It’s no secret that I love crafts. Sewing, crochet, DIY, you name it.
I love quilting…especially, most especially paper piecing.
In last week’s TTMT, I mentioned that I want to learn to embroider. It’s frankly getting too hot to crochet in the carpool line, which is how I usually while away my time waiting for my kids.
Also, there is a certain PROJECT that I would like use embroidery for, but I’d really like to get the hang of it before I jump in with both feet.
So, here we go.
After asking my lovely peeps over on Facebook for suggestions and opinions for getting started, I had two handy links to get going with.
First was Sublime Stitching’s How To. I have definitely been on this fabulous website before, but only to admire. The How-To was so wonderful and easy to follow, I printed it out…and then I *might* have laminated it. What? It’s fabulous, and I need to drag it along in the car with me. I also learned there are several stores in Austin that carry Sublime Stitching goodness….field trip!
The second useful link was Blue Bird Quilts’ Retro Nine Patch BOM, a lovely free pattern each month by Australian designer Lyn. I agree with her fans there, a Flickr group would be wonderful inspiration for a newbie like me! I printed month one and used my handy Sewline Ceramic Pencil
After observing of friends that embroider, I decided to back my fabric with a piece of muslin. I love the way the thread pulls through both layers of fabric and feels nice and secure. So far, the stitching has felt very natural, even though I don’t do much hand sewing and it’s been ages since I picked up my hand quilting. It’s going smoothly, and hopefully will continue to do so. As of today, I’ve only practiced the Split Stitch and the Stem Stitch. Hopefully future stitches will go as nicely!
I don’t know if I’ll follow along with the entire Blue Bird BOM, but I do like the retro designs and today’s stitching was very enjoyable. Who knows, maybe I’ll keep it up. With another month of carpool ahead of me, I might even be able to get caught up!
Do you embroider? Do you have favorite sites, blogs, etc.? I’d love to hear your pointers!
And, you know what? I can draw… and I get the feeling that may come in very handy in the future…of DOOM.
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