New embroidery Hobby - help?
February 23, 2018 9:48 AM Subscribe
I have some questions to do with my new embroidery hobby and, specifically, with making one of these butterflies.
I'm getting into embroidery and I suppose I'm trying to fast track my way through some of the learning curves, with your help. I am trying to start with one of the butterflies shown in The Embroidered Garden by Kazuko Aoki. She's a little stingy with the instructions, so could you please take a look and help me figure out:
Did she/should I outline the butterfly with chain stitch?
This is supposed to be long and short stitch, which I understand is done in a series of layers, but those stitches making up the main body of the butterfly look awfully long to me...Are there really layers there?
Is she using 1 strand of thread? It looks to me like it might be more than one.
Any tips and tricks you can give me with regards to this new hobby would be appreciated as well! For example, I've been having trouble threading my needles. Any needle or threading technique recommendations?
I'm getting into embroidery and I suppose I'm trying to fast track my way through some of the learning curves, with your help. I am trying to start with one of the butterflies shown in The Embroidered Garden by Kazuko Aoki. She's a little stingy with the instructions, so could you please take a look and help me figure out:
Did she/should I outline the butterfly with chain stitch?
This is supposed to be long and short stitch, which I understand is done in a series of layers, but those stitches making up the main body of the butterfly look awfully long to me...Are there really layers there?
Is she using 1 strand of thread? It looks to me like it might be more than one.
Any tips and tricks you can give me with regards to this new hobby would be appreciated as well! For example, I've been having trouble threading my needles. Any needle or threading technique recommendations?
Response by poster: Sorry about the bad pinterest link. If you go to the amazon page for the book and click 'Look Inside' the same image is there. I'll try to find the image hosted elsewhere and fix the link.
posted by kitcat at 10:03 AM on February 23, 2018
posted by kitcat at 10:03 AM on February 23, 2018
Response by poster: There is a review of the book and an image of the butterflies here: http://www.feelingstitchy.com/2017/09/book-review-and-giveaway-embroidered.html
posted by kitcat at 10:07 AM on February 23, 2018
posted by kitcat at 10:07 AM on February 23, 2018
That pic isn't high-res enough to tell if it's chain stitch, I'm pretty sure. Also are the butterflies embroidered on paper? It seems like it would be a real pain in the butt to chain stitch around the edges if that's true.
I think those are long and short stitches, the long ones are just easier to see because the picture's not very clear.
My #1 tip is to get a book that has not just projects but techniques, with really clear pictures. I like this one. This website is also great.
posted by clavicle at 10:40 AM on February 23, 2018 [3 favorites]
I think those are long and short stitches, the long ones are just easier to see because the picture's not very clear.
My #1 tip is to get a book that has not just projects but techniques, with really clear pictures. I like this one. This website is also great.
posted by clavicle at 10:40 AM on February 23, 2018 [3 favorites]
Needle n Thread is my favorite online embroidery resource; here is a tutorial about long and short stitch.
I also like Needle Painting Embroidery: Fresh Ideas for Beginners by Trish Burr for info on this type of embroidery.
Both of those resources recommend outlining a shape in split stitch (less bulky than chain stitch) before filling with long and short stitch. This helps the shape stand out a bit. If you're working on paper like the example in the book, the outline might be unnecessary/create more undesirable holes in the paper. If you're working on fabric an outline is a good idea. Both those resources also recommend using one strand of floss, but it depends on the effect you want. The butterflies look likely to be mostly one strand to me.
I think clavicle is right that you can only really see the long stitches in the photo. The length difference of the stitches helps create that internal shaping/texture.
posted by doift at 6:14 PM on February 23, 2018
I also like Needle Painting Embroidery: Fresh Ideas for Beginners by Trish Burr for info on this type of embroidery.
Both of those resources recommend outlining a shape in split stitch (less bulky than chain stitch) before filling with long and short stitch. This helps the shape stand out a bit. If you're working on paper like the example in the book, the outline might be unnecessary/create more undesirable holes in the paper. If you're working on fabric an outline is a good idea. Both those resources also recommend using one strand of floss, but it depends on the effect you want. The butterflies look likely to be mostly one strand to me.
I think clavicle is right that you can only really see the long stitches in the photo. The length difference of the stitches helps create that internal shaping/texture.
posted by doift at 6:14 PM on February 23, 2018
This thread is closed to new comments.
Threading needles: use beeswax to make the end stiffer and make sure your scissors are sharp so you're not trying to jam a fuzzy end in there. If you are trying to thread more than one thread, I've had luck waxing (or, let's get real, licking) the ends together, then snipping so the edge is sharp, then threading together. There are needles that have larger eyes available and that may help-- you don't have to use the needle the kit provides or what the book says if you find it incompatible with your style.
Or, get a needle threader.
posted by blnkfrnk at 10:00 AM on February 23, 2018