Embroidery 101: Essentials of the Stitch

In the midst of quarantine, when the days seemed to drift by, I searched for something to fill my time. I tried painting, I tried reading, I even tried making friendship bracelets, but nothing was keeping my attention and I began to get desperate. That’s when I saw something that caught my eye. One of my best friends, Therese, had created her own embroidery Instagram account, @Hello_I_Stich_Now. I was awe struck by how quickly she was able to pick up the skill and I knew I had found something that would cure my boredom. 

I have always known how to sew; I am not amazing, but I can get the job done. Embroidery is something I have wanted to try for a while, and I figured there was no better time than the present! Even now, at school, I have continued, and it is the best way to relieve the building stress of classes. So, if you are looking for a new hobby or just want to get your start with the stitch, here are some helpful tips and tricks!

Look into printed embroidery kits 

I went on Amazon and got a kit that included two hoops, four designs, and plenty of string and needles. The designs are printed onto the fabric, which makes it very easy to follow. The ink from the print easily washes off when you complete the design. Here is the link to the kit I purchased, but there are tons of options and designs. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08341MNWX/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Take to Youtube 

Even though I bugged my friend endlessly to teach me all the different knot styles, the best and easiest way to learn is through YouTube. There are so many talented people who make very simple and clear videos on any type of knot you’re trying to conquer. Here are a couple helpful links to get started with the basic knots: 

• The Straight Stitch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEz-QspHLAg 

• The French Knot: https://youtu.be/pjI5yo656U4

• The Stem Stitch: https://youtu.be/EspzLgnTdsA

• Leaves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgqp88tA9Uc 

• The Back Stitch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqj_lUo1tJo

• The Lazy Daisy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pYtAKpRlTM

Check out the free patterns online

Once you get a little bit of practice and understand some of the basic stitches, check out the wide selection of free printable designs online! Anything you can think of can be stitched. 

• https://www.dmc.com/us/thistles-pattern-9009423.html This website offers a huge selection of printable designs, anywhere from beginner stitches to more advanced ones.

• https://cozybluehandmade.com/collections/pdf, Cozy Blue’s selection is a bit more advanced, but they have pre-printed designs, PDFs, and iron-on options. 

• The world is your oyster with embroidery so if you see a design you like it is super simple to transfer it onto canvas or whatever fabric you are using. You can do so by either tracing off of a computer or from a printed design. For a more in-depth tutorial for transferring designs, check out this website:  http://www.badasscrossstitch.com/tutorials/how-to-transfer-embroidery-patterns-to-your-fabric

I hope these tips provided some insight and inspiration to jump-start your new hobby. Happy stitching!

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