Embroidery For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Interested in embroidery? Welcome! Embroidery is an amazing way to tap into your creativity, all while relaxing and unwinding. Here you’ll find handy embroidery advice (pun intended) to make your life much easier while you’re learning and stitching. By choosing the right needle size and implementing tips to make stitching simple and neat, you’ll be one step closer to stitching something you’ll be proud of.

Embroidery needle size chart

Finding the right embroidery needle size before you get started stitching will make your life so much easier. Stitching will be smoother, and your stitches will look nicer. This chart shows which crewel and chenille needle sizes work with six-strand cotton embroidery floss. (Crewel needles, also called embroidery needles, have a sharp tip and an oval eye. Chenille needles have a large, elongated eye and a sharp tip.)

Handy embroidery tricks every stitcher should know

Sometimes, the smallest details make a big difference. All of the following embroidery tips take only a few minutes to implement, and you’ll be well on your way to successfully stitching.

• Pull the floss from the end of the skein closest to the label containing the color code. This will keep the thread from turning into a giant knot.
• Use a needle sharpener. A red tomato pin cushion has a secret hiding in plain sight: The strawberry attached to it contains emery, which is a natural needle sharpener. Run your needle through it occasionally for a much more pleasant stitching experience.
• Double up thin or delicate fabrics. This will prevent them from wrinkling under the embroidery stitches and can also help hide some of the thread on the back that might have shown through otherwise.
• Use a milliners needle for embroidery knots and cast-on stitches. The eye of the needle is the same width as the rest of the needle, which makes it much easier to pull the needle through.
• Having trouble getting your stitch length even? Add a piece of tape or a small mark on your thumbnail that is the width of your desired stitch length. You can use it as a point of reference while you’re stitching.

Tips for keeping the back of your embroidery neat

Keeping the back of your embroidery neat isn’t just for presentation; it’s also for durability. It helps keep your stitches intact and prevents knots and tangles! Here are some ways you can keep everything looking pristine.

• End each piece of thread before you start a new one. Leaving dangling threads is a surefire way to create tangles.
• Avoid trailing the thread across too large an area. If you’re ready to start in a new area, start with a new piece of thread.
• Keep knots for starting and ending stitches small. A quilter’s knot will allow you to control the size of the knot better.
• If you prefer not to use knots, weave the tail of thread in and out of stitches along the back to secure them. Then trim any leftover thread when you’re done.
• Don’t wait to fix a mistake. If you notice knots and tangles, it’s best to address them right away before continuing. Remove some of the stitches or carefully trim the tangles to prevent unnecessary bulk along the back of the embroidery.