the gap.
Slip stitch
Also used to close gaps in seams. When worked neatly, it is almost invisible. Work from right to left, picking up a tiny piece of the fabric from one seam edge. Insert the needle into the other seam fold and move the needle along 3mm (1⁄8in). Push the needle out into the seam edge and repeat.
Working the Stitches
I have selected 11 simple decorative hand stitches for my designs. If you have not embroidered since your school days, take the time to refresh your memory of how these are worked. The stitches required for each project are listed alongside the ‘you will need’ listing. Practise them first on a linen scrap following the instructions for right- or left-handed stitchers as appropriate.
Using an embroidery hoop
It is a matter of personal preference as to whether or not you use an embroidery hoop to keep your fabric taut while stitching. I prefer not to as I find it gets in my way and yet I still produce lovely work with no lumps or bumps. Embroidery hoops come in two parts, a smaller hoop and a slightly larger one with a tension screw on one side. They can be made of wood or plastic, although plastic ones may not have a tension screw. Place the fabric you are going to embroider over the smaller hoop. Place the larger hoop over the fabric and push it onto the smaller hoop – you will find that the larger hoop is stretchy to enable you to do this. Pull the fabric taut and tighten the tension screw. The fabric is now ready to embroider.
Starting and finishing stitching
Iron-on lightweight interfacing can be ironed over the back of the work to hide the knots and stray ends.
Thread your needle – never use more than a short arm’s length of thread at one time as it will be more prone to knotting, and more vulnerable to fraying and splitting.
Start the embroideries with a small knot on the wrong side of the work. To avoid the knot being seen from the front of the work, do keep it small.
When rejoining a thread, use your needle to weave the new thread into the previous stitches.
When you have finished your embroidery, weave the thread into the previous sewn work.
Do not leave long strands hanging on the back as these may show through on the front.
Keep your embroidery and fabric scissors sharp and never be tempted to use them for cutting paper.
You may find a hoop useful when stitching the infill chain stitching.
RUNNING STITCH
Run the needle in and out of the fabric for a simple but versatile line stitch.
Can be used to:
Outline and accentuate shapes
Create veins in leaves
Sew two layers together
No one said running stitch had to run in a straight line. In this detail from the Gardener’s Tidy it is used to indicate the buzzing bee’s flight path, and it has the added advantage of sewing the back and front layers of fabric together.
You can take more than one stitch on your needle at a time, but take care to keep stitches even.
Right-handers
Work from right to left. Bring the needle up through the fabric, make a stitch, and bring the needle down through the fabric again. Repeat, making sure the stitches and the spaces between the stitches are the same size.
Left-handers
Work from left to right. Bring the needle up through the fabric, make a stitch, and bring the needle down through the fabric again. Repeat, making sure the stitches and the spaces between the stitches are the same size.
BACKSTITCH
This is the perfect stitch when a well-defined outline is required.
Can be used to:
Outline shapes and highlight details
Write words and numbers
Create flower stems
Right-handers
Work from right to left. Begin by bringing the needle up a little ahead of where you want the line of stitching to start. Take the needle to the right, to the start position, back through the fabric to make a stitch, and bring it out to the left past the first stitch.
Although this needs a little practise to get neat and even, an uneven stitch can look nice too.
Each time a stitch is made, the thread passes back to fill the gap, for small stitches of an equal length.
Left-handers
Work from left to right. Begin by bringing the needle up a little ahead of where you want to start the stitching. Take the needle to the left, to the start position, back through the fabric to make a stitch, and bring it out to the right past the first stitch.
Each time a stitch is made, the thread passes back to fill the gap, for small stitches of an equal length.
