Embroidery Designs Guide

Cross stitch is one of the oldest embroidery stitches. It can be worked on canvas or even-weave fabrics so that the stitches are of the same size. If you cross a row of diagonal stitches in one direction with a second row of diagonal stitches in the opposite slanting direction, you get a cross stitch. All cross stitch patterns are by nature counted thread in nature. This is because if you need to get the correct embroidery design, the stitches should be correctly spread across the fabric. This is possible only by giving a count to each colour and direction. To take a simple example, if one wants to embroider the letter “A”, the number of cross stitches in the left leg of the letter should definitely match the right leg number.

Check out the Mona Lisa all done in cross stitch. Craft Conn has used 63 DMC colors for an accurate rendering of the famous Leonardi Da Vinci painting. Isn’t it a beauty?

Then you have various versions of the cross stitch like the alternating cross stitch where a row is skipped to give the cross an elongated look, the back stitch which ensures that the pattern can be used from both sides of the fabric, the rugged Brazilian cross stitch where two rows intersect to make the embroidery design more stable. The knitting stitch bears an unique resemblance to the regular knitting. Here the stitches are crossed in such a manner that the whole design looks well knit. This type of stitch is also called tapestry stitch. The Mexican cross stitch (also called the plaited stitch) consists of multiple diagonal rows that move parallelly to each other. These are complemented with multiple rows in the opposite direction. They meet at their respective centers to form diamond designs which also ensures the stability of the pattern.

If you want to learn cross stitch, check out Big Book of Cross-Stitch Design: Over 900 Simple-to-Sew Decorative Motifs by Readers Digest authors. If you need an encyclopedia on cross stitch that would adorn your library like a jewel, you must go in for 2001 Cross Stitch Designs: The Essential Reference Book (”Better Homes & Gardens”). This book has 2001 cross stitch designs for every occasion and category of stitching—holidays, alphabets, florals, nature, sports, children, babies, Christmas, animals, and numerous others. Each motif collection is accompanied by a clear and accurate color chart and color key and includes 50 specialty stitch diagrams with instructions.

What exactly is bead embroidery? This is an ancient hand embroidery technique which originated in Germany in the 12th century. The pattern was first drawn onto the parchment and then attached to the fabric. The beads were strung onto one single thread, laid on the design in the desired manner and then couched into place with a thread and second needle. So there was a juxtaposition between the beads and the embroidery and this unique technque came to be known as bead embroidery.

In today’s scenario, one generally takes 5 - 6 beeds on the needle at a time. The needle goes into the fabric and these beads are then couched with a second needle and thread into place. The backstitch technique is used in order to run through several of the couched beads. A final thread is run through to ensure stability of the embroidery design.

Check out the dragonfly which caught my eye in one of the beaded embroidery resources - Giuliana’s Beaded Embroidery - This embroidery is done with linen lined with muslin. The dragonfly body is done in clear silver-lined bugle beads, and the wings are solid silver metal Delica beads. The opaque purple beads are size 11/0 Japanese glass beads. Aren’t they a beauty!

There is an informative book on beaded embroidery by Sherry Serafini and you could read it -  The Art of Bead Embroidery: Techniques, Designs & Inspirations

This is a special of specials by my friend Robbie M Fields. Hand embroidery could be made as simple as twiddling your thumbs! If you want to learn how to do blanket, back, chain, cross and feather stitches hand embroidery, you are in the right place. The history of Creative Success Strips started with a search for a more accurate method of making outline embroidery stitches around applique designs. This resulted in the manufacture of plastic strips with punched holes which would guide the extry/exit for the needle. The success strips covered by the United States Patent 6413091 prove to be a boon to the hand embroiderer struggling for accuracy in the embroidered pattern. The punched holes are placed in horizontal, vertical and parallel rows in and out of alignment, with certain holes having perpendicular lines extending to the outside edge of the strip. This indicates where a marking point is to be made. A disappearing ink pen to enable you to mark the points properly forms part of this kit. The 1920’s Dutch doll gives a clear picture of how the strips are to be used correctly to give the right outline. The Christmas stocking pattern is another cute example which displays the right use.

