Tips & Techniques

Hand Embroidery Lessons & Step-by-Step Projects

• Mission Rose
• Embroidery on Eggs
• Deconstructing Goldwork
• Hungarian Redwork Runner
• Stitch Fun Series
• Marian Medallion Project in Goldwork & Silk
• Goldwork & Silk Tudor-Style Rose
• Wool Embroidery Project: Pomegranate Corners
• Developing a Spot Sampler
• Long & Short Embroidery Stitch Lessons
• Hand Embroidered Lettering Lessons
• The Blackwork Fish Project
• Goldwork Pomegranate Project
• Crewel Rooster Project
• Church Embroidery: Agnus Dei Project
• Drawn Thread Embroidery

Tips Especially for Beginners

• How-To Videos for Hand Embroidery
• Starting and Ending Threads
• Neatening the Edge of Fabric before Stitching
• Transferring a Repeat Pattern (Iron-on)
• Equally Spacing Spokes and Petals
• Some Thoughts on Embroidery Stitches & Samplers
• Preparing Linen for Embroidery
• On Threading Needles (read the comments section, too!)
• Making False Starts – Knowing When to Start Over
• The Back of the Embroidery
• Removing and Repairing a Slip Knot on the Back of your Work
• Hand Embroidered Lettering and Text Index – a series of tutorials
• Stem Stitch around a Circle
• Joining Chain Stitch around a Circle
• Stem Stitch Corners
• Stitch Play Series
• Backstitch vs. Split Backstitch

Transferring Patterns

• Embroidery Design Transfer Methods – List with various links – read the comments, too!
• Developing an Embroidery Design using Monograms
• Preparing Linen for Embroidery
• Transferring a Design onto a Dressed Slate Frame
• Transferring a Repeat Pattern (Iron-on)
• Tracing a Pattern (information is contained in the text of this post)
• Using Solvy to Transfer Your Design: Part I
• Using Solvy to Transfer Your Design: Part II
• Transferring a Pattern Using Prick and Pounce
• General Information about Iron-on Patterns
• Designing your Own Embroidered Card Pattern
• Difficulties of Pencil Transfer with Whitework
• Transferring a Pattern using Tracing Paper and Tacking stitches

Hoops, Frames, and Stands

• The Embroidery Hoop
• Dressing a Slate Frame
• Using a Stretcher Bar Frame
• Stand Review for the Needlework System 4
• On Embroidery Hoops in General
• Using a Scroll Frame for Ribbon Embroidery (read the comments section for reader input!)
• A Project from its Conception to the Beginning Stitches (includes commentary on planning, framing, transferring)

Threads

• Selecting Threads (& Stitches) for an Embroidery Project
• Testing Embroidery Threads: Colorfast?
• Piper’s Silk Gimp
• Combining Wool & Silk Threads
• Thread Conversion – DMC to Anchor, etc.
• Cotton Floche vs. Danish Flower Thread
• Floche, Perle, and Stranded Cotton
• Twisted Silks in Use
• Comparison of Twisted Silks
• Comparison of Flat Silks, Part I
• Comparison of Flat Silks, Part II
• Goldwork Threads: Sadi
• Goldwork Threads: Passing Thread Close Up
• Size Comparison: Gilt Silk Twist vs. Stranded Cotton
• Embroidering with Gilt Silk Twist (needle info, etc., within the artcle)
• Further Clarification on Floche, Coton a Broder, and Danish Flower Thread

