Essential hand embroidery supplies will help you finish masterpieces in no time. Learn which tools and materials should be in your arsenal before starting! So you can turn a simple hobby in something that makes you happy!
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A Beginner’s Guide to Hand Embroidery Supplies
1. Choosing the Right Fabric
Your fabric serves as the foundation for your entire embroidery project. As such, choosing the right kind of fabric could either make or break your project. You want to choose a fabric that holds your threads' structure and weight, even without the hoop.
Have fun choosing hand embroidery supplies. But avoid fabrics that wrinkle or pucker up with stitches. Choose lighter fabrics that are more forgiving. Pay attention to the thread count on your fabric as well.
TIPS:
- As a beginner, you might want to start with cotton first. Cotton has a looser weave and lower thread count. This means your needle can easily puncture through the threads.
- Reserve the higher thread count fabrics for when you are more experienced. Practice with your embroidery needles first.
2. Getting the Right Embroidery Threads
In embroidery, threads are as important as the fabrics you use. Your embroidery gets the texture it needs to be a gorgeous masterpiece with the right kind of thread.
Most beginners use stranded cotton threads. Also known as embroidery floss, these threads come in skeins. They are also separated from one to six separate fine threads.
3. Selecting a Marking Tool
A marking tool is essential to your embroidery project. This allows you to transfer your designs from pattern to fabric. It also serves as a guide to where to start and stop stitching.
I recommend using water-soluble fabric markers. They can wash off easily after your project. Plus, you can choose fun colors for these hand embroidery supplies!
4. Choosing the Right Needle for the Task
One of the most basic embroidery tools is the needle. And here are different types of needles for different kinds of embroideries. Like in sewing
For beginners, I recommend these three types of needles:
- The Crewel Needle – The crewel needle is considered the most basic embroidery needle. It has a sharp tip with a medium-long eye that is slightly bigger than its shaft.
- The Tapestry Needle – The tapestry needle has a blunt tip. It also has a longer eye that is slightly larger than its shaft. Compared to the crewel needle, it has a shorter shaft.
- The Milliner Needle – The milliner needle features a pointed tip, a very long shaft, and an almost round eye.
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5. Getting the Right Hoops and Frames
The most prominent supply in embroidery is its hoops. Hoops keep your fabric in place and your embroidery from getting warped. Once done, you can place your embroidery in frames that come in plastic or wood.
Talk about practical hand embroidery supplies.
6. Selecting the Right Kind of Scissors
In choosing the right kind of embroidery scissors, make sure to get a sharp and thin pair. We also want to make sure they get as close to the fabric as possible to cut threads cleanly.
7. Keep an Organized Storage
Embroidery is fun and relaxing. This is probably why people consider it a lifelong hobby. Keep a neat storage box for your skeins of threads.
Also, reserve a place to hang your hoop for your future projects. An organized sewing space encourages greater productivity. And keeps all your hand embroidery supplies from breaking too soon.
Put your hand embroidery supplies to the test. Try these basic embroidery techniques from Craftsy:
These hand embroidery supplies for beginners are super easy to find. They're even readily available at your local embroidery shops and craft stores. There’s nothing more exciting than learning new crafts and knowing the materials you need are accessible.
Take advantage of this simplicity and start your first embroidery project today!
Which of the hand embroidery supplies do you own? We'd love to know and read about them all! Leave your thoughts and tips in the comment section below!
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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published 0n August 26, 2019, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.
