It’s funny, really. I taught myself some embroidery basics out of a library book when I was a tween, ages ago, and only really started up again a little over a year ago. I consider myself still to be a raw, rank amateur. But with lots of practice and a mindset that says, “Well, lets experiment with a thing and see if it actually works” it’s been a wonderful journey so far, And recently other people have been asking me for advice. Me?! I mean, I’m still new myself. I make mistakes all the time. And yet, those mistakes have been schooling me in The Art of Stubborn Problem Solving…
So after all those mistakes, I have a handful of helpful embroidery tips I can share which are actually helpful to other people. How about that?
First off: Sourcing supplies. I started getting my supplies in thrift stores before the Pandemic, and they”re still not bad places to stumble on treasure troves of floss and sewing bits and bobs, or even fabric if you have a good eye and a little luck. One of my favorite finds was a scrap of eggplant-colored silk, which made an astoundingly good backing for various pieces. Of course you can hit online sources for a lot of your starting up supplies, and online marketplaces can be useful if you keep your wits about you, but it can be nice to save a few bucks and run across colors and tools you never would have bought otherwise. Estate sales can be goldmines for embroidery and beadwork as well, and a good haul can last you for years. Obviously if you’re going to thrift stores and estate sales be mindful, wash your hands, wear a mask. These days I do most of my shopping as online as possible due to the Pandemic.
What kind of supplies? I’m glad you asked…
Fabric: I’m a bit lucky here; since I don’t really crossstitch, I dont’ have to rely on Aida cloth for my stitching. I prefer tighter fabric as a background, and neutral or dark colors. Usually a good cotton will work just fine, and I really like linen–a little of it can go a long way for me, though it can be expensive. Fat quarters for quilting can be your best friend, but if someone you know has leftovers from making clothing or something it’s worth having a gawk at the scraps.
Floss: I’m mostly a DMC girl, though I’ve been learning over time that sewing threads of all kinds can be adapted to hand embroidery with a little patience and experimentation. I prefer the sewing metallics to the embroidery ones, since they’re smaller and a bit easier to use. Keep an eye out for spools of machine embroidery thread on sale; they can be used by hand if you double or triple them up, and they’re often durable and shiny. The cheaper flosses seem to work just fine too, but for darker colors like reds and blues and purples you want to wash a quick sample on a swatch of fabric to see if they bleed, and how much. The nice thing about DMC is I’ve had zero problems with bleeds, and they also ship extra needles when you order floss packets from their company, which is always a delight. There’s silk floss out in the market of various qualities, and again, watch carefully for bleeds when your fabric is washed. Also? Floss conditioner can be super useful, especially if, like me, you often run into snags and knots from your floss while you’re working.
Hoops: I like looking everywhere for hoops to work with. Wooden ones are my favorite for framing, since I can paint them or wrap them with ribbon. Plastic hoops are everywhere, and they’re cheap, but they’re ugly and I find them a little frustrating. Often you’ll see “wooden” hoops that are actually rubber that squeeze into a frame, and they’re surprisingly good for projects, so snap them up when you see them. Be careful online; while there’s a huge upswing in what’s available since embroidery has become more popular, sometimes the quality can be disappointing. Often a good hoop can be a little spendier, but here quality can make or break your mounted piece. You can see I’ve got a weakness for the small frames, and they’re all over the map for quality, but if you keep an eye out for the things you like soon you’ll have a feel for the hoops that work best for you.
Patterns: My best recommendation is to start hunting down Facebook groups and Instagram creators that you like that offer patterns. it’s way more fun to have a pattern from somebody whose work you already really like, and to give your money to small creators that work hard to give you something special.
But what if you don’t like patterns? What if you want to make up something cool of your own? Well then, you will need some of my very bestest friends when it comes to designing an embroidery pattern: A small light box, copy paper, the humble graphite pencil, and a handful of water-soluble pens, which will often come free with a wide assortment of online embroidery supplies. Copy paper is useful because it’s so thin; and you can work out your proportions and design without worrying too much about the paper. once you have something you like, you can trace it onto your fabric with the light box and the pens, and if you don’t have a light box you can easily use a window and a bit of tape instead.
So, now that you have your happy compilation of stuff, a design you want to stitch and some free time, what other things are good to keep in mind? Some of the things I’ve found useful for my projects are short floss lengths so they don’t tangle as much, sharp needles, a pincushion you really enjoy, and some catnip to distract any overly-helpful cats you may happen to have around. A tasty beverage is always welcome, and maybe a podcast or two to keep you company. (I really like “On a cold Dark Night” for a lot of my stitching time…)
Once you’re finished, there’s the fun of washing and mounting your new lovely thing. Washing veeeeeeerry gently in cool water and a touch of gentle soap will extend the life of your piece, so it’s a good habit to get into. Ironing it afterward can be helpful for creases, but watch the heat. When it goes back into your hoop, tighten it up as much as you can to take out any wobbles. I like to do a running stitch around the backside of my pieces, tighten it up, adjust it until I like the way it looks, then stitch a felt backing to the back to keep things neat. (It’s also a nice place to put a signature for your piece.) A ribbon for the top, and voila! Ready for hanging…
I know this list is hopelessly plain, and there’s loads of things I haven’t covered, but I think this a decent overview for someone starting out. I hope it’s helpful, and feel free to ask questions in the comment section. Happy stabbing, my dears!!