The entire kit contains 5 different success strips, a disappearing ink pen, 2 examples of hand embroidered appliques (Dutch doll and the Christmas stocking pattern) and an instruction and illustration booklet and is priced modestly at 13.75 dollars (including free shipping and handling by first class mail in the US).

Disappearing Ink Pen -

Example of hand embroidered Dutch Doll and Christmas Stocking Pattern

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Instruction and Illustration booklet

You could buy the whole kit right here and it would be delivered to your address.

Within US - 13.75 dollars

Outside US - 16.00 dollars

What exactly is the meaning of smocking? Smocking denotes an embroidery technique which gathers fabric together at regular intervals so that it shows a stretched fabric. In yester years, this technique was used in cuffs, bodices and necklines of garments. Today, this is used in various end products which would include bedsheets, kids clothes, napkins, curtains, table covers to name a few. We have 3 main types of smocking - Latin American, English and Lattice. Latin American smocking is a technique in which the pleats are gathered and formed in the fabric by the smocking stitchwork itself. English smocking is an historic technique of sewing the embroidery over pleats already sewn into the fabric. Lattice smocking involves stitching from the back side of the fabric, creating unique effects in the pleats and appearance, and is particularly good for heavier fabrics like velvet.

Check out a cute collection of firetruck smocking embroidery designs at Sew Many Designs. Aren’t they a beauty? These form part of a smocking collection by Carol Howard. A lot of detail has gone into the machine embroidery which includes a hose pipe, ladder, wheel bumpers, simple dotted patterns on the wheel and body which makes the whole design look really beautiful.

You also have the option of designing for the 5 by 7 hoops using applique machine embroidery techniques!

This embroidery design software borders on the line dividing home embroidery and industrial embroidery. Corel Draw functionalities have been used completely here. High resolution machine embroidery from graphic images using Corel Draw are created using high end digital imaging software. The name of the software is Smart Draw. This uses Corel Draw Add on software for embroidery and also could be used for production ready digital art on CDROM. I will focus solely on the first category which I hope would prove useful to our readers. Smart Designer X3 adds 110 new menus on the Corel Draw (version > 11) and transforms this software from a general graphics program into an industry specifics program which can be used for garment printing, embroidery and other products.

The Drawings X3 Standard Edition is used by home embroiderers. This uses Draw Stitch technology and converts vector images in Corel Draw into premium quality machine embroidery designs. The advantage is that the density, underlay and composition of each design can be preset and adjusted using this technology.

What is Feng Shui?

Feng Shui is an ancient concept, pronounced in English as “fung shway”. This was known earlier as “Kan-Yu” which means ‘The Law of Heaven and Earth.’ Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese practice of placement and arrangement of space to achieve harmony with the environment. Feng shui literally translates as “wind-water.”

Feng shui is a discipline with guidelines that are compatible with many techniques of agricultural planning as well as internal furniture arrangements. Weather, Space, astronomy, and geomagnetism are basic components of feng shui. Proponents claim that feng shui has an effect on health, wealth, and personal relationships; critics consider it a pseudoscience.

Check out some of the symbols of Feng Shui at 4-Hobby. One of them is the Chinese gold fish which you see next to this post. Traditionally the Chinese place eight orange or yellow gold fish and one black goldfish in an aquarium to attract money. The number 8 represents prosperity in Feng Shui. The idea too is that if misfortune hits your family, then the ninth black goldfish will die and receive the misfortune instead of you. This cute embroidery can be downloaded in a pes machine embroidery format.

Yin Yang is a fundamental concept which expresses a duality which cannot exist without both parts. The flowers within the Yin-Yang is added as an embroidery effect.

