The Mystery Behind Boring Stitches
The Art of Embroidery
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| Needle Painting By Kathrin Vates. |
Hello dear friends,
If you’re like me and you find immense satisfaction in the work of your hands, then you will agree that the art of hand embroidery and its accompanying variants are a pastime that bestows hours of stress-free, comforting delight. And when something so enjoyable is also your profession, life is blessed.
For those beginning this art, it’s easy to get started, and there are so many stitches that you can use in new and different ways.
Learning all that’s necessary for this skill involves a routine of learning the stitches and techniques, and then practicing and perfecting them. This isn't always as exciting as one might think.
Quite often, a beginner will begin learning the stitch techniques, but soon lose interest because they find the stitches and practicing them boring.
I hope that by sharing some fun facts about the techniques, it will help you stay interested and give you a story behind each as you progress through your work.
What We Already Know About Hand Embroidery.
We know that Embroidery is the art of sewing beautiful embroidery stitches on fabric with embroidery thread and other materials.
It involves depicting beautiful designs on fabric and can be done by hand or with a sewing machine. Embroidery Sewing machines use a zig-zag stitch function to create different types of embroidery designs.
However, in hand embroidery, the sewer uses a needle and thread, and a variety of beautiful stitches to create decorative designs. And this is what is fascinating and inspiring about the art.
The Beginners' First Steps to Embroidery.
The first thing that a beginner who wants to learn this skill would want to do is to start from the beginning. There’s no getting around that.
Often, my students will say, “Why do I have to learn these boring stitches?” or “I like doing the flowers (bullion), not these (satin or leaf) other stitches.”
However, can you see yourself doing bullion stitch flowers and nothing else for the rest of your life?
There’s not much you can accomplish without the absolute basics… learning how to use the tools, the different stitches and where to use them, the basics of color and composition, etc., and embroidery for Beginners " at Tiny Strand Stitchery teaches you everything you need to have a firm foundation.
Once you are confident of these basic beginner embroidery stitches, you can use what you’ve learned in any pattern you choose, even exploring different embroidery forms or composing your own pattern, and there will be nothing stopping you.
Fun Facts About the Embroidery Stitches
Here are some ways you can use the basic stitches and examples of other forms of embroidery that utilize them… and some quirky ways they transform themselves when you are not looking!
Running stitch is a simple embroidery stitch that’s suitable for making dashed outlines and adding details to your embroidery. It's also the basis for Japanese embroidery called the Sashiko technique, and it works well with thread weaving and wrapping.
Now here's the mystery. Although basic, it's pliable and, in the right hands, it can become a complex idea in itself. Along with its siblings, the straight stitch and the smaller seed stitch, you can set up an endless variation of patterns.
For example, you can wear fashionable, one-of-a-kind clothing if you can change the design by varying the stitch length and spacing or by adding a row or more stitches between the first one.
Back stitch. This basic stitch is the stitch you'll use the most as an embroiderer. The back stitch is not just useful for outlining designs, but it's also a stitch that complements other stitches in 3D embroidery, making it a key stitch for beginners to learn.
It is often embellished with weaving or wrapping and quickly transforms into more decorative stitches. It is a stitch that is also used in clip art designs.
Interestingly, both the running stitch and the back stitch are used in couture embroidery.
Split stitch. Try split stitch as another pick for making outlines. The process for working split stitch is similar to working back stitch. Mysteriously, the back of your work with this stitch will end up looking like the front of the back stitch.
Working this stitch brings out strong and slightly textured lines of embroidery by piercing (splitting) the previous stitch.
Originating in China in the 1st century AD and becoming a traditional stitch in European shadow work since the 12th century, it is one of the classic embroidery stitches for filling an area of design.
Satin stitch. There are variations, but essentially, the satin stitch is a series of straight stitches worked next to each other.
The mystery of these straight stitches turning into something special is the length and proximity of the stitches. With practice, the result is a filled shape that is simply stunning.
Long and Short stitch. The long and short stitch is an easy and fun embroidery technique that adds depth to embroidery and creates integrated gradients of color. It’s a series of long and short stitches that stand next to each other, similar to that of a satin stitch.
The mystery of this stitch is that it's perfect for achieving more realistic-looking nature embroidery, or for filling in nature designs, and with variegated thread or thread of different colors, a design comes to life.
