Useful tips for embroidery

Make your self a merry little Christmas. 24 days of gifts and makes to create a frugal home made Christmas.

DAY SIX:

Best tips for embroidering

Tips

Always wash your hands before beginning to embroider. It is a good idea to plan the sequence of embroidery before you begin, to avoid moving your hand over the finished work as much as possible. I always embroider larger sections first, then fill in with the smaller details. I work from the top to the bottom or from the center outwards.

Take the time to finish off the thread at the back of the work, instead of passing to another area. This will avid shadowing which is very disappointing when the finished work is framed or made up. However, working on very closely embroidered areas you can pass the thread across as it will not be visible.

You may enjoy adding small beads to enhance an embroidery and they can be sprinkled among flowers to form the center of a flower. Small buttons may also be used. Take care to keep the buttons and beads in proportion to the design so as not to distort the dimensions.

Needles 

Any crewel-eyed needle that is the appropriate size for the thread you are using is suitable. Do not use a needle with a blunt point, such as a tapestry needle, on closely woven fabrics.

Embroidery hoop

All work must be done while using an embroidery hoop. To make your embroidery a more pleasant task.

Transfer pencil, dressmakers carbon, or fade/wash away pen

Ideally, you should use some form of washable pen or transfer pencil to draw your embroidery design on your fabric. If these are not available, use dressmaker’s carbon paper to leave an imprint, or simply draw the design onto the fabric using a soft, well-sharpened lead pencil. Often a window during the day can be used as a ‘light box’ to trace off a design with the aid of natural light illuminating the pattern. To work this way, hold the design behind the fabric and press them both against the window while drawing. 

When using a transfer pencil, always work in reverse. The iron should be hot on a dry/cotton. Press but do not rub the iron as it will smudge the transfer.

For free embroidery patterns see:
Q is for quilter

If you scorch your linens:
Removing iron scorch marks

I hope everyone is having a good day or evening where ever you are.