Embroidery for Beginners

The last (but definitely not the least!) post in my Basics Series is this guide to Embroidery, by the lovely Rachael of Imagine Gnats. I've only just started to attempt a few embroidery projects, and I've been quite excited by how easy it is! It is something that I want to do more of, and for those of you who haven't tried it before, Rachael has put together this great guide to get you started!

Let's talk about a sewing basic that everyone can master... embroidery! Embroidery is a fabulous way to add a  personal touch to a project or start your little ones stitching, and it's perfect for beginners and experienced stitchers alike. (note: click on any of the images in this post for more about the projects shown.)

So how do you get started? Well, you just need a few simple supplies: fabric, floss, and a needle. Yep, that's it!

Fabric: you can use any fabric you have handy... linen stitches up beautifully and using a printed quilting cotton is a great way to add another dimension to your project. you can also use felt or pre-made items for your project, like t-shirts, handkerchiefs, and tea towels.

Floss: using a stranded cotton floss allows for easy control over the thickness of stitched lines. Perle cotton, available in different sizes, adds a great texture to your stitches.

Needle: any sharp hand-sewing needle will do, though needles with large threading eyes will make things much easier.

A few additional things that I recommend to make your life a bit easier are: embroidery hoop to keep fabric taut while stitching, chalk pencil or water soluble marker for pattern transfer, and stabilizer such as Stick-N-Tear or Sol-U-Film Lite from Pellon to provide support during stitching.

Now, what to embroider? A great place to start is with words. Stitching a name is an easy way to personalize a sewing project, whether a quilt or a stuffed animal, or you could even add an initial on the pocket of a t-shirt.

Find a pattern: the great thing about words is that a pattern is always readily available from your own computer. Simply type your words, choose a font and size, and print.

Transfer pattern: a simple way to transfer your pattern is to tape the printed words to a window in bright sunlight. Place your fabric over the pattern and trace onto fabric using a chalk pencil or water soluble marker. (step-by-step photos of this method from Clover & Violet / alternative transferring method for stitching on felt from little dear tracks)

Start stitching: a basic backstitch is a great place to start, particularly when stitching words. for a fabulous how-to, check out running and back stitches, part of the wild olive embroidery basics series.

Finishing: after your stitching is complete, you'll want to iron your work (using iron on reverse side so as to not flatten your stitches) and remove any pattern transfer markings.

Another fun idea (and a great way to get the little ones involved) is to stitch around the outlines of the print on a favorite fabric. Stitch a lot or a little and then make something out of your embellished fabric. You could make a pillow or a christmas tree ornament, or even use the fabric as a quilt block or in a patchwork skirt.

My links:
imagine gnats: my favorite embroidery links
embroidery-to-go bag, free pattern from Pellon
how-to: turn drawings into embroidery, imagine gnats for Fiskateers

Thanks for reading, and happy stitching!!

xo, rachael

Thank you so much Rachael! For more about Rachael and her fabulous projects, you can visit her at her blog, facebook, twitter and pinterest! Rachael also deisgns her own embroidery patterns and you can buy her embroidery kits here.

I hope you enjoyed my Back to {Sewing} Basics series, and I'm really looking forward to getting back to sharing some more personal posts, recipes and sewing projects with you! I am currently nominated for the Circle of Moms Top 25 Aussie blogs competition, and I'd love your vote - it will only take a second and you can vote HERE. Thanks for all your support!