What threads can be used for embroidery?

You can create embroidery with any threads that you have available, here are five that I’ve used in many different embroidery projects.

Embroidery Floss

This is what is classically used for embroidery. Each skein of floss has six strands of embroidery which can be separated out and stitched with separately or in multiple number of strands.

Perle Cotton

This is also designed for embroidery and is used in certain styles of embroidery such as Hardanger. The cotton is formed of multiple strands twisted together to form the thread that you stitch with. Unlike floss, you don’t separate the strands so this tends to be thicker.

Sewing Thread

I’ve built up a collection of sewing cotton over the years from past dressmaking and other sewing projects. Sewing thread can be used for hand embroidery and much like floss you can use multiple strands together to give the necessary bulk. There are also specific types of thread for use in machine embroidery.

Metallic Thread

There are metallic embroidery flosses available for hand embroidery as well as metallic sewing threads that can also be used. Beware though, stitching with metallic thread is tricky - read more here.

Yarn

Modern embroidery can make use of all kinds of thread including yarn of different thicknesses.

Working with yarn is great for larger pieces as it is thicker and fills up areas much faster!

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How to explore colours in your embroidery

My favourite colour is blue. I see subtleties in shades of blue that I just don’t see in other colours.My craft stash reflects this, I have more yarn, thread and beads in blue than almost any other colour. I know what blues go well with each other and what don’t. But I just don’t have that same sense with other colours. 

Over the past few years as I’ve been creating designs for Embellished Elephant and also pieces for myself I’ve noticed some approaches that I’ve used that have helped me explore colour in a different way.

Set a challenge

I design and stitch a seasonal floral embroidery pattern that is released on my newsletter each month (Sign up here  to get it delivered directly to your inbox). I am therefore working on subjects that are based on a range of different colours (imagine if I only released patterns of blue flowers!) This has meant that I’m working much more with shades of yellow, pink, purple and green and I’m starting to appreciate these colours, shades and learn how to combine them together.

Work intuitively

One of my favourite styles of embroidery when I want to stitch a personal project is intuitive embroidery. With this approach you pick out a palette of coloured thread and pick a colour almost at random and stitch where you feel is right. Working with a multicolour palette really teaches you things like complimentary colours that you could learn about in colour theory but is much more fun if you can experiment and practice for yourself. This approach also works with a monochrome palette as you can really start to hone in on what shades sit well with each other and which are more jarring. The picture above is a piece stitched in an intuitive style.

Stitch a range of designers

Different embroidery designers have different approaches to colour. Some favour bold and bright, others pastels. Some pick colours as close as possible to the subject of their embroidery and others will go off piste and stitch leaves in colours like blue or pink.

Stepping into the shoes of another embroidery artist gives you a sense of how they’ve put their colour palette together and why it works.  

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Why heat erasable pens are magic

In a previous post I outlined the different pens and pencils for transferring embroidery patterns onto fabric.

Here I wanted to focus in on heat erasable pens and why these are my go-to for drawing on fabric.

• The tip is fine, but not too fine meaning you can get a nice clean line

• They are robust and don’t rub off or disappear when you stitch or put the project down for a time

• They erase quickly, just a couple of minutes after adding heat, you can snap a picture of the finished embroidery

There are some reports from other embroiders of the lines reappearing, especially when the embroidery gets really cold. However, applying heat again does make them disappear once more. As with all methods of transfer making sure your stitching covers the lines also reduces this issue.

They don’t work well on darker coloured fabrics, but neither do any of the other type of pens - carbon paper or chalk pens are needed for those situations.

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How seasons can inspire your crafting

The theme for most of the patterns I design comes from the world around me. My aim with the monthly free pattern release is to keep these as seasonal as possible. 

But, because I need to design, stitch a sample, photograph and prepare a pattern for release quite often I’m noting down what I see around me this year to make it onto the list for next year. For example, last year at the end of February I went for a birthday walk and was greeted by carpets of primroses. So when I started planning out the patterns for this year, primroses went straight into the February slot.

