By the end of the day, many women have little energy left for recreational activities. After taking care of the kids, going to work, and preparing dinner it is difficult to summon the strength to do much besides sit in front of the television or curl up with a good book. If you are one of those women who feels exhausted in the evening but still want to do something productive with your time, consider taking up hand embroidery. Needlework is an activity that can be done in front of the television or in the comfort of your bed in the evenings and it can be quite relaxing. Not only is embroidery a great way to relax in the evening, it also provides busy women with a means of creative expression.
Creating Your Own Hand Embroidery Designs
If you are inexperienced in needlework and need to learn the basics, consider enrolling in a hand sewing class or pick up a few embroidery books from the library. Once you learn the basic stitches you will be ready to begin your first hand embroidery project. Most craft stores sell embroidery kits complete with patterns, embroidery floss, and instructions. If you like the idea of following a pattern, this option might be good for you but if you would like to exercise your own creativity a little bit more, consider creating your own hand embroidery designs.
The first step in designing your own embroidery patterns is to choose a subject. Think about your favorite flower or draw inspiration from an upcoming holiday and begin to sketch out ideas on a blank sheet of paper. If you are not confident in your drawing skills or if you need further inspiration, do an online search for clip art relevant to your subject. Clip art is generally more simple in concept and design that photographs which makes it a great source of inspiration for embroidery patterns. Compile a collection of clip art pictures of your subject and use them to draw your own picture. Try to keep your drawing as simple as possible and, to make it easier on yourself, make your drawing fairly large. Once you are satisfied with your drawing, outline it in black permanent marker.
Transferring your Pattern to Fabric
The next step in embroidering from your own pattern is to transfer your drawing onto the fabric you plan to use. To transfer your design you will need a transfer marker or pencil whose markings will dissolve in water. You can find these supplies at your local craft store for under $5. Cut out a square of white cotton fabric that is at least two inches larger than your drawing on all sides. Lay the fabric on top of your drawing and trace the design onto the fabric with your transfer marker or pencil. The key to making this task easier is to use a light fabric and to have good lighting so you can see the black outline of your drawing through the fabric.
Embroidering with Your Design
After creating your pattern and transferring the design to fabric you will be ready to begin with the embroidery. Before you begin, select the colors you plan to use and, if you find it helpful, label the different parts of your drawing with the color you plan to use for that section. Set your fabric onto an embroidery hoop that will keep the fabric pulled taught as you sew. If your design is small, you may be able to find an embroidery hoop large enough to display the entire design but you may find it easier to use a small hoop to work with sections of the design rather than the whole. Begin embroidering your design by first stitching the outline and working your way in through the more intricate parts of the design. If you find it more practical, you may also work by color - embroider all the parts of the design with one color before moving on to the next. For those who are more advanced in embroidery skills, try working in different types of stitches like the lazy daisy stitch and the whipped chain stitch.
Using your Completed Embroidery Project
Once you have finished embroidering your design you have the freedom to do with it as you choose. Cut out strips of colorful fabric and sew borders around the design and make it into a pillow or create a hanging for your front door. If you are feeling industrious, replicate your design a few more times and create placemats or embroider your design onto solid-colored napkins to create a set of embroidered table linens. Once completed, your embroidery projects can be used to decorate your own home or they can be given as gifts to friends and family. If you find yourself to be particularly adept at hand embroidery, consider putting some of your wares on display at a local craft show.
References:
"Basic Embroidery Stitches," Needlework Tips and Techniques.com
Katherine Barrington - Katherine has loved reading and writing for as long as she can remember. When it comes to reading one of her favorite authors is Tamora ...
