How do you embroider?
There are actually two different embroidery techniques. You can do cross-stitch embroidery, but there’s also embroidery. Read below to find out exactly what these techniques are and how they differ. Would you rather take an online course? You can! Our Academy offers a free course on Basic Embroidery. Sign up for free and get started today.
Cross-Stitch Embroidery
Cross-stitch embroidery is the “easiest” of the two embroidery techniques. With cross-stitch, you—you’ll never guess—make a little cross in your fabric. The fabric used for cross-stitch has a grid pattern, so it’s actually made up of lots of tiny squares. With cross-stitch, you make a little cross in these holes, which creates a cross. People often work from the bottom left to the top right and then from the bottom right to the top left, but really, that choice is entirely up to you. What is important, though, is that all the crosses point in the same direction, because then your embroidery will look super neat.
Embroidery
Embroidery is a somewhat freer form of embroidery. You use a pattern, but your fabric doesn’t have clear lines to follow. Some people also call it “painting with yarn,” because you literally fill in your pattern with embroidery thread. There are a whole host of different stitches used in embroidery. Think, for example, of the backstitch, the French knot, and the chain stitch. Floral patterns are a popular choice, but you can also choose to embroider an animal or a landscape, for instance.
What do you need to embroider?
Are you excited and eager to try your hand at embroidering? If so, it’s important to have a few basic supplies on hand before you start. We’ll go over all of these items below.
1. Embroidery fabric
As we mentioned above, there are different types of fabrics. Are you planning to embroider with cross-stitch? Then choose Aida cloth. Want to try your hand at embroidery? In that case, you can opt for a slightly finer fabric. At Yarnplaza.com, we have a variety of fabrics for your embroidery project.
Aïda embroidery fabricWith Aïda embroidery fabric, the squares for your cross-stitch are clearly visible, which makes it easier to count and embroider your pattern onto the fabric. This embroidery fabric is available in various sizes. The size of the squares is determined by the density of the weaving threads. The higher the count, the more cross-stitches per centimeter, and the smaller your squares will be. In other words: the higher the count (ct.), the finer the fabric. The most commonly used size for cross-stitch embroidery is 14 count.
Do you want to embroider? Then don’t use Aida embroidery fabric; instead, opt for a fine 100% Cotton fabric or (cheese) linen. You can add a lot of detail to these fabrics, and you aren’t limited by the squares like you are with Aida fabric. This allows you to embroider much more freely.
2. Embroidery Needles
If you’re going to embroider, you’ll definitely need embroidery needles. But which embroidery needle should you use? And why are there different types of needles? We’ll explain it briefly. In our store, we carry two different types of embroidery needles: blunt and sharp. Blunt embroidery needles are often used for cross-stitch embroidery. This blunt-tipped needle glides smoothly through Aida fabric. A sharp needle is more convenient for other fabrics, such as linen or Cotton. You can actually compare it a bit to sewing; you use a sharp needle for that, too.
There are also different needle sizes. The higher the number, the thinner the needle. The size you need depends on the fabric. For a coarse fabric (such as Aida, for example), you’ll use thicker needles than for a fine fabric.
3. Embroidery Hoops
An embroidery hoop is a must-have in your embroidery kit. When embroidering, it’s helpful to stretch your fabric in an embroidery hoop. This ensures that all your stitches are equally tight and gives you a neat result. Some people also like to leave their embroidery in the hoop and hang it on the wall that way. Just like embroidery fabrics, embroidery hoops come in all shapes and sizes. You can choose between plastic or wood, and the hoops range from mini (5 cm) to large (25 cm).
4. Embroidery Thread
Perhaps the most important item when it comes to embroidering: the right embroidery threads. At Yarnplaza, we carry two brands: DMC and Rico. Chances are you’re most familiar with DMC, but Rico also offers excellent embroidery threads. With Rico, you can choose from nearly 300 different colors, and with DMC, as many as 500. Metallic yarns and satin embroidery threads are also available on our website. This allows you to add a beautiful finishing touch to your embroidery. Both DMC and Rico offer split yarns; this means you can separate the strands (which consist of 6 threads) from each other. For most cross-stitch projects, for example, you’ll use 2 or 3 strands at a time.
5. An embroidery pattern or an embroidery book
Still need more inspiration? We’ve added a huge selection of great embroidery books full of patterns to our collection. These books are packed with embroidery patterns, so there’s definitely something for everyone. Which one is your favorite? We’re big fans of *Botanica*, *Autumn Forest*, and *We Are Family*, but secretly we’d love to have them all in our craft cabinet. In addition to these books, you’ll also find various (free) patterns on our website.
Embroidery for Beginners
Not sure where to start? Then pick up a fun Embroidery Kit. It includes everything you need to create a beautiful embroidery project. Which one will you choose?
Embroidery Tutorials for Various Embroidery Stitches
Do you enjoy learning through videos? On our YouTube channel, you’ll find no fewer than 24 helpful tutorials on all kinds of embroidery stitches. So if you love embroidery and want to expand your embroidery repertoire, these videos will be a huge help!
Are you a fan of embroidering?
Have you caught the bug? There are all sorts of things you can make with embroidery stitches. For example, you can embroider on a towel, washcloth, or tablecloth, but you can also create a beautiful birth tile or some charming letters as a baby shower gift. Prefer to embroider on clothing? Did you know that it’s actually pretty simple? Next week, we’ll share a blog post where we’ll tell you everything about customizing your clothes with Embroidery Thread.
Share your results!
We can't wait to see your embroidery projects! Share your project with us by tagging us and using #Yarnplaza on social media.
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