When I lived in London I was much less attuned to the different flowers that popped up each month. Since moving to the North East I notice this much more, even along the verges of the A1(M) there have been patches of colour in succession since early spring; daffodils followed by primroses then large oxeye daisies. 

I’ve also embraced the garden more. In London whatever I did the foxes would dig it up and it just put me off wanting to make any effort at all. We now have a larger space, all the tools and a car to transport get the stuff we need to cultivate the space. I count myself as a novice gardener but I’ve delighted in seeing seeds that I planted in the cold and damp days of a North East spring now opening their blooms and the plants we cautiously bought from various supermarkets and garden centres not only surviving but thriving. Expect to see some of these featured in patterns next year.

Whilst spring and summer are plentiful for inspiration, the autumn and winter months become harder to pick inspiration for patterns. The patterns for September, November and December 2022 are still inspired by the plants around me but won’t feature any floral blooms. I hope you enjoy stitching something a bit different as I certainly enjoyed creating these. You can find all my free patterns on my freebies page.

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Finding the ‘right’ yellow

In the late spring I feel like I’m surrounded by yellow. Being in the North East of England, everything is a bit delayed in coming into bloom so the daffodils last well past March and the forsythia and pyracanthas also seem to be everywhere. If I venture for a walk down into the nature reserve then a carpet of primroses greets me.

As I was working on my honeysuckle pattern, it took me a long time to find the ‘right’ combinations of yellows and greens to make the embroidery look how I’d imagined it to be in my head.

But honeysuckle (and many other flowers) come in a range of colours and shades. And as a piece of artwork, you don’t have to have the ‘right’ colour unless you are trying to create something photoreal.

In the end I figured out it was the green, not the yellow I’d chosen for the honeysuckle pattern that was throwing off the combination. Whilst I select my colour palette before I start stitching, I find it is only when I stitch the threads next to each other that I can really tell if the colours are working together or not. Sometimes colours that look jarring next to each other can with the addition of other colours sit in harmony. But at other times, there is no rescuing the situation and those stitches need to be cut out and an alternative approach tried.

It was only after I finished stitching the sample of the honeysuckle pattern that I picked up my copy of Colour Confident Stitching by Karen Barbé and realised why the initial combination I’d chosen felt so wrong. It’s a wonderful book for anyone interested in creating their own embroideries and putting together wonderful colour palettes as part of the creative process.

I particularly love these words that she wrote in the introduction as someone with no formal training in art and colour:

“...Colour is a skill that can be learned. It does not matter how many times you feel you have failed in the past when choosing colours. We all have the potential to shine just by learning the process and putting it into practice.”

One thing I have learned in the years since I started embroidering is that colours look different depending on what you surround them with and how much of each colour you use. My Daffodil, Primrose and Honeysuckle patterns all use the same bright and light yellow shade of thread.

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Three tips to care for your finished embroidery

If you finish an embroidery you probably want to put in on display straight away. This post has a few ideas about where you can display your embroidery but how do you care for your finished piece of embroidery?

Here are my three top tips:

Keep it flat

Even if you plan on displaying it in another way ie in a frame or adding it to a quilt then I recommend keeping the finished piece as flat as possible.

I’ve learned this the hard way. I have a drawer where I keep finished samples so I can make use of the hoop for another project. They are laid nice and flat in the drawer, except when I go rummaging for a particular sample and in a rush don’t make sure everything is put back perfectly flat.

Crumpled fabric with embroidery on it is really difficult to get creases out of as ironing embroidery, even on the back and with protective clothes really has an impact.

Keep the dust off

Your hoop will collect dust over time. You can either find a way to frame it behind glass or from time to time take it down and check it over for dust.

A quick blow might dislodge some dust but there are lots of tiny crevasses between threads that the dust can then land in. My preferred method is taking a bit of sellotape and gently dabbing it on to the fabric to pick up any loose particles.

This is also a great tip for removing any fluff attached to fabric in the creation process, for example from felt shapes.

