A life long Cross Stitcher interested in learning Embroidery. Where do I start?

[Janet Conrad]

Hello!

The title says it all.  I want to start exploring embroidery because it looks like a lot of fun and much more interesting than cross stitch.  Over the last two years, I've lost interest in needlework because I'm bored with cross stitch.  But, I'm not sure how to start an embroidery project.  Are there kits?  Do I pick a pattern and go?  Anyone have any suggestions?  So excited to be here and part of this wonderful, creative community.  <3  Janet

[Janet Conrad]

Good idea, Sue.  Thank you.

Sue Noble said:

Join an embroidery group they usually do work shops of lots of different things to try.  My Groups is doing one next April learning how to make handbags :-)

[Barbara/Hopscotch]

I think that the fabric you use to embroider on influences the way you stitch.  When I first started tast, I used aida and my normal free-style embroidery became more restricted and 'formal'.  My advice is use a variety of fabrics- even create your own from fibres.  This will free-up your stitching; if you have an interesting background to start with it is less intimidating than a big 'blank page', so to speak.  Anyway the whole point is to experiment & have fun!

 

Barbara

[Danielle McNeil]

Hi Janet,

This is my first post; I'm a new member :)

The way I started embroidering is with a kit; that way everything is there for you. You don't need to figure out which fabric, needle(s), flosses (yummy, yummy yummy flosses!) backing and so on that you will need. Some kits even come with a hoop included so you can try hooped vs. working in hand (no hoop). 

I also collect any and every embroidery stitch book I can find; my suggestion would be to start with a basic stitches book - found in most craft stores, needle work stores and on line. 

As Mary Corbet's Needle 'N Thread  is an integral part of this group I think it's O.K. to mention her web site. The moderator will decide. Mary's site has video stitch tutorials - GREAT! and is a wealth of information.

Once you get started with surface embroidery you will find an entire Universe of techniques and supplies, all incredibly exciting! Stump work, gold work, Brazilian Embroidery, White work, Black work, red work, needle painting.......the list is endless!

I am so excited for you!

Let us know how you are getting along!

Happy Stitching!

Danielle 

[Mary Corbet]

:-) Thanks, Danielle!

Totally agree about kits for getting started! There are lots of designers out there who have great kits for starting out!

[christina richards]

Hi Janet, you are right....embroidery is so much more varied than cross stitch, and like you I progressed from cross stitch to embroidery ! I would start with a basic introduction to the stitches and learn the 'anatomy ' of each stitch ( how the stitch is done ) in each case and once you've learnt to do one stitch then move on to the next !

This is how I learnt and I have never looked back ! If you get stuck on any of the stitches, I would be more than willing to help you ! This is my email address, if you need any help............ [e-mail]

hugs

Chris richards

[Susan Low]

I am working on an embroidery snowman kit right now.   It is on a hand towel.   Actually there are two hand towels.  I am half done and I will post a photo when done.  It is probably one of my first experience on a hand towel.

[Susan]

Hi everyone, I am also another cross stitcher but embroidery is my first love. Gee I remember when I started, I stitched a lot of pillowcases that were here at home. Also a suggestion is chain stitch and a great way to experiment further with it. I just love free style embroidery as a lots of members here say, you start with a picture in mind and then go from there but there is one thing that you have to keep in mind its very dimensional and loose so your stitches have to be very loose. but its a case of learning as you go on your journey. Oh yes please dont undo your work you need to keep these to see how you are getting better with each step of the way. Have fun is the most important thing.

[aikistitch]

Hi Janet,

I use to do only cross stitch, but recently i started doing other techniques as well. I always told myself i could not do those amazing stitches, but  I have started and  i CAN do it (even if i still have to improve, but that is the fun of it, is it not?). I just started a project and stitched!. To start with a kit is a good idea, but I was impatient and wanted to go right away, so i did. 

Have a look at books for different techniques, I found nice books, second hand for just a few euros with lots of lovely patterns and they take me through the process stap by stap.

Or maybe you can find somebody in your vicinity to teach or help you. ( I wish i had someone like that:)

Another thing that I needed to do before starting a new project was telling myself it was ok for the project to fail, even if that means i wasted the fabric and thread ( it helps me to  get started and find my confidence:) And tell you what, it never failed and i am improving bit by bit:)

Hope to seen nice projects from you very soon!!!!

[Katherine Spitznagel]

Hi, I have been stitching regularly for just over a year. I started with counted cross and added embroidery. I picked up a couple of crewel work kits at a chain craft store. I googled how to make a stem stitch and found Needle n Thread. Mary Corbett's Needle and Thread along with Mary's dedication to teaching needlework is how I learned to do surface embroidery. I find it hard to believe that I learned to stitch via online instruction. I enjoy cross stitching and find that switching between the ways of stitching are the way to go for me. I can't talk to my family when I am stitching either way though. Stitching takes my full attention at this point whether it is cross stitch or embroidery. My profile pic is a completed kit. It was the first surface embroidery kit that I bought. It was really fun to stitch. (it was the second project that I completed!). I looked at the EGA website too. They had info on beginner stitches. Mary has reviewed some books on her website. I bought a stitch dictionary after checking a few out from the local library. I use the videos on Mary's site to review each stitch before I stitch it. I also learned to use a doodle cloth to practice stitches on before actually doing a new stitch on a project. That's a few thoughts that I can share with you. Hope you enjoy stitchin!

[Jen V]

Hi Janet! I just came across this post and wanted to recommend the book The Embroidery Stitch Bible - it's relatively compact and is spiral bound so it's easy to work with. I will admit though, that nothing is better for me than Mary's videos. I recommend them whenever I can and use them all the time.

As for just starting out, I began stitching on some muslin I had lying around - I just put it in the hoop and began practicing stitches.  There are so many patterns out there for free too -  check Flickr for vintage embroidery patterns - there are tons of them!  Good luck! :)

[Margo Brooks]

The Embroider Everything Workshop is a book that came out last year. It is a great book because it discusses the history of embroidery and then has some great little projects in all different types of embroidery. That is my new recommendation for new embroiderers.