Stem stitch is another basic stitch that's ideal for creating smooth-textured outlines. It works well for both straight lines and curves and can be used on just about any lines in your stitching, despite its name.
Like so many stitches, you can use it as outline stitches or filling stitches. The key is keeping your stitch length consistent to create a beautiful result.
Fish-bone Stitch is a kind of filling stitch that is perfect for sewing leaves or feathers.
It requires us to divide the design into two and fill each side alternately, giving the center a plaited, filled effect.
This differs from the long and short stitch slightly in that its finish is organized, unlike the organic flow of the long and short stitch.
The use of blended threads for the leaf stitch... Three strands of different colors, or variegated thread, together on the needle lend shading and color to the 3D design.
Leaf stitch is an unusual stitch arising from the fish-bone stitch and offers a lot of texture, so it is a perfect detail stitch.
Since this stitch offers 3D effects, it is often used in stump-work embroidery projects.
Leaf stitch can be used in any embroidery, but it’s not suitable for anything that is going to be touched, worn, or washed, as it has the tendency to snag.
Chain stitch. For a conspicuous line of embroidery, a chain stitch is ideal, with its row of linked stitches that really stand out.
There are many ways to work the chain stitch, and it's a good idea to at least learn how to work it forward and in reverse. Try some of the other variations once you have mastered the two basics.
A detached chain stitch, also referred to as “single chain stitch” and “lazy daisy”, is a common stitch for sewing flowers, leaves, and more. This stitch is worked as a standard chain stitch, but without the attached links… one link creates a petal or leaf.
Detached chain stitch is what makes lazy daisy flowers, formed with just five or six stitches.
The fly stitch works similarly to a detached chain stitch, but instead of forming a petal shape, it creates a V shape or a soft curve.
To discover its endless uses, try the fly stitch in a row, scattered as fill, stitched in a radius, or other variations.
A feather stitch is a linked stitch that creates open lines that almost look like they're moving. It's perfect for making frames and borders around pictured fabrics, and it works well with other stitches too.
The layered look of the feather stitch makes it ideal for stitching seaweed, foliage, feathers, or fish scales, and its many variations make it possible to embroider natural designs.
French knots. It may take time to learn, but it's worth the effort. Not only is this a common stitch to find in embroidery patterns, but it's also a good stitch to use when the design requires textured filling or other design elements.
This stitch involves wrapping the thread around the needle to form a knot on the surface of the fabric.
"The key to making French knots is to hold the working thread taut, but not too tight".
A Colonial knot is another one of the surface knots used in hand embroidery and is most commonly used in candlewick embroidery, combined with other embroidery stitches.
A Colonial knot forms a tight knot that holds up well to wear and can be worked on any type of embroidery fabric.
Like its cousin, the French knot, a colonial knot takes a bit of practice to make, but once you understand the workings of the stitch, you'll find it's easy. Some may even find it easier than the French knot to get right.
Bullion knot. One of the more advanced stitches, bullion knots are not for the faint of heart, as they can cause bunching when one first tries them.
Think of them as a really long French knot that can make gorgeous roses, buds, and 3D elements.
"A point to remember, though, is 'too tight and you have to start over; too loose and they will unravel"
Although not always included in the lists of stitches for beginners, the couching stitch is an embroidery technique that everyone should know. This stitch involves working two lengths of thread at the same time... One remains on the surface of the fabric, while the other holds it in place with stab stitches.
The couching stitch is so versatile that it works well for outlines, creating texture, or filling an area. It works with ribbon, yarn, and other materials just as well.
So you see, each stitch has a mysterious side, a personality all its own. It’s never boring, and it certainly takes the stress out of life.
The Key to Enjoying Your Hand Embroidery.
The key to enjoying hand embroidery is to do assignments.
Assigned patterns help you practice the stitches needed until they become second nature, and what we conquer brings us joy!
So, my advice to you is to take the plunge... find an embroidery teacher near you or take a course online. Start creating beautiful work with a few simple, practiced stitches.
I hoped that with a little understanding of the many stitches, I could take the boring out of the basics for you.
If you can look past the ordinary and see what these stitches can become, you will be on your way to an extraordinary experience.
Leave a comment below and let me know if you think this article helped you. Leave a comment with any embroidery questions you have, and I will do my best to answer them.
In my next article, I will talk about the modern art of needle painting. Its development through the years into what it is now, and how it disappeared and reappeared in my story of life with Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Until then...Happy Sewing!
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