Keep out of direct sunlight

My father-in-law had some pictures of the Rolling Stones in his living room and to protect them he’d have the blinds closed all the time meaning he was sitting there in the dark for much of the day. You don’t quite need to go to those extremes, but think about where you are displaying your finished embroidery and try to avoid putting it directly opposite a window. If you have no choice, then make sure that there is nothing else in front of it that could cause it to fade unevenly.

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What is perle (pearl) thread?

The most common embroidery thread that you can buy in shops is six stranded embroidery floss. But you may also come across a type of thread called pearl or perle.

Pearl (or perle) thread is not stranded thread which means that you can’t separate out the strands to stitch with. You need to use the thread as it comes. It is therefore a much thicker thread and whilst you can use it for embroidery there are few things to bear in mind.

• You’ll need a needle with a larger eye

• Fewer stitches are needed to fill an area

• It has a different texture and sheen to stranded floss

• It’s great to couch with as it has a thicker texture

• You need to use it for some styles of embroidery such as Hardanger or drawn thread embroidery (pictured above)

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Which brand of embroidery thread should I use?

Like a lot of products, whether it is toothpaste, a phone or a car we have a habit of becoming loyal to one brand. It may be the first one we use, recommended by a friend, the influence of advertising or simply a tried and trusted favourite.

There are several different brands of stranded embroidery floss available as well as thread that is unbranded. The brand that seems most common in haberdasheries and craft shops I’ve visited is DMC, but Anchor is also available. Other brands that offer stranded embroidery floss include Maderia, Paintbox Crafts, Rico, Trimmits and Duchess/Trebla

What to look out for in the floss you use:

• Range of colours - as different brands have different looks to their thread, it is a good idea to pick all the threads for a project from the same brand

• Composition - is it 100% cotton or mixed with other fibres such as acrylic, different thread compositions have different sheens and strength

• Texture - some threads are ‘fluffier’ than others ie you can see the fibres sticking out from the main thread

• Colour fastness - if you stitch items that will be washed then this is an important consideration

• Cost - tends to indicate quality, although there are plenty of cheap poundshop threads that I’ve loved stitching with

DMC is the most widely available and the most popular for a reason. It comes in a wide range of colours and have a smooth texture that gives a lovely sheen to the finished stitching.

However, I also like stitching with Duchess/Trebla which has more cotton texture and a more matt look. It suits my style of embroidery.

Over the years my stash of floss is a real mish-mash. It is made up of floss I’ve specifically purchased for a project, left over floss that came in a kit I bought or spur of the moment impulse pound shop purchase.

In other words, most of the time it doesn’t matter what brand of floss you stitch with, just pick one that best fits your needs and your budget.

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Tips for taking embroidery on your travels

I take an embroidery project whenever I head away, especially if I have a train or plane journey.

Knowing how many supplies to pack can be difficult, especially on longer trips as I don’t want to finish off the project a few days into the trip and then have nothing to do for the rest of the holiday. But I also don’t want to take so much that I end up not touching half of it. Here are my tips on what to pack:

1. Have a project pouch.

I have a pouch which is around A5 size and fits up to a 5 inch embroidery hoop as well as sufficient thread fabric and tools.

2. Pick your hoops carefully

Hoops are the bulkiest item so I suggest picking projects that use the same size hoop when travelling. Extra fabric for additional projects can be folded flat. But if you are only taking one hoop make sure it is a good one - learn from my mistake.

3. Select projects with the same colour palette

This will minimise the number of different threads that you need to pack but also make sure that you have another project to go onto if you finish the first.

4. Take just the thread you need

You might not need to take full skeins of thread. Some patterns may only need a tiny amount of one colour. I take cut lengths about 1m long each but I’m quite experienced at estimating the amount of floss needed. Cut lengths are also helpful if you can’t access your scissors or they are confiscated at the airport!

5. Slim down your tools

I have a needle case where I store all my needles, but I don’t take that on holiday, I have a slimmed down version (a gorgeous felt owl needle case from the Winter 2021 craftpod) where I pack a few different needles, a pin and a pair of scissors. I’ll also take a needle minder as stitching on the move increases your chance of loosing your needle.

