Have you ever wondered how to do embroidery properly? A lot of people have an interest in doing it, yet they start to think that they are getting in over their head as they find out more about it.
Ultimately, a lot of people give up on things before they really even get started. Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about it being too difficult. As a whole, embroidery is really not that difficult and you can choose to work with easier projects while you are just starting out, gradually choosing patterns that are more and more difficult as you gain more experience.
Gathering Your Materials
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The first thing you need to do is gather some materials. You will need some type of medium to put your stitches on. Your best bet is to choose something that is not too big so it is easier to work with. In addition, do your best to choose cloth that is not too thick or too coarse. This will make it much easier for the needle to go through so it is important that you choose something that is relatively easy to handle. You will also need some additional materials. Purchase some high quality wooden hoops so that the material is pulled taught instead of being flexible along with thread, some needles and a good pair of scissors. Make sure that you also have a work space that is comfortable.
Pick a Pattern
Next, pick a pattern that is appealing to you. Remember, it is important that you choose one that is relatively easy if you are just starting out. You don’t want to choose something that is so difficult that you become discouraged if it doesn’t turn out the way you were hoping. For starters, go with a simple design that can be done without taking a great deal of time or effort and then allow yourself to work up to more complex designs as your confidence and skills increase. You can still find some very cute designs out there that are relatively easy to handle so you don’t have to worry about doing something that doesn’t really appeal to you just because you don’t have a lot of experience.
Follow Your Pattern
It is important that you follow your pattern to the letter. When you get it, don’t just dive in and start stitching. Instead, carefully read all of the directions and familiarize yourself with everything that you are going to be working with. This will help to reduce the number of stitches that you have to go back and take out later on in order to correct your mistakes. Closely follow your pattern, work slowly and deliberately, and check your progress on a regular basis. This will make the overall project much more enjoyable in the long run, even if it does mean that it takes a little extra time while you are learning the basic skills.
Develop Your Technique
If you have never done any type of embroidery before, the first thing you need to do is learn how to tie a basic knot. All you really need to do is put the thread into the needle and then secure it with a couple of knots so that you don’t have to worry about it pulling free. As you begin to make your stitches, work from the back of the material to the front. In order to complete your stitch, you will then turn the needle and go from the front to the back, thereby completing a single stitch. Keep working in this fashion until you have completed your project. Be sure to tie the thread off when you are finished, just as you did to prevent it from pulling free from the needle itself.
Check Your Work Carefully
As previously mentioned, it is imperative that you check your work carefully. Make sure that you are not deviating from the pattern when you are first starting out. It is always a good idea to stop and check after every few stitches just to make sure that you haven’t gone off course or made a mistake in your stitching. It is a lot easier to take out a few stitches as opposed to being forced to take out an entire string of them so you can start over.
Summary
All in all, embroidery work can be a lot of fun. It is relaxing and challenging at the same time. The idea is to refrain from becoming overwhelmed and allow your skills to develop at a slow and consistent pace. That way, you can continue to enjoy new embroidery tasks well into the future without becoming frustrated with the entire project.
Next, make sure to read our in-depth article on the best sewing machine for beginners.
