Begin to embroider by hand - The first steps

Hand embroidery materials

The art of starting to embroider is a fantastic skill, but on the other hand it is very simple. To start embroidering, it takes a little patience and a little practice to master all the embroidery stitches. However, like any other business, we need to know what materials are needed to start our embroidery work.

To start embroidering you need the basic materials, which are the following: needles, preferably of different sizes; multicolored yarn; a shelf; different types of fabric, depending on the type of embroidery you want to do, and even scissors. These materials that I have just listed are the basis to start your projects. However, this art allows for great creativity of materials, so feel free to develop your ideas, creating your designs and embroideries in different less conventional materials.

1. Various types of yarn

Embroidery is done with thread, right? For this reason, cables play a leading role. It is through the combination of threads that we create the different tones, shapes and textures of the embroidery. As it is one of the most important materials, it is normal for you to define very clearly what type of work you want to do, in order to previously select the most appropriate type of thread. There is a great infinity of threads on the market, different from each other, in color, thickness, texture, type of material, among others. Use what best fits your project and what you like best.

The art of embroidery is done with pleasure, so it is very important that you feel motivated in the work you are doing. Although there are many types of thread for sale, cotton, wool and silk are the most used by seamstresses. There are, however, other very interesting alternatives, such as: wooden, plastic and metal wires. I always recommend beginning seamstresses start with cotton thread, which is the most traditional and works great for embroidery projects. Here are some types of thread that are really good for embroidery:

Cotton thread

It is known that the type of thread most used in embroidery is the one made with 100% cotton. This embroidery thread has a very interesting feature: it has six detachable tips that can be used individually or together to create different thicknesses in the embroidery. This particularity allows people who embroider to develop their creativity.

metallic wires

Contrary to what you may think, there is a large number and variety of metallic threads on the market. It is possible to find them with different thicknesses and with different concentrations of metal. Despite being made of metal, they are very versatile and, with a little art, they create very original embroideries. Depending on your taste, you can embroider yourself for free, but you can also combine it with other materials and I guarantee that the final result will be very good.

Pearl Necklace

The pearl necklace is a cotton thread that has two ends that do not separate. This type of wool has many colors, has a very particular shine and can also be found in the form of balls.

2. Different types of needles to start embroidering

As for the needles, there is a detail that may seem elementary, but it is not. The needles that we use to embroider must have the same thickness, or even more, than the threads. The pattern is easy to see: it makes embroidery easier as it cuts through the fabric better. The most used needles are the numbers: 8, 9 and 10. However, there are thousands of needles on the market, very different from each other. Some have wider eyes, to be used with thicker threads, others, longer, to go through thicker fabrics. It is important to remember that each thread and each type of embroidery will always require a different type of needle. Therefore, you can try different types of needles in different types of embroidery. In this way you will gain extensive knowledge of the various types of embroidery and gain a lot of experience and improvement in embroidery techniques.

3. Embroidery hoops

Another important material in the great art of embroidery is the hoop or hoop. Its function is to stretch the fabrics and fix them between the two circles to facilitate the work of the artists. These hoops can be made from a variety of materials, from wood to plastic and many other materials. In addition to the different materials with which they can be made, hoops can have different diameters. On the side of the brim is a small button used to tighten or release pressure on the fabric as needed to get the job done.

4. Various types of fabrics to start embroidering

The most used materials for embroidery are undoubtedly cotton, linen, jute and other natural fabrics. As I told you before, to start embroidering I recommend that you do it in cotton, since it is an easier fabric to work with, very economical, fine and regular. However, since human creativity has no limits, you can embroider on wood, paper or many other existing materials. The choice is entirely yours, so let your creativity run wild.

5. Dimensions of scissors

As for the scissors, I advise you to use two different sizes. The smaller scissors you use for the small adjustments you need to make in your embroidery. The largest scissors you use to cut fabric.

Next, I present a video tutorial of "Amalia Ricalde", to help you in the first steps of hand embroidery:

For my part, I hope these tips have been very helpful in your work. After reading what I wrote, you already know the various basic materials needed for your beautiful embroidery. Gather your supplies today and let your imagination run wild. You can do free embroidery or embroidery based on drawings from magazines or the Internet. A lot of strength for you. The only limit is your imagination and your time. Good job!