6. Check any restrictions

If you are travelling by plane then there you also need to consider any airline restrictions regarding scissors. Most scissors under 6 inches should be fine, but I always travel with a pair I’m prepared to part with. Alternatively there are thread cutters such as this available but the last time I travelled with this my bag was searched and it it caused more confusion than a pair of scissors.

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How to combine embroidery patterns

When I design patterns I focus on one type of flower at a time. But in a garden or in the wild, flowers don't grow in isolation, they nestle next to each other.

In this blog post I’ll outline how you can take the elements of different patterns to make your own unique embroidery.

Inspired by this photo snapped during Summer 2020 in Peckham Rye Park, London I combined my cornflower, poppy and daisies patterns.

The approach I suggest is to trace each element onto the fabric in turn to build up your design.

1. Download patterns

Start by downloading the patterns you want to use. I recommend working with the digital versions of patterns to allow you to re-size the different flowers.

If you’ve not used or transferred from a digital pattern before then this blog post guides you through how do to this.

2. Trace the first element

Pick the first flower to trace. I recommend picking the largest flower or the one you want to feature. I started with the poppy. You can either trace one of this first flower or several.

3. Add the next layers

When adding the next layers of flowers consider the following when creating your composition and tracing the elements:

• Size - varying the size can help make one flower stand out more

• Height - you can place all the flowers in a neat row of the same height, but I like to vary the height

• Spacing - I have left a gap between each flower but you can decide to overlap the flowers to make a denser composition

• Colour - consider where you place flowers of different colours, in my design I wanted a scattered natural look so I’ve mixed up the flowers and colours accordingly.

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Activities when you are short on time but want to do something embroidery related

Hand embroidery takes time. Although it is a portable craft and can easily be picked up and put down, sometimes just the thought of how much time and embroidery might take puts you off starting or carrying on a project.

Inspired by this blog post by Seamwork, here are some quick ideas to do something embroidery related aside from actually stitching:

1.Browse any existing kits or patterns or unfinished projects

Try putting them in an order that you want to tackle them in starting with the ones that bring you joy or you know won’t take much time to finish off.

2. Search out some new patterns

Even if you have a stack of patterns that you are really keen to make, there’s no harm in seeing what else is out there. Try searching Pinterest for patterns in a particular theme or browse somewhere like DMC which has a library of free patterns.

3. Browse social media to discover new embroidery artists

Instagram is great of visual media such as embroidery. Browse using hashtags and if you don’t want to follow lots of new people save your favourite post so you can come back to it later for inspiration

4. Sign up to some embroidery related email lists

Increasingly embroidery artists are also connecting with people via email lists. Sign up to some mailing lists to get some regular doses of inspiration to your inbox. You can always set up a rule or a separate inbox if you don’t want to have them all going into your main inbox.

5. Create your own designs

You don’t have to be able to draw very well, you could just jot in your note book ‘snowdrop design’ or save a photo that inspires you. If you are a doodler then sketch out an idea either in a note book. Procreate app has really helped me when I have the urge to design a pattern.

6. Pick a colour palette

Browse your stash of threads and pick out some colours you want to work with. This is particularly great for creating abstract pieces. Alternatively find a photo with colours that you love and use a colour picker such as this one to generate a colour palette for you.

7. Browse a stitch directory

I have some stitches that I always use and don’t tend to venture outside of these. Browsing a stitch directory such as my stitch showcase series may give you ideas of stitches you want to try.

8. Look through embroidery books or magazines

If you have some of these on your shelf then going back to them may give you some ideas. If you don’t have any at hand, try investigating if your local library offers magazines for free via an app. Mollie Magazine and Love Embroidery are offered by my local library. I also love browsing non-embroidery magazines - Frankie and The Simple Things also give me inspiration.

9. Organise your thread stash

I store my floss on bobbins. I find winding skeins onto bobbins is a nice relaxing activity and helps keep my stash in check. It also reminds me of some of the thread colours I have and want to work with.

