Embroidery became an obsession of mine about six years ago. Then it took a turn: I wasn’t content stitching only on fabrics; I wanted to intersect new planes with stitches.
Then last spring I was invited to participate in a group show of mocked-up skateboards to benefit the Knoxville Skatepark in Tennessee. This was an exhibit that would include painters Gary Baseman, Dalek, and the Art Girls. I guess I could’ve painted a board too, but instead, I decided to embroider it. Kickflip all you want, just go easy on the boardslide.
If you want to compromise the structural integrity of your skateboard in the name of art, just follow my easy steps! Austin-based artist Tim Brown (timlandia.net) painted some clouds on it for extra jazz.
Steps
Step #1: Make the template.
Next
- For this first attempt, I kept the design simple. You’ll have to anticipate where the thread (in this case, leather lacing) will be coming through the board and pre-drill those points.
- Make a configuration of points on tracing paper based on the endpoints of an embroidery stitch. This skateboard uses the feather stitch, whipstitch, running stitch, and straight stitch. Each drilled hole is where a needle would intersect fabric, or in this case the board.
Conclusion
This project first appeared in CRAFT Volume 01, pages 121-122.
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