You don’t need much to start embroidering — just embroidery thread, needles and some hours to spare. You can transform your basic garments into something special with a little bit of this colorful embroidery technique. This article will give you a beginner’s guide to stitching and some tips for choosing the best fabric for your embroidered project.
Before you can get started, it’s important to figure out what design you want to make. You can either draw the design freehand or use a stencil to transfer it to your fabric (I prefer using the latter). If you’re not comfortable sketching your own design, there are tons of printable patterns online that will save you a lot of time and frustration. Just be sure to always credit the creator of your pattern, especially if they’re not you!
Threading the needle can be a bit tricky at first, but once you get the hang of it it’s as simple as threading any sewing machine. Just double or triple knot the end of a long piece of floss (make it way longer than you think you’ll need and even double it for a bold / thick line). When you’re ready to start, put your embroidery hoop on the fabric and start in the middle of your design. Then, just follow your design, stitching each thread in the right place and ensuring that all your stitches are straight by looking at them through the hoop.
Once you’ve mastered the basic stitches, you can start to experiment with different styles of embroidery. It’s great to start with something small, such as a couple of little flowers or leaves, and then gradually work your way up to more complex designs like french knots.
Embroidery can be done on almost any fabric, but there are some that are better for it than others. Ideally, you’ll choose a lightweight, cotton-based fabric for hand embroidery. You can also use a heavier weight linen/cotton blend or 100% linen. It’s also a good idea to use a stabilizer with your fabric, as it helps keep the fabric flat and reduces the chance of it stretching or shrinking after you finish stitching.
In addition to the traditional fabrics for embroidery, you can try a variety of other materials as well. For example, you can embroider on burlap or mesh. It’s a great option for upcycling old clothes, or it can be used to add a custom touch to a plain-looking shirt.
Before you start stitching, it’s a good idea to wash the fabric and iron it. This will remove any chemicals or sizing that might cause the fabric to stretch or shrink when you’re finished with it. This will help guarantee that your adorable embroidery doesn’t pucker or pull after a few washes! If you’re worried about your threads bleeding, it’s a good idea to boil them beforehand. This will prevent them from coloring off in the wash and ruining your hard work.