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Embroidery
Step by Step Decorative Embroidery Stitches
The art of embroidery is old
but still popular today. It’s fun to create and by knowing how
to make a few simple embroidery stitches using a needle and
thread, one’s ideas may be expressed in luxurious handmade
articles. Try all these basic stitches; in fact make a sampler
of them, using heavy dark material, linen is best, and white or
golden yellow embroidery thread.
Outline or Stem Stitch
— This stitch is worked from left to right. Bring needle up
through fabric to right side on the line to be outlined. Holding
the thread toward you as shown (or the thread may be swung to
the left away from you), take a short slanting back stitch along
stamped line. Make the next and each successive stitch from
right to left and bring the needle out to the left at the end of
previous stitch. Repeat along Line, keeping stitches small and
uniform.
Whipped Stem Stitch —
Outline design in outline stitch; then, in contrasting thread,
whipstitch over the stem stitch.
Running Stitch—This
stitch is used for outline and padding. The needle is carried in
and out of material making small up and down even stitches. Take
several stitches on needle before drawing it through.
Threaded Running Stitch—Outline
design in running stitch, then weave a thread in and out of
running stitch. A contrasting thread may be used if desired.
Whipped Running Stitch
— Outline design in running stitch, then whip stitch over
running stitch.
After you have learned to make
each of these stitches and have become intrigued with the idea
of embroidery, you will want to make something useful and pretty
right away. The wide selection of thread available on the market
today makes it much easier to create something different from
the ordinary. You may wish to embroider with metallic thread,
nylon or rayon threads, pearl cotton, as well as regular
embroidery floss which comes in a rainbow of colors. Contrasting
color gives an interesting effect. Embroidering with wool yarn
on felt jackets, purses, belts, glass cases, etc., is very
pretty. You can make guest towels, pillow slips, aprons,
washcloths, luncheon sets and many other gift bazaar items.
All stitches are started on
the wrong side of material by making two or three small stitches
one over the other to anchor thread—never make a knot.
Chain Stitch—Bring
thread to right side of material, hold thread toward you with
left thumb, take a stitch into same hole where thread was
brought up, forming a small loop. Do not pull thread tightly.
Bring needle out a short distance forward and over the loop.
Make a second loop overlapping the first one. Continue along
marked line.
Back Stitch—Take a
small running stitch, insert needle at end of running stitch,
thrust needle through to wrong side and over twice as much space
as original stitch on wrong side; bring needle to right side and
repeat.
Threaded Backstitch—Outline
design in simple backstitch, then weave in and Out with one or
two contrasting threads.
Crossed Backstitch or
Shadow Embroidery—On the right side, this stitch resembles two
rows of backstitch and on the wrong side the catch stitch. Slant
the needle the same as if making a catch stitch, make a single
back stitch, first on the lower side and then diagonally across
on the upper side. Work this stitch on transparent material so
the crossing of threads show through to right side. This stitch
is often called herringbone stitch when crosses are worked on
right side. |