10. Tidy up your craft area

I have a table next to the sofa where I pop projects that I’m working on. But often the projects start piling up or other non-craft items get added to the pile so periodically I tidy up this area and it often inspires me to want to get stitching.

11. Cut and iron fabric for stitching on

I have an old curtain that I’m slowly cutting up and using for embroidery projects. Getting this out and cutting a section of fabric is a barrier to me starting a project, but if I cut several pieces of fabric in one go I always have a pile of fabric I can pick up and start stitching on (20x20cm works well for 4, 5 and 6 inch embroidery hoops).

12. Transfer patterns onto fabric

You need to transfer the pattern before you start stitching. I will often transfer two or three patterns at a time so I have a pile of projects I could work on.

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How to pick a colour palette for embroidery

With my kits I pick the colour palette for you. When I do this I aim to pick colours that come mostly from the threads that I stock, this helps reduce the amount of different colours I need to hold to fulfil kit orders. Where I can’t find the right shade (it’s always the green that isn’t quite right!) I look to my wider thread stash and thread cards to pick the perfect colour.

With my free patterns, I provide the design and leave the stitch and colour choices to you. I do this for two reasons firstly, I want you to feel like you can make those creative choices for yourself. I know this isn’t how everyone likes to work but the option is there for you to try. Secondly, if you do want a little more support and guidance and to benefit from my stitch and colour expertise then I offer this detail in the paid for version of the pattern.

Here are a few tips to pick a colour palette for your embroidery:

1. Start from real life

When I’m designing patterns I use photos to guide me on form and colour choices. Quite often flora come in different colour variations and I pick the colour that I love the most (or have the best thread match for). In the case of these Welsh poppies I went for a slightly more orange colour as that is a variation I had come across and I preferred it to the yellow.

2. Look at how you can combine colours

When I originally stitched the crocus pattern I stitched in solid purple and knew it didn’t look right so I experimented with adding a darker purple which helped to define the individual petals better. I also combined one thread of yellow with one of orange for the centre of the crocus as neither colour on their own was quite right.

3. Go abstract

You don’t have to use real life colours when picking your colour palettes. A great example of this is this piece I stitched from a kit by Lucy Freeman.

This is obviously a monstera leaf but the traditional greens have been replaced with pinks and greys.

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How to deal with un-finished projects

I’m going through a phase where I’m not really wanting to stitch any of the embroidery projects that I’ve got waiting to be started or that are in an un-finished state.

If you are a regular crafter, creative, writer, DIYer etc you've probably also got some projects lying around in various states of completion. Sometimes we start off a project with enthusiasm that dips or disappears for a range of different reasons - it's totally normal but what can you do about it?

1. How many projects do you have on the go or want to start?

At one point I had so many projects on the go (or thought I did) that just the idea of working through any of them was overwhelming. What helped me was to get them altogether, take a look at them and pick a few that I really wanted to make. I knew I would come back to the others when I was ready. That helped manage the pressure that I had to finish all of them straight away.

2. Is there something about the project that is putting you off?

I’ve got a gorgeous metalwork embroidery kit that I started with gusto, but has been sitting un-touched for months. I found it again when tidying up and looked at it and saw there was an area that I just wasn’t happy with. Unpicking that area has rejuvenated the feelings for the project and I’m now back stitching it again and enjoying learning the metalwork techniques.

3. Is the project too difficult?

Sometimes we pick projects that are a little above our skill level. There was a gorgeous baby dress I wanted to knit for my niece which had a lace patterned neckline. I could follow the pattern, but for the life of me I couldn’t get the lace pattern to end up with the right number of stitches at the end of the row. I attempted the pattern 8 times before going and researching how to knit lace patterns. The next time I tried, I used stitch markers to mark every repeat and bingo I got to the end of the row with the right number of stitches.

4. Can’t find the time?

Sometimes projects get abandoned simply because there aren’t enough hours in the day to fit in everything. Personally I find having a craft project on the go helps me feel calm and relaxed. Finding some time each week to work on a project is therefore a priority for me. Even if it is only 10 minute a week, I find this helps keep the project going and feel like it hasn’t stagnated.

