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A beautiful embroidery result does not only depend on your creativity and skill. It is also important that the fabric you want to embroider, the embroidery thread and the type of embroidery you choose are well matched. You also need the right tools: suitable needles, pointed scissors, an embroidery hoop and - if you want to embroider holes - an awl, ruler, centimeter gauge, pencil and pen should be at hand.
Embroidery fabrics
You can embroider almost any fabric. Embroidery fabrics usually have a countable weave. They make your work easier (but are not suitable for white embroidery, for example), e.g. screen linen, school linen, Barelanger fabric and other fabrics with braided weaves. Canvas is a loose cotton, linen or half-linen fabric that is only held together by a finish. This material is mainly used for cross stitch and tapestry work and is overstitched over the entire surface. You can buy single-wire or double-wire grids in different thicknesses. The finer the grid fabric, the smaller the stitches. Grid is often embroidered as an aidfabrics that do not have countable fabric, for example in embroidery stitch. The finished embroidery and overhanging grids are then moistened and the grid threads can be pulled out with tweezers. Organza is a gauze made from pure silk. It is used as an aid in embroidering fabrics with a rough surface (e.g. terry cloth). Embroidery directions usually tell you when to use which attachment and how to do it.
Embroidery thread
It is crucial for your embroidery that the embroidery thread matches the fabric you want to embroider. The strength of the thread depends on how fine you want the embroidery and whether you want to embroider over the entire fabric. The most common embroidery threads are:
- Thin cotton thread
- Embroidery thread (consists of six thin threads and can be split)
- Matte embroidery thread (loosely twisted, thicker cotton thread)
- Beading yarn (twisted, shiny cotton yarn in different thicknesses)
- Thin, soft wool embroidery thread (pigeon zephyr)
- Thick wool embroidery thread (kilim thread)
- Quilting thread (thin, very strong cotton thread)
- Silver and gold wire (in different strengths)
Do not tie a knot in the thread when embroidering. Let it hang long enough to be easily sewn into the finished work.
Embroidery Needles
For embroidery on countable fabric and on canvas, there are blunt embroidery needles that slide easily between the fabric threads. For other fabrics, including those where you use canvas as a tool, only pointed needles are suitable. The thickness of the needles becomesof course determined by the working thread: It should be comfortable to thread through the eye of the needle.
