpose substan-
tially as described.
DE 18h of Autoba” 1900
E. EATON,
Agent for Applicant.