Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

Let’s Talk Embroidery

Embroidery

I wish I could say this was my work, but it isn't.  Just an image I found on the Internet.  However, I have been doing a lot of thinking about embroidery lately.  I am reading the best book, "A Single Thread" by Tracy Chevalier, which is about a single  English woman in the 1930s who lives a lonely life and takes up with an embroidery group who is making prayer kneelers for Winchester cathedral.  There is plenty more going on plot-wise, but right now I am focusing on stitching.  The plethora of discussion on stitches and embroidery designs has gotten me thinking about rekindling my stitching project that has gone into a UFO box.

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So, all you embroiderers out there, tell me about your stitchery methods.  What sort of needles do you prefer?  How about thread?  And most important, what stitch do you use for lettering?  The backstitch or the stem stitch or the running stitch?  Do you use a hoop?  What is the best advice you pros can give a newbie?

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24 responses to “Let’s Talk Embroidery”

  1. I use a hoop and for letting use the stem stitch. 20+ years ago I embroidered pillow shams for my mother and enjoyed to process so very much. Why have I done no embroidery since?
    My UFO handwork is a sampler barely begun in cross stitch. I’d like to get back to that. I will if you will!
    Hugs!

  2. I use a hoop and for letting use the stem stitch. 20+ years ago I embroidered pillow shams for my mother and enjoyed to process so very much. Why have I done no embroidery since?
    My UFO handwork is a sampler barely begun in cross stitch. I’d like to get back to that. I will if you will!
    Hugs!

  3. I use a hoop and for letting use the stem stitch. 20+ years ago I embroidered pillow shams for my mother and enjoyed to process so very much. Why have I done no embroidery since?
    My UFO handwork is a sampler barely begun in cross stitch. I’d like to get back to that. I will if you will!
    Hugs!

  4. As a wanna-be, I’m looking forward to reading suggestions from your commenters. I have an embroidery UFO languishing in my sewing room that really needs to be finished up!

  5. As a wanna-be, I’m looking forward to reading suggestions from your commenters. I have an embroidery UFO languishing in my sewing room that really needs to be finished up!

  6. As a wanna-be, I’m looking forward to reading suggestions from your commenters. I have an embroidery UFO languishing in my sewing room that really needs to be finished up!

  7. Embroidery does seem to be coming back. I haven’t done any since I was a teen and just had to embroider on a chambray shirt. Remember that fad?! I look forward to reading these comments since I’ve been thinking some about visible mending, too.

  8. Embroidery does seem to be coming back. I haven’t done any since I was a teen and just had to embroider on a chambray shirt. Remember that fad?! I look forward to reading these comments since I’ve been thinking some about visible mending, too.

  9. Embroidery does seem to be coming back. I haven’t done any since I was a teen and just had to embroider on a chambray shirt. Remember that fad?! I look forward to reading these comments since I’ve been thinking some about visible mending, too.

  10. I’m certainly not a pro but I enjoy embroidery without a hoop, using valdaini thread, and because the thread is thick, I use self threading needles, or easy threaded needles. I do toss them quickly if they fray the thread. I like that I can join a group without loading up my sewing machine and all the other equipment needed in a quilting retreat.

  11. I’m certainly not a pro but I enjoy embroidery without a hoop, using valdaini thread, and because the thread is thick, I use self threading needles, or easy threaded needles. I do toss them quickly if they fray the thread. I like that I can join a group without loading up my sewing machine and all the other equipment needed in a quilting retreat.

  12. I’m certainly not a pro but I enjoy embroidery without a hoop, using valdaini thread, and because the thread is thick, I use self threading needles, or easy threaded needles. I do toss them quickly if they fray the thread. I like that I can join a group without loading up my sewing machine and all the other equipment needed in a quilting retreat.

  13. I love embroidery. I’ve done a ton of it. Unfortunately, this last year arthritis has made it difficult. 🙁
    I don’t use a hoop. I prefer Cosmo thread. I use the back stitch for lettering. ;p

  14. I love embroidery. I’ve done a ton of it. Unfortunately, this last year arthritis has made it difficult. 🙁
    I don’t use a hoop. I prefer Cosmo thread. I use the back stitch for lettering. ;p

  15. I love embroidery. I’ve done a ton of it. Unfortunately, this last year arthritis has made it difficult. 🙁
    I don’t use a hoop. I prefer Cosmo thread. I use the back stitch for lettering. ;p

  16. I used to embroider much more but still do some projects. I don’t use a hoop. I mostly use DMC floss or DMC perle. I use the back stitch for lettering.

  17. I used to embroider much more but still do some projects. I don’t use a hoop. I mostly use DMC floss or DMC perle. I use the back stitch for lettering.

  18. I used to embroider much more but still do some projects. I don’t use a hoop. I mostly use DMC floss or DMC perle. I use the back stitch for lettering.

  19. Embroidery was my introduction to “crafts. I have a piece that I did when I was 10-12 years old (an eternity ago!). Then I progressed to pillowcases, remember those? Crewel came next and I have a framed piece hanging in the office. My love is quilting but I have begun to do x-stitch again. My cross stitch doesn’t look as smooth, for lack of a better word, but I pick that up when watching TV if I don’t have any quilting project to work on. I use DMC floss since I have a ton of it! I use stem stitch and a hoop.

  20. Embroidery was my introduction to “crafts. I have a piece that I did when I was 10-12 years old (an eternity ago!). Then I progressed to pillowcases, remember those? Crewel came next and I have a framed piece hanging in the office. My love is quilting but I have begun to do x-stitch again. My cross stitch doesn’t look as smooth, for lack of a better word, but I pick that up when watching TV if I don’t have any quilting project to work on. I use DMC floss since I have a ton of it! I use stem stitch and a hoop.

  21. Embroidery was my introduction to “crafts. I have a piece that I did when I was 10-12 years old (an eternity ago!). Then I progressed to pillowcases, remember those? Crewel came next and I have a framed piece hanging in the office. My love is quilting but I have begun to do x-stitch again. My cross stitch doesn’t look as smooth, for lack of a better word, but I pick that up when watching TV if I don’t have any quilting project to work on. I use DMC floss since I have a ton of it! I use stem stitch and a hoop.

  22. I do a lot of embroidery on my wool appliqué projects. Love to use tapestry needles from Primitive Gatherings (size 24) and 12 wt. Valdani threads.

  23. I do a lot of embroidery on my wool appliqué projects. Love to use tapestry needles from Primitive Gatherings (size 24) and 12 wt. Valdani threads.

  24. I do a lot of embroidery on my wool appliqué projects. Love to use tapestry needles from Primitive Gatherings (size 24) and 12 wt. Valdani threads.