5. A better project comes along

I’m finisher at heart, I like to see projects through to the end but I do also get my attention distracted when a shiny new project comes along. I find that getting that shiny new project done and out of the way helps me to get back to my original project. Understanding a bit about yourself and how you like to work will help you understand how to deal with your pile of unfinished projects

6. Abandon it

Ultimately, it if is too difficult, you don’t like it or you don’t have time there is no shame in just abandoning it. It could be leaving it in the un-finished objects pile for now or forever. Or it could be something more drastic like breaking it down to it’s component parts and using those for something else. I’ve even heard of people giving away half finished projects to others to finish.

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Five stitches that are great for embroidering words

Adding a quote, message, name or date to a piece of embroidery can add a different dimension and meaning.

Here are some stitches that I recommend using if you want to add text to your project:

Backstitch

This is a universal stitch that can be used for so many purposes. In this example, a simple back stitch was used to create the outline to the letters of the name.

Whipped backstitch

This is rapidly becoming my favourite stitch. The wrapping round the backstitch foundation layer gives a smooth, rope like line of embroidery perfect for lettering.

The green text is stitched in backstitch and you can see the difference that whipping around backstitch really makes.

This banner was a free gift from a Mollie Makes magazine and shows how great this stitch is when adding text.

Split Stitch

In this example, split stitch was used to outline the words. Using yarn rather than embroidery floss, this stitch created a plaited look to the stitching.

French Knots

Words can also be created on an embroidery using the negative space approach. In this case, the letters were created by using French knots outlines. This stitch could also be used to fill in lettering.

Straight Stitch

This is a great way to fill in lettering without having to cover every millimetre of the word in stitches. Just cover the letter with stitches at different angles using different threads (or all the same thread).

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How to stitch on canvas

Displaying a finished piece of embroidery in a hoop is the default as it is a simple way to finish it off and put it on display. This does mean that they are not viewed as pieces of artwork in the same way that a painting in a rectangular frame might be.

Finishing in a hoop also restricts the size and form of the work. So I’ve been experimenting with stitching on pre-stretched canvases. You can buy these quite cheaply in shops such as B&M and Flying Tiger.

Here are some of my thoughts of how you translate embroidery to canvas.

Wide wooden frame

Canvases are stretched over a wooden frame that is about 1 inch wide. This restricts the area for stitching and although you can get creative with the angle of your needle when stitching in the areas above the frame, this border needs to be taken into account in the design.

Large warp and weft

The canvases I’ve bought have wide warp and weft threads. This means that it can be hard to stitch really delicate designs as you normally stitch in the tiny hole that is the intersection between warp and weft threads. However, canvas is also a fairly even weave fabric meaning that modern designs with geometric shapes work well.

Using thicker threads

Canvas is a thick fabric which can be hard on the fingers. But it also means it can hold the weight of thicker threads such as yarn.

I found that using chenille needles rather than crewel needles worked best when stitching on canvas as the thicker needles gave better grip and the larger eye accommodated thicker thread.

Pre-stretched

As the canvas is pre-stretched it means that if it becomes loose it can’t easily be re-stretched to make the fabric taut (which is needed for great looking embroidery). Canvas can become loose if it is heavily worked so choosing a design with fewer stitches will help prevent the canvas going loose.

Changing the fabric

You can take the canvas off and use the frame to stretch other fabrics. I’ve experimented with replacing the canvas with a very open weave linen stretching the new fabric over the frame and holding it in place with drawing pins while I stitched. Once the piece was finished I re-stretched the fabric and attached it securely using a staple gun. I worked in this way as I don’t have a roll frame embroidery stand.

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The traits you need to be an embroiderer

I’m a firm believer that anyone can make gorgeous embroidery, but there are some traits that really help when picking up a needle to start an embroidery project. Here’s three and why they are important:

Patience

Embroidery can take a long time to complete.

