Because we love sharing techniques that are easy and accessible, yet give outstanding results, we’ve prepared this short article on embroidery essentials.
HISTORY OF EMBROIDERY
It is believed that embroidery first appeared in ancient China and Egypt. Originally used to repair clothing, it quickly gained in popularity and went from being a practical technique to an artistic one thanks to new decorative uses.
MATERIALS
Embroidery requires very little materials, which is why it’s particularly accessible. All you need is some embroidery thread, pencils, fabric, an embroidery hoop, needles, scissors—and that’s it. DMC is a particularly popular brand, offering quality, six-strand divisible threads that allow for endless creative possibilities.
A FEW TECHNIQUES
Nowadays, embroidery can be done by hand or machine. We encourage you to start with cross-stitching. This technique can be very easy, as it consists of creating X-shaped stitches in a tiled pattern to eventually form a picture. It’s a great way to practise before taking on larger projects. Another great beginner’s technique is needle painting. This technique allows you to play with different shades and colour gradients, and quickly cover large areas. Finally, creative daredevils may want to try a more complex technique: ribbon embroidery. This technique involves replacing embroidery thread with ribbon. Since ribbon is thicker than regular embroidery thread, this technique is indeed more difficult to master, but who doesn't like a good challenge to clear the mind?
CONCLUSION
Embroidery has been around for many years, but it’s constantly evolving through new trending techniques (like the famous punch needle technique that’s all over social media). Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, the art of embroidery can be enjoyed by everyone, everywhere.
