Embroidery is such a beautiful art and can lend a ornate touch of beauty to everything from fashion to home decor. Like anything worth doing, it takes time and patience to master. The key to perfect embroidery? Read on for these six tips that will help any stitcher, new or experienced, take their embroidery to the next level!
- You Are Only As Good As Your Needle
It can be tempting for those who are new to embroidery to just pick up any hand sewing needle and just get started. That being said, your embroidery will always look more polished and beautiful when using the right size and type of needle for your fabric and design! Stitchers will benefit greatly from taking time to pick the right needle and asking their local shop owner for their opinion on the best needle for their project.
Product Picks
- Schmetz Embroidery Needles, 5 Count, Assorted Sizes, 75, 90
- Duftin Lindner's Creativ-Set Cross Stitch/Embroidery Kit - 'Autumn Delights', 80x80cm, White
- Beissel Size 75 Embroidery Machine Needles, Box of 100
2. Keep It Conditioned
There is nothing worse than when embroidery floss bunches up and doesn't pass easily through the fabric. Dabbing on a bit of conditioner beforehand helps to ensure that it glides effortlessly through your fabric while maintaining its vivid colour and glossy appearance!
Product Picks
- Thread Magic CUBE, (Machine Sewing Thread CONDITIONER), 2 Pieces
- Thread Magic ROUND (Hand Sewing Thread CONDITIONER), 1 Piece
- Thread Magic Counter Display, CUBE (Machine Sewing Thread CONDITIONER), 12 Pieces
3. Don't Be Afraid To Create Your Own Designs
Go ahead and go rogue! While there is absolutely nothing wrong with using a template or pre-made design, it is liberating to freely stitch, allowing your vision to be translated into beautiful, utterly unique embroidery. It's also a good way for those who are new to embroidery to test out new techniques!
Product Picks
- Prym Embroidery Box
- Prym Magnifying Glass For Embroidery With Cord, Rotatable Lens & Integrated Lens for 8x Magnification
- Clover Seams Right: Multi-Purpose Tool For Sewing, Quilting, Knitting, Crochet & Embroidery By Nancy Zieman
4. Experiment With Different Mediums
Leather, denim, woven straw, paper, plastic - the possibilities are only as limited as your imagination! One way to take one's embroidery skills to the next level is to play with unexpected materials for a finished piece that really pops. Need a bit of inspiration? Take a look at what these 19 artists are doing with a needle and thread!
Product Picks
- Pellon Tack-n-Fuse Embroidery Stabilizer, White, 85% Polyester/15% Viscose , 22.5" X 15 Yards
- Clover Bead Embroidery Tool
- FAST2MARK Embroidery Stencils Essential Collection: 4 Plastic 4" x 8" Stencils (90+ Embroidery Designs) & Instruction Booklet
5. Keep Your Thread Short To Avoid Tangles
Tangled, unruly thread is a common woe that all embroiderers deal with. A simply way to avoid having to redo a design because of knotted floss, is by keeping your thread relatively short when creating your stitches! Make sure that it is no more than a foot long when you thread your needle. You can always add more thread and having a shorter thread, really prevents those pesky tangles!
Product Picks
- Mettler Gift Pack - 28 Spools of Embroidery Thread, 200m
- DMC Mouliné Collector's Tin, Includes 35 Colours Of Cotton Embroidery Thread (Cross-Stitch Design Included)
- Gingher Designer ELEANOR Series: 4" Embroidery Scissors With An Embossed Protective Leather Sheath
6. Try New Stitches & Keep Practicing
While it may seem obvious, the key to excelling at embroidery is PRACTICE! Like with any new skill, very few knock it out of the park with their first attempt. It takes time and patience to be able to create those beautifully intricate embroidered pieces we all admire, but it is worth the effort! Don't be afraid to expand your skills by trying new stitches and practicing them until they are perfect! There are a ton of resources available online - such as this list of 20 simple but stunning embroidery stitches!
Product Picks
- Embroidery Stitching Handy Pocket Guide Compiled By Christen Brown
- THE EMBROIDERY BOOK: Visual Resource of Color & Design
- Encyclopedia of Classic & Vintage Stitches: 245 Illustrated Embroidery Stitches
Do you have any questions or comments? We would love to hear from you! Chat with us in the comment section or send us a message at sales@njeffersonltd.com.
