Then Stina Says asked:
I was a knitter and a quilter for a long time, but quilts were hugely labor intensive for one gift for one person. I’ve decided to try my hand at embroidery. There are a lot of really great websites with really fun designs, like Sublime Stitching, or Feeling Stitchy, but all of them assume that their users have embroidered before. Can anyone recommend sites or books that THEY THEMSELVES HAVE USED and can vouch for?
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3 responses so far ↓
1 needleworkmagic // Sep 1, 2009 at 1:46 pm
sewing machine software
One of the best ways to learn is to purchase a kit for beginners.
Go to the library for books on how to embroider.
That was how I started after a few years I changed to counted cross stitch. The reason was I found cross stitch more versatile and it has developed over the years.
I always make my own birthday and christmas cards.
2 cantilena91 // Sep 2, 2009 at 4:13 am
Embroidery Design
At least Cross-Stitcher and The World Of Cross-Stitching are great magazines to look for, often with small and easy kits included!
3 kay // Sep 3, 2009 at 12:05 pm
sewing machine software
Hand or machine embroidery? And what style?
For most hand embroidery, I’d suggest just picking up a hoop (these are quick and easy and work well: or ,http://www.anetz-designs.co.uk/images/4pony500.jpg ), some fabric (muslin will do for most styles, and consider a piece of aida for most counted styles), and play a bit. The needles you want for embroidery on most fabrics are embroidery or crewel; for counted work, tapestry needles are usually used. Embroidery floss is the usual starter for beginners.
Here, for instance, is a quilt block for a memory quilt, done with just three stitches: stem, feather and french knot:
Head for your library for books by:
– Erica Wilson
– Jacqueline Enthoven
– Judith Montano
– Cecile Dreesman
– Mary Thomas
– books from Arco, DMC and other embroidery thread
makers
Or look online at:
Then play. Remember how the early quilt blocks you made were often simple 9 patches, not NY Beauties or carpenter wheels? Same idea with embroidery. Play. Discover. Work out the hitches. Many of us who embroider often keep “doodle cloths”, where we work out stitches and ideas before using them on a big project. (That quilt block is close to a doodle cloth even though it was meant for a friendship quilt… here’s the original that inspired it: ) and I think I’m going to rehash that as an embroidered wool coat.)
Because most embroidery is surface design, you don’t have to worry about the structural aspects of a project so much, which can be quite freeing.
You’ll figure out what works best for you over time — hoops vs. frames vs. q-snaps vs. working in hand tend to be one of the biggest determinants. I tend to work either in small hoops (I like about 6″ or 6×10″ ovals) or in hand, but I’ll work big pieces in frame, and I don’t like stands. Your choices may be different.
If you’d like to drop me a note about the style(s) of embroidery that interest you, I may be able to suggest some more focused resources.
I’ve been doing hand embroidery for over 50 years now, and have tried a lot of styles and techniques.
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