Embroidery really is SO SO easy. Once you know how to transfer your chosen design on to fabric the sky is totally the limit. Embroidery can be super perfect, or it can be a bit sketchy and naive. Don’t feel that you have to make it perfect to make it good. That is not true at all. Look at my Max embroidery… it’s imperfect, but it totally captures the feel of Max (well… I think it does!!)
Embroidery is so great because you can totally customise your crafty project to suit you, or the person you are giving it to! You can embroider a drawing or text or a traditional old school pattern. It is up to YOU! Do you want to embroider too? Read on…
A Brief Beginner’s How To :
- You need fabric, an air fading marker, a storybook image or scan, floss, a needle, a hoop and some scissors – see notes within text below:
- You need to buy the regular DMC embroidery ‘floss‘ (stranded cotton) and you pull it apartuntil you have one teeny tiny strand. That’s how you get lots of fine sketchy details.
- Trace your scanned image or storybook character with a fading marker. The marker fades away in a day or two and you are left with only your embroidery.
- Use an embroidery hoop to stretch your calico out nicely. The hoop makes it easier to stitch your design. Re the fabric, you can use linen or another open weave plain fabric as well – but calico (or muslin in the US) is easier to source here.
- Stitch away – I used back stitch and stem stitch on mine!)
Have a peek over at Feeling Stitchy and Sublime Stitching for more embroidery tips and inspiration.
[…] Max Embroidery […]
went out and bought a new embroidery hoop to give this a go….searching for the right picture now 🙂
Oh I agree, Karena! This is all about learning to embroider and embroidering for fun. Commercial use is a whole other kettle of fish. Stitch for fun, I say!
Just a little note… For people who are embroidering with a view to selling the finished piece rather than just for fun & personal use, make sure (if you're tracing someone else's artwork) that there are no copyright issues!!
I LOVE embroidery, it's so relaxing & fun! I haven't done any for such a long time, but I've been thinking of starting a winter project! Thank you for the inspiration!
Gorgeous idea! And actually rather hard to execute an entire Sendak drawing and wind up with something Sendak-ish.
I'm all for a relaxed, un-neurotic approach to embroidery. Thanks for a your useful guidance here.
Last year I tried my hand at embroidery. Not knowing the rules of embroidery I plowed ahead any way. I actually embroidered from one of my own rough illustrations. I felt so proud of my achievement.
O oh, you make it seem so easy I am now about to start yet another new hobby!
Nelly x
I am suddenly feeling inspired!
Wonderful!
cutest embroidery ever!
Love it! Very impressive! I do like the idea that it can be naive (aka messy and a gut wrong). That is definately my style 🙂
That looks fantastic! I'm a cross stitcher, and I've always felt like there's something intimidating about embroidery, but maybe I should give it a try. I love the detail in Max's tail.
That's gorgeous, what a fabulous idea using picture books! Have a great week. Emma.
Oh what a sweet Max!! you have definitely captured him. I love the idea of using images from storybooks! I recently started teaching myself embroidery and cross stitch and I am loving it so much.
It looks awesome Pip! I never thought to transfer an image from a book before – I normally associate embroidery with boring floral designs!