Replies

1. 
   suesew | May 09, 2004 05:45am | #1

   Wow. Anyone who embroiders could write a book to answer your questions and many of the people who will read your question will only embroider with their sewing machines. I love hand embroiidery - I don't have to sit staring at a sewing machine to do it and I can do it my way. You can use any number of threads you want, I usually separate the threads - but it depends n the coverage you want. One thread will give youvery little coverage. Six strands will be difficult to pull through some fabrics but will give much more coverage. Youn really need to find a simple beginning embroidery book or pattern in some magazine to give you some idea of the many kinds of stitches there are. Have fun and be sure to try silk ribbon embroidery some day. It goes very quickly and is beautiful. Sue

1. 
   Breeze | May 09, 2004 06:39am | #2

   Thank you for your help - gave me enough to get started and will definitely remember to grab a book tomorrow. 

1. 
   lindamaries | May 10, 2004 01:25am | #3

   I'be been looking into silk ribbon embroidery.  Most of the stitches are the same as floss embroidery, but it does have some neat ways to make cute flowers. 

2. 
   lbbray | May 13, 2004 02:58am | #4

   This is my hint for you.  It drove me crazy when I was a girl and I managed to drive my daughter insane when she first began.  When I would show my mother what I had done (my first piece was a cross-stitch project when I was a Brownie) the first thing she would do would be to turn it over and look at the back.  If she didn't like what she saw, she would make me take it out.  And I did the same thing with Amanda.  It really makes a difference in how it turns out.  Also, never ever knot a thread(s) at the end to begin stitching from the back.  I don't really know how to explain how to do it, but figure out where you are going to begin stitching.  Do make a knot in the end of the thread section and insert your needle a little way from where you will begin from the top.  Try to go over the thread a couple of times.  When you have finished, or your work gets to where the knot is, then snip it off.  You will never have unsightly mystery bumps.   I love hand work and you will too. 

1. 
   Breeze | May 13, 2004 04:30am | #5

   ty for info - sounds frustrating but I am sure it is like everything else - falter a few times and it comes