The resource also contains the famous dragons and the chrysanthemum. The Chinese Peony flowers set is well done in the right pinkish red colours. Apart from the flowers, this set also contains the peony basket, peony square and peony circle.

Wish you a great time with Feng Shui embroideries..!

Check out this amazing heavenly collection of fantasy fairies and creatures. One might get to see some embroidered fairies or goddesses but getting all of them at one place is a rare thing. We have them all here at Magical Machine Embroidery and they are a treat. All of them are done using machine embroidery designs. It is necessary that these be embroidered using metallic thread since the necessary shine should come through.

All designs are perfect for the 4×4 hoops. These designs are created using Janome colors although the threads are not Janome. The Pegasus and the Frog Prince are complicated but beautifully done. One could one’s own imagination for creating their own fairies. The available designs can be considered as a benchmark alone.

Most embroidery enthusiasts at some point of time in their path do come across this field of embroidery called blackwork. They pause a little to practise this form and either get completely hooked on to it or move on to something else…

So what exactly is blackwork? Blackwork Embroidery is an ancient and simple form of embroidery, stitched in black thread on white or off-white fabric. It is often called simply “blackwork”. The basic stitch is called Holbein or the double running stitch. This stitch is reversible and looks the same on the back and the front.

A counted-thread form of embroidery that is stitched on even-weave fabric is the easier way to denote a blackwork. Any black thread can be used, but firmly twisted threads give a better look than embroidery floss. Traditionally blackwork is stitched in silk thread on white or off-white linen or cotton fabric. Sometimes metallic threads or coloured threads are used for accents. Here comes the difference between blackwork and scarletwork. Blackwork is compulsory used with black thread, while scarletwork embroidery is sewn with red thread.

Historically, there are three common styles of blackwork:
a) In the earliest blackwork, counted stitches are worked to make a geometric or small floral pattern. Most modern blackwork is in this style, especially the commercially-produced patterns that are marketed for hobby stitchers.

b) Later blackwork features large designs of flowers, fruit, and other patterns connected by curvilinear stems. These are outlined with stem stitch, and the outlined patterns are filled with geometric counted designs.

c) In the third style of blackwork, the outlined patterns are “shaded” with random stitches called seed stitches. This style of blackwork imitates etchings or woodcuts.

Blackwork has been historically been used as designs on shirts, chemises or smocks during the time of Henry VII. Blackwork in silk on linen was the most common domestic embroidery technique for clothing (shirts, smocks, sleeves, ruffs, and caps) and for household items such as cushion covers throughout the reign of Elizabeth I, but it lost its popularity by the 17th century.

If you want to know exactly how to do a blackwork, you could take these tutorials at Blackwork Archives.

True to its name, here is some seemingly simple but dazzling Unique Embroidery. This website has a selection of close to 180 free embroidery designs and it is growing by the day. Check the leafy petalled flower, elegantly embroidered using 7438 stitches. This is sized at 5.09 by 5.09 inches and is available for free download in ART, DST, EXP, HUS, JEF, PES, VIP, XXX machine embroidery formats. The information on how to convert the files from PC compatible software to your embroidery machine would come in handy and you could read it at PC-Machine formats embroidery.

The second embroidery design that caught my attention is the unique necklace. Using a combination of 2 vibrant colours, the pattern is beautiful. This has 8744 stitches and is sized at 9.36 by 14.41 inches. Both the outer and inner stitches combine to form this unique pattern.

Have you come across any such unique collections in your world of embroidery. You could showcase your designs at All Free Embroidery Designs. Feel free to share!

Check out this collection of applique and puff embroidery at Mushroom Monday Screen Printing & Embroidery. This is done using digitized embroidery done specific to your custom requirements which specifically caters to groups of people or staff with a common logo or symbol. Made to order - this is ideal for a complete set of jacket or headgear for your employees or particular group of friends who identify with a common cause. Mushroom Monday have 22 years experience with an impressive clientele. Their mission statement reads : “To provide quality products to our customers with unsurpassed customer service.”