I don’t often time how long it takes me to stitch a piece from start to finish as one of the joys of embroidery is you can pick it up and put it down at will. But for this piece I only stitched it in blocks of time (zoom calls and train journeys!) so I know this took 12 hours to finish.

You need to be patient and know that for many fully stitched designs such as this, you are not going to be able to finish it in an afternoon.

Perseverance

Especially if you are stitching a new design or experimenting with a new stitch, it won’t always go right first time.

It can be disheartening to see an area that you have spend an hour or two stitching doesn’t look quite right. But more often than not, making a decision to cut it out and re-stitch is the right one.

With this map of Europe I originally wanted to fill in each country with a different colour, but after completing a couple it just didn’t look right so I cut out all that stitching and started outlining instead. It looks so much better!

An eye for detail

I was originally going to say ‘attention to detail’ because you do need to pay attention to the smallest things. The fraction of a millimetre difference in where you place your needle for a stitch can make the difference between good and great looking embroidery. But it think that it’s slightly different to that - it’s about being able to look at a design or piece of stitching and notice where an added detail will make a difference.

I initially stitched the centre of this crocus using only orange thread, but it didn’t look quite right. Mixing one strand of yellow with one of orange, really made the difference.

But don’t worry if you are reading this and this doesn’t sound like you but you still want to create a great embroidery! This floral stitch sampler is the perfect project for you. Each floral motif is stitched separately meaning you can pick it up and put in down - you only need a small dose of patience to stitch each one. It come with pre-printed fabric and a guide of which stitches you can use for each motif - I’ve persevered and used my eye for detail to get this design right and ready for you to stitch.

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How many strands of embroidery floss to use

Embroidery floss comes in skeins of six strands and patterns will often indicate how many strands to use. But what effect does varying the number of strand actually have on your embroidery?

I tried stitching various embroidery stitches with different numbers of thread to demonstrate how this impacts the overall look. For many stitches they loose their definition if too many strands of floss are used. But some stitches, for example stem stitch actually look better with thicker thread.

Here are some things to bear in mind whichever stitch/thread number combination you choose.

• One strand - Perfect for fine embroidery work and for think outlines.

• Two strands - I stitch most of my projects with two strands because the additional strand gives a little bit more bulk. It’s especially useful to have that extra stitch when filling areas it means fewer stitches are needed to fill the area.

• Three strands - I sometimes use three strands when stitching plant stems as it gives extra width without the need for another row of stitches.

• Four strands - I have to admit I rarely stitch with four or five strands, but sometimes four strands is just the right amount of bulk needed for the part of the pattern you are stitching.

• Five strands - It seems like a very odd number to stitch with if you ask me. But if it’s right for the project then go for it!

• Six strands - Sometimes you want maximum bulk and to retain the embroidery floss look, in which case all 6 strands can be used. A longer length of three strands can be doubled if you want to stitch with 6 strands but don’t want as much bulk at the eye of the needle.

Backstitch

Split Stitch

Stem Stitch

Chain Stitch

Fly stitch (top), Seed stitch (bottom)

Cross stitch (top), French knot (bottom)

Want to experiment with the effect different number of strands has on the finished embroidery piece? Then this floral stitch sampler is a perfect project to practice on. It comes with pre-printed fabric and guidance on stitches that you can use, but the final composition of stitches and how to make them is totally up to you.

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How to deal with a wonky hoop

The best hoops are nicely round, the inner and outer hoops fit snuggly together meaning they grip the fabric and hold it drum tight for stitching.

A wonky hoop won’t hold your fabric tight enough to give you enough tension to create great stitches. I’ve learned this the hard way. I went on holiday for 2 weeks with plenty of embroidery to keep me busy but only one hoop. I didn’t check that hoop before packing it and spent the whole holiday cursing that hoop!

1 - Rotate the hoops

Try rotating the inner hoop around before adding the fabric to find the best fit and minimise the size of any gaps. Once you’ve found the best fit, mark the edge of the inner and outer hoop in pencil so you can align them back up when you’ve added the fabric.

