chuka_lis

This is the way to do petit point by Alice Wofford.
It is a truly beautiful technique but has somewhat gone out of style.

1. Pick a smooth piece of china. Box tops, plaques and large jewelry pieces work the best. Anything with a dip or embossing will not work well.

2. Cover the china with nylon net (very fine net works the best) or underlay or vellum I think they call it bridal illusion. Pull the net tightly over your piece and secure tightly. I twist the net on the back side of the china and use either a rubber band or a needle and thread and secure it so it doesn't slip. I also wrap the thread around the net several times to be sure it won't slip. The netting making the pattern

3. Using any size deerfoot stippler brush cover the net with paint. Use white matt paint mixed with water based medium and thinned just enough that you can pounce it with a sponge without leaving an orange peal skin, then cover with the stippler cover the

net. A short bristled brush works best if you don't have a deerfoot stippler. Apply the paint thinly. Let dry 15 minutes. Test to see if set. (

I like to have a test piece so I don't mess up the piece I'm working on) If set, remove the net, carefully so as not to disturb the paint, you should be able to start at one corner and just lift the net up off your piece. If paint comes off, you have applied it too thick, wipe off or rinse off under water and start again. Be sure your net is good and dry if you start over. The paint should look even when the net is removed. Do not touch the paint with your fingers as the moisture in your hands will remove the paint.

4. Fire at 017.

5. After the piece is cool, lightly sand your piece and use matt paints for a very dull finish or use regular china paints for some shine to the piece.

6. Fire at 018. to be sure to get the dull finish.

You can also use Vellum, but most people don't have that but do have white matt so use that. And you can use your regular painting medium but it takes forever to dry.... unless you are using a closed medium... so it messes up much easier.

I recommended using a stippler because the netting will cut the hair of a good brush...why ruin a good one? And you leave more of a line if you "paint" the matt on instead of stipple it. You can pounce it on with the sponge, but it is a little harder to make certain it is smooth this way

with the netting.

For my personal preference I like to use my regular paint over the matt for contrast. But that is my preference. Use what you like best