Welcome to hand embroidery. Embroidery offers a relaxing creative outlet that keeps your hands engaged at home or while traveling. This guide aims to provide beginner tips and an essential stitch guide. With time and patience, you will discover a style and techniques that suit you. Most importantly, enjoy the process!
Embroidery Hoops
Hoops come in various sizes and materials. I prefer using wooden hoops, but you might find plastic or metal options more suitable. Your design may dictate the size of the hoop, but sometimes a different size can be easier to manage based on your hand size. Smaller hoops can provide better tension; however, you can bind larger hoops to enhance grip on your fabric. If your fabric exceeds the hoop size and becomes cumbersome, use pins or safety pins to secure the excess material for a smoother working experience. If you do not intend to frame your work in a hoop, remember to remove it after each stitching session to prevent permanent creases in the fabric.
Fabric
I prefer working with 100% cotton fabric, but I encourage you to explore various weaves, blends, and colors that suit your preference. Spend some time browsing a fabric store to discover what appeals to you. Avoid stretchy materials, as they may cause frustration and pattern distortion unless you use a fabric stabilizer. Consider layering thin or light-colored fabrics for better results.
Embroidery Floss
Many designs require six-stranded cotton embroidery floss from DMC. However, numerous other brands and unique floss materials offer a range of possibilities. Some artisans prefer to spool their floss on bobbins for better organization and to prevent tangling. It is essential to check the colorfastness of your threads to prevent any color bleeding.
Needles
I suggest acquiring a variety pack of embroidery needles with different sizes. The appropriate needle size depends on your design, the stitches you select, the thickness of your threads, and your personal comfort. Experiment to find what feels best in your hands.
Scissors
Any small scissors with sharp blades will suffice. Larger fabric scissors are beneficial for more robust tasks.
Light Transfer
Utilize natural light from a bright window or a light board to outline your design on the fabric. Water-soluble fabric markers are ideal for this task, but ensure to rinse the embroidery afterward to eliminate the guidelines. You can also trace with any permanent marker or pencil, provided your guidelines will be concealed by stitches. This approach is most effective with lighter fabrics that allow light penetration. For darker fabrics, use a chalk pencil or a white gel pen for tracing.
Heat and Carbon
Iron-on and carbon transfer techniques are effective for darker and heavier fabrics where light does not penetrate. You will need to acquire specialized papers and pencils; therefore, adhere to the instructions provided with your products.
Stabilizer
Printable and traceable stabilizers, such as Stick ‘n Stitch (Sulky brand), present another excellent option. Simply print your design from your computer onto this paper and adhere it to your fabric. This technique streamlines the transfer of large, intricate patterns, saving time and effort. Always conduct a fabric test first, as this method may leave a residue that can be challenging to remove.
Prioritize Your Well-Being
Ensure you care for your eyes and body while stitching. Utilize adequate lighting, appropriate eyewear or magnification tools, and a comfortable chair. Take regular breaks during lengthy stitching sessions.
Preparing the Hoop
If you intend to use your hoop as a frame, leave an inch or two of excess fabric for gathering once complete. If you plan to stretch your embroidery on a wooden frame or canvas, ensure you allow enough extra fabric. To hoop your fabric, sandwich it between the inner and outer embroidery hoops. Center the fabric over the inner hoop and place the outer hoop on top. Tighten the screw and pull the fabric edges evenly from the center in a clockwise direction. Continue adjusting until you achieve your desired tension. Your fabric should be taut to prevent puckering and distortion of the design.
Threading the Needle
Cut a piece of floss no longer than 2 feet to avoid tangling. Your pattern will indicate how many strands to use, ranging from 1 to 6, based on the design. If necessary, separate the individual strands by pulling them out one at a time. Use one hand to extract a single ply while keeping the rest in the other hand. Moisten the end of the floss and snip it with your embroidery scissors for easier threading, and ensure you select a needle with a sufficiently large eye.
Securing Your Floss
It is crucial to prevent your embroidery from unraveling, especially for items subject to wear, such as clothing. For decorative pieces, anchoring may be less critical. To begin, hold a tail (1-2 inches) of floss beneath the embroidery with your finger as you make the first few stitches. Then, position that tail so it is secured by the underside of subsequent stitches. When only a few inches remain on your needle, weave it into the underside of your stitches for security. Subsequent threads can be easily anchored by weaving into the previous stitches. Maintain neatness on the backside of your work and trim any excess tails. Other effective techniques include the anchor knot and away waste knot.
Embrace Errors
Approach mistakes with an open mindset. Do not hesitate to start anew or to remove stitches as needed. Use your needle’s eye to pull up stitches, or consider using tweezers and embroidery scissors when necessary. Remember, embroidery focuses on the creative process. Keep practicing and allow yourself the freedom to make adjustments.
The most straightforward method to complete your project involves framing it within a hoop and displaying it proudly on your wall. You may trim any excess fabric or adhere it back to the interior of the hoop using craft or fabric glue. Alternatively, you can employ a running stitch on the excess fabric and gather it to finish. The backside can remain exposed, showcasing the stitches, or you can cover it with fabric, felt, or cardstock for a more polished appearance. Wooden hoops appear attractive in their natural state, but you may enjoy staining or painting them and applying varnish. Additionally, you can transform your completed piece into a wearable patch, create jewelry from it, or stretch it on a rectangular frame for wall display. Refer to my free tutorials for more creative ideas.
Ready to learn more? Check out the stitch guide here to learn loads of fun stitches!