2 - Wrap the inner hoop

Wrapping fabric tape around the inner hoop can help prevent the fabric getting marked or creased when it is in the hoop. It also helps to bulk out the inner hoop and potentially reduce any of the gaps as the fabric tape gets squished where the hoop it snug and fills the gap where it isn’t.

3 -Ditch it!

Some hoops are just beyond saving and it is worth preventing hours of frustration by just deciding it’s not worth trying to stitch with that hoop.

If you are thrifty and don’t want to just throw it out then it can be used for framing (where the fabric can be held taut with gathering stitches) and/or remove the outer part of the hoop when displaying the finished embroidery.

It could also be used for non-embroidery projects such as a macramé wall hanging

You shouldn’t find any wonky hoops in my kits! I’ve tried and tested a range of hoops from different brands and only use hoops I know are the best. I check the hoops before I add them to my kits to avoid giving you the challenge of a wonky hoop. Why not take a look at the range of kits I have available here.

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How to create a quilters knot

I used to create a knot at the end of a thread by taking a few centimetres at the end, folding it over into a loop and then knotting that to get a big enough knot. It used up quite a lot of thread and left me with four ends that could be caught up in my subsequent stitching.

And then at a workshop someone demonstrated a quilters knot - it was like magic, so quick and simple and I’ve not looked back!

Traditionally it is used in quilting as it is small enough to pop through one layer of fabric but big enough to say put and not pop through the second layer therefore remaining hidden.

It’s a similar technique to the once used to create a French knot, just without the fabric.

Wrap around the needle

Take the end of the thread (furthest from the needle) and wrap it round the needle a few times.

Use the thumb and finger of one hand to hold the end against the needle and your other hand to create the wraps.

The more wraps there are, the larger the knot. I find at least four are needed for most fabrics.

Move the wraps

With one hand holding the needle, use the other to hold the wraps together. Then carefully move the wraps down the needle, over the eye and down to the end of the thread.

Pull the knot tight

When the wraps reach the end of the thread, pull them tight and they will form a knot.

Want to practice your quilters knots? Then head over to my shop and browse the kits I have on offer and before you know it you’ll be knotting and stitching like a pro!

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When to change your hand embroidery needle

I used to do a lot of beadwork and beading needles are very long and very thin. Over time the needle is stressed as it passes through the beads and all of a sudden when you give it a little tug it snaps and can be a bit of a shock.

I’ve found that hand embroidery needles snap less often as they are a little thicker so how do you know when to change them?

1 - It starts to bend

For me this is much more common that a snapped needle. I find that I often don’t notice how bent a needle has got until it’s laid on a flat surface like a table. You can keep stitching with a bent needle but it can be difficult to stitch with if you need to be very active.

2 - It is tarnished

The oils on your fingers can tarnish a needle over time. If the needle is plated then the metal plate may wear as the needle passes through the fabric. Take a look at your needles and see whether the centre of the needle is a slightly different colour or duller than the ends. You can try washing the needles to see if the colour goes back to normal, if that doesn’t work then it’s best to put it to one side.

3 - It is snagging

Over time the surface of the needle shaft may become roughed up and start snagging on the fabric. I also find that lower quality needles can have this problem from the start. Replace a needle as soon as you start of feel the snagging.

4 - It goes blunt

If you are finding that you are having to use more and more force to piece the fabric then the needle may be blunter than you need. Try switching to a new needle to determine if it was the needle or whether it was something else making it harder work like the bulk of stitches on the back of the work. Needles can be sharpened if they do go blunt.

Finally, what do you do with any needles you no longer have use for? If you need to dispose of them, don’t place them lose in the bin as they may escape and hurt someone. Weave them into a bit of fabric or cardboard or place them in a bag. Needles and pins are made from steel (hence why magnetic needle minders work) so they might be able to be recycled anywhere that also accepts things such as nails and bolts.

All my kits come with one needle that will get you through the project and plenty more future projects. But if you already have enough embroidery needles in your life, just drop me a message when you order and I can leave the needle out.

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