step one
Trace your picture directly onto your
fabric using a washable or fading
fabric pen, available at most craft
and sewing shops.Printed fabrics aren’t the only way to
add interest to your quilt – embroidery
is also a lovely, and traditional, way to
personalise your work. It has always
been common to stitch on a maker’s
name or a sweet message (made with
love is always a favourite), but how about
picking out parts of a design to enhance
with stitches as well? French knots and
running stitches are ideal for highlighting
smaller details. You can also use
embroidery to decorate a plain piece of
fabric, as we’ve done with the scissor
pouch project on page 152, and then use
this in your patchwork or quilt designs.
Most embroidery projects call for
templates, which you’ll first need to
transfer onto your fabric in order to
stitch the design. Before you start
tracing, press your fabric well. Plan where
you want to place the design and leave
yourself enough space around the edge
so you are able to put it comfortably into
an embroidery hoop. Check the
instructions to see if you need to resize
the template on a photocopier – you can
enlarge or reduce it to suit your needs.tracing designs
The simplest way to transfer a design is
to trace it. Place the fabric right side
up over the template and secure with
masking tape so it can’t slip. Trace over all
the lines using a pencil. If you struggle to
see through the fabric, trace the design
onto tracing paper with a fine black pen.
Then tape the design and fabric to a
window or light box, and trace the
design. To help with this, you could turn
your fabric upside down and stretch it
into a hoop with the right side in the back
of the hoop and the wrong side flush
against the design surface. Once you’ve
traced the design, remove the fabric from
the frame and reinsert it right side up,
ready to sew. If your fabric is too thick to
do this, or it’s impossible to trace through
the window, trace the design onto tracing
paper and pin to your fabric. Following
your pencil lines, baste around the design
using small stitches in a contrasting
coloured thread. Score along your
basting stitches with the tip of a sewing
needle and then remove the paper by
tearing away carefully.Alternatively, try dressmakers’ carbon
paper. Trace the design onto a plain
piece of paper. Place the carbon paper
over your fabric, with the dark side next
to the fabric surface. Place your paper
template on top and trace over the
outline using a blunt pencil. Remove the
carbon paper and you will have created a
dark outline to follow for your design.
Once you’ve drawn your design onto the
fabric, place it into a hoop or frame to
embroider it. This will provide the correct
tension, your stitches will be neater and it
will prevent the fabric from puckering – as
well as being easier for you to sew!Starting to stitch
To begin stitching, you need to secure
the start of your thread. Don’t just knot
it behind the fabric, as this can leave a
bump. Instead, use a waste knot. Knot
the end of the thread and take the needle
down through the fabric. Bring it up again
a short way away and start stitching,
catching the end of the thread with your
stitches as you work. Snip away the knot
and the thread will stay secure.Give your patchwork an eye-catching finish with
a few decorative stitches! You’ll soon be hooked on
adding embroidery to your work
ALL ABOUT
EMBROIDERY
step two
Place dressmaker’s carbon paper face
down onto your fabric. Place your
picture on top and trace it carefully
using a blunt pencil.step three
The tidiest way to secure your thread is
using a waste knot. Tie a knot to hold
your thread in place, start stitching
and secure the thread as you go.