If you are thinking of taking up a new hobby, you may want to consider embroidery. It is so easy to get started. There are only a few supplies you need, it is so portable, and super easy to learn. After a very brief internet search, I discovered that you can get all these supplies for under 25 dollars and many you will use again. Here is what you need to get started:
1. THREAD- I like the six stranded cotton DMC thread. They cost about 52 cents per skein and come in every color of the rainbow. There are even metallics, silks and glow-in-the-dark.
What is great about this thread is that you can separate the strands so you can choose the thickness of the stitches. For instance, with small lettering, I will use one to two threads. Generally I use three threads for most projects but if I want a stitch to really stand out I will use all six strands. To separate the strands, cut an 18 inch length. You don't want your thread much longer than that because it tends to knot and tangle. Starting at the top, separate the strands by pulling them apart, letting them slowly untwist until you reach the bottom and they are separated.
Another option is perle cotton thread.
Perle cotton thread is a mercerized cotton thread. Mercerized means the cotton has been treated to increase the strength, shine and ability to take dye. It is not divisible but you can buy it in different thicknesses. It is very smooth and some people prefer not to have to work with multiple strands.
2. A NEEDLE - There are many different types of needles but the kind I recommend to start with for surface embroidery are EMBROIDERY/CREWEL needles.
They come in multi-packs like this. The features of embroidery needles is that they are very sharp at the tip which make them excellent for piercing fabric and they have a nice long eye so that you can fit multiple threads in them.
Needles range in size from 1 to 12. The bigger the number, the smaller the size. If you are looking for a needle to start with I would recommend a 7, a very commonly used needle.
3. A HOOP - Embroidery hoops, while not mandatory, are great for beginners as they keep the fabric stretched and taut which makes it much easier to sew on.
Hoops come in two pieces. A large outer hoop with hardware at the top to tighten it and a small inner hoop. To use your hoop, center your fabric over the smaller hoop then place the larger hoop over the smaller hoop and. pull the fabric so it is nice and taut then tighten the screw at the top to keep it in place. Hoops can range in price a little. The cheapest ones tend to have little splinters in them that can snag the fabric but honestly, I've used them starting out at the beginning and did not have a problem with them. The ones that are better quality are a nice smooth wood and the hardware at the top is a little better quality, as well. The smaller hoop fits perfectly into the larger hoop. Even the higher quality hoops are not too expensive and worth the extra investment.
4. SCISSORS - These are a must have for every embroiderer. They are probably the most pricey supply on the list but still not bad (about 14 dollar range). It is worth getting a quality pair and using it as a dedicated embroidery pair because they last forever and because there is nothing more annoying than dull embroidery scissors!
Personally I love these classic stork scissors. I have had them for years.
5. FABRIC - For starting out, light colored cotton fabric is great. It is semi-transparent which makes it easy to hold up to a light source and trace your pattern and it has a nice loose weave which makes it easy to run your needle through. Other popular fabrics are linen and unbleached cotton muslin.
6. A PATTERN - This is not mandatory if you want to free hand your stitches but is always nice to have a pattern. There are free patterns available online and you can even make your own by tracing a picture from a book or magazine. Once you have your pattern, tape it on a bright window using remove-able tape (like painters or washi). Tape the fabric on top of the pattern and trace it using a very sharp or mechanical pencil then center the fabric in the hoop and you are ready to go! You can get my FREE PRINTABLE stitch sampler to get you started!
Thanks for stopping by!
Warmly,
Pam