Simple embroidery

[tigrlily64]

I wanted to try my hand at embroidering a pouch I'm about to make.  Any tips/suggestions would be appreciated!  I've never done ebroidrey before, and I don't want to have to put a ton of effort into this.  I just want something quick and fun.

[DonaCatalina]

Embroidery designs for beginners
Beginner Embroidery Kit

[gem]

Do the embroidery BEFORE you make up the pouch.  Mark the pattern on the fabric, lightly (use pencil on a light-colored fabric, or chalk on dark fabric), and use a frame or a hoop to stretch and stabilize the fabric. Good tension is important for neat stitchery, and a hoop will help achieve this (you *can* stitch in hand--without a hoop or frame--but it's not as easy to get proper tension, and it's hard on the hand that holds the fabric).  The best size is one that will hold the design in its entirety (if possible), so you don't have to move the hoop (obviously, this isn't always possible).

Use quality threads (DMC, Anchor, or silks).  For six-stranded embroidery floss, you'll get the best results by stripping the thread first (separating the strands and then recombining them.  This helps them lie smoothly, which is key to good embroidery).  Don't work with too long a strand (18" or a little more is good to start).  Metallics are fussy, so you might want to experiment with cotton first before you jump in to something that can frustrate even experienced stitchers!

Cross stitch, chain stitch, backstitch, and satin stitch are good basic stitches that are simple enough for beginners.  A good stitch dictionary should demonstrate each stitch step-by-step, or you can find stitch diagrams online.  "Railroading," or keeping the strands of floss lying parallel to each other, will make the stitches neater.  The two things you want to master are even tension and uniform stitch size, and those come with practice.

I know a lot of stitchers who are really particular about their needles, but I'm not.  You just want to make sure that the eye of the needle is big enough to hold the number of threads you'll be stitching with, but not so big that it will distort the fabric by punching too large a hole in it.  Don't worry--you'll be able to tell that in one stitch.

Relax, go slowly, have fun!  And no matter what you've heard, the BACK of the project is unimportant.  Some stitches or designs are neater than others, so don't worry if yours is a little lumpy.

[Lady Anne Clare]

Here's pages that have links to different types of embroidery
http://www.bayrose.org/wkneedle/stitches.html
http://www.needlework-tips-and-techniques.com/basic-embroidery-stitches.html

Here one that's animated
http://homepage.mac.com/cfitzgerald/Needle/

I love this link.  Found it really helpful for learning blackwork embroidery
http://www.geocities.com/monstonitrus/a_and_s/blackwork/blackwork.html

I personally love blackwork embroidery.  I thought it would be harder than it was, I found it to be quite easy once I learned the basics of it.

[Cilean]

Hello

I have a great paper on some basic embroidery stitches

http://www.sca.org.au/collegium/notes/jane_stockton_basic_stitches_indepth.pdf

Good Luck!
Cilean

[jmkhalfmoon]

Cilean,

Thank you for sharing that paper, I enjoyed looking at it.

[Merry]

Hello

I have a great paper on some basic embroidery stitches

http://www.sca.org.au/collegium/notes/jane_stockton_basic_stitches_indepth.pdf

Good Luck!
Cilean

Excellent paper!  Thanks for sharing!