Test Cloth
A test cloth is a small piece of fabric on which you try out stitches, colours, thread, or thread tension.
Definition
A test piece is a small piece of fabric on which you try something out before starting a real embroidery project. You can use it to test stitches, thread, tension, fabric and colour combinations. A test piece shows how the material and stitch work together, allowing you to judge in advance how the finished result will look on your chosen fabric.
When to use it
Use a test piece when you are unsure about stitches, colour combinations, thread, fabric, needle size or thread tension. It is particularly useful before applying a new technique or combination of materials to your project. Make the test with the same fabric, thread and needle you intend to use for the real work; the result will then provide the most useful indication.
Mistakes
Making a test piece with different materials from those in the project is a common mistake. The test then tells you less about the final stitch or coverage. Drawing a conclusion too quickly after one stitch can also be misleading, because thread tension and colour combinations become clearer over a small area. Therefore, leave enough room to compare calmly.
Tips
Use a small scrap of the same fabric and try the desired stitch with your chosen thread. Also test any colour combinations alongside one another. Check that the stitches lie evenly and that the thread tension feels comfortable. Keep the test piece while working on the project so you can refer to it when you need to check how something was intended.
