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    Embroidery for the Absolute Beginner
    Embroidery for the Absolute Beginner
    Embroidery for the Absolute Beginner
    Ebook220 pages1 hour

    Embroidery for the Absolute Beginner

    By Susie Johns and Caroline Smith

    4.5/5

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    About this ebook

    Discover how to use traditional embroidery techniques from simple cross stitch to pulled thread embroidery—even if you’ve never embroidered before.

    The book introduces the reader to many different stitchery techniques from simple cross stitch to intricate pulled threadwork. Some of the techniques are useful for making decorative borders, while others are good for adding spot designs, monograms and lettering, and applying beads and sequins. There are twenty designs to choose from including motifs for attractive home accessories and a wide range of fashionable garments. Readers will also find out how the simplest of sewing machines can create embroidered pieces in a fraction of the time it takes to do it by hand.

    Everything is explained with clear, step-by-step photography and no-nonsense, easy-to-follow text.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherOpen Road Integrated Media
    Release dateApr 25, 2016
    ISBN9781781265246
    Embroidery for the Absolute Beginner
    Author

    Susie Johns

    Susie Johns is an experienced crafter, specializing in textiles, knitting/crochet and embroidery. She contributes regularly to a number of craft magazines and is the author of a range of books on practical subjects, such as collage, papier mache, crochet, knitting, embroidery and felting. She is the author of New Holland's Frame Your Memories and Street Chic Jewellery. She also teaches craft workshops and lives in London. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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      Book preview

      Embroidery for the Absolute Beginner - Susie Johns

      Introduction

      Ready, set, stitch! In no time, you’ll be making fabulous accessories, garments, and household items or transforming already owned plainer versions into something really special. Embroidery, whether by hand or machine, is so easy to do, you’ll wonder why you waited so long to get stitching.

      Hand embroidery has a long and venerable history. Since the earliest times, people have wanted to embellish their clothes and other items – perhaps to set themselves apart or to make use of innate creativity. Dozens of different stitches were developed in order to translate these desires into reality. In this book, you’ll find a wide range to help you recreate what you want to capture.

      Different regions produced different styles of embroidery, too, such as drawn threadwork, cutwork, and smocking, Their decorative potentials expanded how plain fabric could be transformed into something unique. Again, using this book, you will be able to master these techniques and create attractive projects on which to practise.

      More recently, sewing machines have brought a new dimension to decorative stitching – speed. Even with the simplest of machines, you can embellish items with colourful borders and motifs. In this book, you’ll also learn about freehand design, which can produce all-over patterns.

      For hand embroidery, little in the way of equipment is required – a needle and some embroidery floss. And it’s very portable, so you can practise wherever you have a place to sit and good lighting – outdoors, in waiting rooms, etc. – as well as at home. As mentioned previously, to produce decorative effects and the projects in this book, all you need is a basic sewing machine.

      The book has been designed to teach you all the basic stitching techniques and inspire you to use them through 20 original projects. The garments, accessories, and household items that are included have been created so that even novice needleworkers can achieve a successful result. They also demonstrate how variable are the looks and uses of stitching, and they should prove enjoyable to wear or use or to give as gifts.

      Susie Johns

      Caroline Smith

      Hand embroidery

      Needle and thread can produce the most wonderful effects on fabric. With just simple cross stitch you can create all kinds of letters and images while knotted, flat, and looped stitches will produce life-like renditions of practically anything you can dream up. Smocking, cutwork, and drawn, and pulled threadwork manipulate the basic fabric, producing decorative material, while beadwork can add sparkle and texture. In this chapter, you will find all the techniques you need to master these skills – and more – plus over a dozen delightful items to wear and use.

      Tools and materials

      Embroidery can be done successfully on most fabrics and the wide range of threads available means you can achieve many different effects. Your only other essential piece of equipment, outside of a needle, is a small, sharp pair of scissors.

      Embroidery threads

      These come in a wide range of colours. Among the most popular types are:

      Embroidery floss a loosely twisted 6-strand thread that is easily divided into single threads.

      Pearl cotton a strong, twisted non-divisible thread with a high sheen.

      Flower thread a fine non-divisible thread with a matt finish.

      Matt embroidery cotton a thick, soft, tightly twisted thread.

      Crewel yarn fine 2-ply wool or acrylic yarn.

      Persian yarn loosely twisted and easily divisible 3-strand wool or acrylic yarn.

      Needles

      These come in a wide range of sizes; the higher the number the finer the needle. The most useful ones (shown opposite) are described below.

      Crewel or embroidery needle the most commonly used embroidery needle. It has a sharp point and a large eye.

      Chenille needle similar to a crewel needle but with a thicker stem. It is suitable for working with heavier threads on a coarse background fabric.

      Tapestry or yarn needle a thick-stemmed, large-eyed needle with a round-pointed end. Used for lacing embroidery stitches and for pulled threadwork.

      Beading needle a fine, long needle for sewing on tiny beads.

      Other equipment

      Pairs of large and small sharp scissors for cutting your fabric and thread are absolutely essential. You’ll also want dressmaker’s carbon paper and special pencils for transferring your embroidery designs to fabric. Other useful items include a thimble, needle threader, and masking tape to prevent fabric edges from fraying.

      Both plain or patterned fabrics are suitable for embroidery. A wide range of even-weave fabrics for counted-thread techniques (such as cross stitch) is available. This has the same number of warp and weft threads per square inch. One of the most popular is 14 count Aida cloth. This is also available with a woven coloured grid to make stitch counting from charts easier. The coloured threads are removed when the stitching is finished.

      Each project in this book contains a description of suitable fabrics, but when you start creating your own pieces, keep in mind that the fabric should be suitable for the finished item – for example, hardwearing and washable for a pillow cover.

      Cutting and binding fabric

      The fabric should be cut 5cm (2in) larger all around than the overall design. But if you want to mount or frame the completed embroidery, (see page 186–187) add twice this amount – 10cm (4in). Take care to cut the fabric straight, following the warp and weft threads of the weave of the fabric.

      Binding fabric prevents the edges from fraying while you work and is essential on loosely woven fabric. Either tape the edges with masking tape or neaten raw edges with machine zigzag stitch. Alternatively, turn the edges under and sew in place.

      Using threads

      The working thread should be 45cm (18in) or less. Longer threads will get tangled, lose their sheen, and fray. It’s a good idea to cut skeins into lengths before you start. Fold bundles in half widthwise, and tie a thread around the loop end. Use as needed.

      Don’t make a knot when starting or finishing a length of thread; knots show through the work and create an uneven appearance. Instead, use a small backstitch (see page 35), or weave the end into existing stitches on the back of the work. Try to keep the back of the work as neat as possible by weaving the thread ends behind existing stitches and avoiding large gaps between stitches.

      Securing threads

      1 Start a new thread by sliding the needle under the wrong side of some of the stitches, keeping the thread end about 4cm (1 ½in) long. Bring the needle up on the right side of the fabric and continue.

      2 At the end of stitching, secure the thread by sliding the needle under 4cm (1 ½in) of the worked stitches on the wrong side of the work, and then cut the thread.

      Working with a frame

      Frames hold the fabric taut while you work. A frame isn’t essential for small pieces of embroidery, but it does make the work easier

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