Day 16 - Embroidery

Yes, I'm still in my teens and yes, this a post about my love of embroidery.

One thing I love about embroidery is that it's a skill you can never stop learning. There are an infinite number of stitches and stitch variations and although some may be easier than others (french knots!!), if you work with 3 strands of thread on a thick, sturdy fabric such as calico and have a good illustrative book to learn from then it's fairly easy to get the hang of. The skill and expertise is mainly in working on tricky fabrics, the neatness of the back and attention to detail and sizing.

I can really recommend this book, find it on Amazon here.

The first mistake which many beginner embroiderers make is forgoing the hoop. The hoop is essential. I repeat, the hoop is essential! Have you ever rested a sheet of paper on somebody's back to write on it? If so then you'll know that it's difficult to put the pen where you want it and almost impossible to draw a straight line. Well embroidery is the same. You will never manage to get the needle where you want without the fabric pulled tight and flat.

I also advise binding your inner hoop with some kind of cotton tape (see above). This helps grip the fabric and prevents the hoop from marking it so much. Also as the harsh edges of the hoop are eliminated you can work on a large piece of fabric and just move the hoop about over the work you've already done without catching or ruining anything.

Yesterday I tried two knot stitches and two variations of chain stitch. Going round the corner is pearl stitch, and vertically is coral. Then horizontally at the top is a square chain stitch and below it in red is a twisted chain. I think it might be fun to add some seed beads in between the 'rungs' on the square chain or between the knots on the coral stitch.

But, if you're still not convinced that embroidery is for you then have a look at every Haute Couture collection ever shown at Paris Fashion Week, and then we'll talk again.