Individual Stitches and Techniques

• Embroidering Trees, Part 1
• Embroidering Trees, Part 2
• How to Embroider a Pumpkin in Less than 5 Minutes
• Guilloche Stitch
• Shisha Work, Without Mirrors
• Padded Satin Stitch & Saving Silk
• How to Embroider Perfect Stars or Snowflakes
• Padded Satin Stitch Blooper – The Fix, Part 1
• Padded Satin Stitch – the Fix, Part 2
• Backstitch vs. Split Backstitch
• Embroidering a Thick Stem or Branch using rows of Whipped Chain Stitch
• Complete Interlaced Herringbone (aka kutch work) Printable Tutorial
• Thorough Cast-On Stitch & Double Cast-On Stitch Printable Tutorial
• Interlaced Herringbone Band – Quick Tutorial
• Cast-On Stitch Rose
• Simple Cast-On Stitch Flower
• Isolated French Knots – part 1
• Isolated French Knots – part 2
• French Knot vs. Colonial Knot
• Shisha without Mirrors
• Split Stitch vs Split Backstitch
• Diagonally Striped Raised Band
• Couching: Beyond the Straight Stitch
• Inside-Out Buttonhole Flowers
• Casalguidi – Really Raised Stem Stitch
• Raised Stem Stitch Band
• Raised Spider Web Daisy
• Beaded Palestrina Stitch
• Combining Chain Stitch & Buttonhole Stitch
• Stitch Play Series
• Long and Short Stitch Shading (Thread Painting, Needle Painting) – a series of tutorials, including videos
• Video Library of Hand Embroidery Stitches
• The Difference Between Stem Stitch and Outline Stitch
• Stem Stitch Circles
• Stem Stitch Corners
• Joining Chain Stitch on a Circle
• Whipped Backstitch and Running Stitch – Stitch direction makes a difference!
• Satin Stitch around a Tight Curve
• Satin Stitch: Outlining and Padding before Stitching
• Making Flowers out of Buttonhole Stitch
• Making Hollyhocks out of Buttonhole Stitch
• Working Herringbone Stitch in a Circle
• Experimenting with Italian Stitch in Silk and Gold
• Using Seed Stitch as a Filling
• How to Make a Bullion Rose Bud – this is a video tutorial that includes tips on starting and ending threads
• Lattice Work for the Center of a Flower
• Plaited Braid Stitch Musings
• Couching Lattince Work
• Thread Painting Tips – Long and Short Stitch Shading
• Thread Painting Tip from Trish Burr
• Stitching a Better Satin Stitch
• Beginning a Cutwork Piece
• Satin Stitching on Linen – satin stitch on fabric usually used for counted thread techniques (check the comments section, too, for good tips!)

Drawn Thread Embroidery Tips

• Chain Loop Bunches in Drawn Thread Embroidery
• Hemstitch Tutorial: Photo Tutorial on the Hemstitch used in Drawn Thread Embroidery
• Securing the Edges for Drawn Thread Embroidery: Re-Weaving the Drawn Threads
• Securing the Edges for Drawn Thread Embroidery: Satin Stitch Bars
• Diamond Stitch used in Drawn Thread Embroidery

Fabric

• What is Cloth of Gold?
• Taking Care of Linens and Projects (read the comments, too)
• Embroidering on Vintage Linens
• Fabric for Surface Embroidery and Tips on Linen

On Specific Tools

• On Threading Needles
• Selecting the Right Needle for the Job
• A Boo-boo Stick
• Tack Kit (for stretcher bars)
• Thread Rings and Keeps
• The Contents of a Needlework Toolbox
• How to Make a Simple Needle Roll for Storing Needles

Goldwork

• High Relief Goldwork: Lily
• High Relief Goldwork Rose
• Deconstructing Goldwork: Dimensional Lamb
• Couching Stretched Pearl Purl
• Creating Gold Rings with Pearl Purl
• Sharp Corners with Couched Goldwork Threads
• Stretched Purl Pearl wrapped with Thread (gold and floss twist)
• Using a Plunging Lasso (for plunging goldwork threads)
• Goldwork Threads: Sadi
• Couching Gold over Silk, and Some Comments on Plunging Threads
• Repairing Cloth of Gold (read the comment section especially!)
• Preparing Beetle Wings for Embroidery
• Chipwork and Working with Purl
• Or Nue Information
• Goldwork Tools
• Stretching Pearl Purl and Couching in the Valleys
• What is Pearl Purl and How to Use It

Finish Work

• Damp Stretching & Blocking Embroidery
• Ironing Your Finished Embroidery
• Finish Work: How to Frame a Piece of Embroidery
• Finishing an Embroidered Pouch
• Making a Cord, Tassel, and Button

Organization

• Floss and Thread Organization, Part I ***
• Floss and Thread Organization, Part II ***
• Keeping Organized While Stitching
• Organizing a Project Room (no real tips, just what I did)
• Organizing Threads, Especially Floche, Coton a Broder, and Perle Cotton
• Organizing Threads Using Key Chain Tabs
• Organizing Threads using Thread Cards

Miscellaneous (There’s always a junk drawer, isn’t there?)

• Setting up a Children’s Embroidery Class (including making your own thread holders)
• An Online Resource for Tips and Tricks
• Making Dorset Buttons
• Making Embroidery Stitch Videos
• Budgeting so you can Afford your Hobby
• Making an Arm-Chair Thread Catcher for Scraps and Orts
• How Many Hand Embroidery Techniques Are There, Anyway? (read comments!)
• Stitching a Stuffed Figure

Video Tutorials

• View all How To Videos