(Part 2) Best products from r/Embroidery

Your link is broken, but I'm guessing it's meant to go to one of these: http://store.privateerpress.com/patches.aspx

Lots of beginners post stuff here that actually turns out really well! I bet you could definitely get something you'd be proud of :)

To start off, I'd start with any scrap fabric you've got around, but you can definitely buy fabric at places like Michael's Crafts and Joanne's Fabrics and the like. You don't really need to embroider onto any type of fabric specifically - people do shirts, towels, tablecloths, you name it. But thinner might be better for starters. Linen is pretty popular. This is a nice article about choosing the right fabric for you. There's a TON of youtube videos on embroidery, so I would look into it.

The main stitch you're going to need for those patches is the satin stitch. basically it's just going back and forth and filling a space (have a peek at the picture of the united states in our sidebar, those states are all filled with satin stitch). Here's a really simple, quick few explanation in pictures, and here's a nice youtube video. Just mess around and try it out for starters! You can search youtube for "embroidery satin stitch" to find other videos. If you find one you like, 9/10 times that person has other stitch tutorials in their channel and you can browse around to learn others.

You'll need embroidery floss specifically (exactly the same as what came in the cross stitch kit for your girlfriend), but again they're sold in pretty much all craft stores. The brand shown is DMC and it's pretty popular, but honestly for practicing you can get away with cheap stuff - even like a big combo pack. The biggest issue you might encounter is that if you go to wash your work the cheaper colors could bleed onto the fabric or each other. With floss also, if you look there are six little bitty strings all twisted together to make one strand of floss. You do not necessarily work with all six (cross stitch, for example, usually uses two or three since the squares are so small that having all six threads making a fat x would be too puffy). Depends on personal preference really, you can test it out. More threads means you'll fill your space quicker, but you might be able to get it looking neater and smoother with less threads. Again, practice!

You'll also need something to hold the fabric taut like a hoop. They come in tons of different sizes and you can get plastic or wood. Again, most craft stores (probably right next to the floss) seem to always have these things.

Needles, it's like, eh, just a needle? I dunno I've actually never bought a needle, I always seem to just have them about, hah! But you want something small enough that it won't leave a huge hole in your fabric each time you enter, but big enough to work with. When you hit up that craft store, I bet you that there will be needles right alongside the floss and hoops. Cross stitch needles are different from embroidery ones because they're a little dulled (since cross stitch fabric already has holes you're using and embroidery fabric does not).

Finally, if you're looking to make a patch and not embroider directly onto your thing (shirt, blanket, whatever), you'll want to look into some iron-on fusible fabric interfacing. Basically it's like sticky stuff that comes in a sheet that almost feels like parchment paper. Each brand will have its own individual instructions, but basically you'll iron it onto the back of your patch, then cut out the patch. Then you peel off the paper on the back and iron the patch onto your final product. It's neat stuff, but you'll usually want to finish it with a quick running stitch or something similar to definitely fix it on. You can get this pretty cheap at most fabric and craft stores, just ask if you can't find it right away.

I know that was a ton all at once, but seriously take a look around youtube, it's a HUGE help. Good luck! :D

FYI: I sent you lots of amazon links as I am not sure where you live or if you have access to craft stores such as Hobby Lobby or Joann Fabrics. I know for certain that I have seen most of these items cheaper at the store than what I could find online.

1. Embroidery scissors. The good ones (I.e. generally not ones that come in sewing kits) are incredibly sharp and a must. They are used exclusively for cutting embroidery floss. They make some really pretty ones that come in all sorts of colors and patterns.
   
2. A hoop or two. I personally prefer the plastic ones as they are a bit more durable and good for multiple projects. I also don't typically display my finished work inside the hoop. If she plans on making wall hangings, I would go with the wooden ones. They are typically a bit cheaper when you buy them at a craft store (I believe I have seen them from between 1-3 USD.) They have a nicer finished look and isn't that big of a deal to buy a new one when you start on your next project. I would buy her two of the wooden ones in two different sizes (a 4 inch and 6 inch one)
   
3. a box for embroidery thread. this one on Amazon that I listed is nice since it also contains the bobbins as well. These boxes usually cost about 3 USD at the craft store and are great for holding all of your different colors of embroidery floss. they often have one larger compartment which is perfectly sized to hold needles and the embroidery scissors as well. The floss bobbins are great at keeping everything organized in the box as well.
   
4. about a yard of fabric. Muslin is generally pretty cheap. For a beginner, I might also suggest Aida cloth. It it woven in a way that there is a "grid" in the cloth which makes it easier to make straight lines. It is typically used for Cross Stitch but can be used for embroidery as well. The cloth is more expensive that the muslin, and I personally don't prefer the finished look of the fabric, but it makes it easy to make straight lines and practice stitches. Someone on here also mentioned buying Fabric quarters which is a great idea. They come in a whole bunch of designs, run around 2 USD a piece, and work pretty well for embroidery.
   
5. Needles. You don't need the golden eye ones like I have listed here. Just make sure that the package says it's for embroidery as the of the needle varies depending on the type.
   
6. Now here's the hardest part of the whole thing: Embroidery floss. Most stores offer DMC brand cotton floss by the skein for about 0.48 USD. The problem is that there are literally hundreds of different colors and picking out just a few might be a bit difficult. The sets that DMC does sell are a bit pricey and aren't often set up to give you a beginner's set of colors. You could however buy an off brand set of embroidery floss that does come in a nice variety of colors and is cheaper. However, I have found that a lot of these packs have low quality thread. It often can look dull when compared to DMC brand floss. (look how Satin-y this Flower looks with the more expensive floss!) I have also heard of some people say that the colors can run when they get washed. All that said, these packs are inexpensive and great for someone just starting with embroidery as there are so many colors to choose from. Its great when you are practicing or are not 100% sure of what you are going to make yet.
   
7. transfer pen: I bought a set of those Frixion Pens that someone else mentioned in this post and I love them. They are a bit pricey. I believe that I bought my set at Target for 6 bucks. It came with 5 different colors including pink and silver which work great on dark colored fabrics. These pens are used to plan out your design on your fabric before you embroider. These pens are special in that they disappear completely with heat (such as an iron). If you don't want to go that route, they also make Water soluble markers which serve the same purpose. They don't work quite as well in my opinion as they tend to erase themselves after a few hours/days. They have the advantage of being inexpensive and work fine for small projects.
   
   I hope that all of this helps. Good luck on the shopping. I know that whatever you end up getting her she will love.

I sent them through a chat, but I’ll resend them this way...
I would get the floss at Johanns, they also sell cute kits. As far as the rest of the supplies I’d go with Amazon because of your time limits. Look for needles by John James in a variety pack sized 5-9, fabric, look for I-Nee cotton, and hoops by Morgan. Amazon also has great light boxes for transferring patterns....
https://www.amazon.com/John-James-Needle-30-Assorted/dp/B001VJNOV6/ref=mp_s_a_1_17?keywords=john+james+needles&qid=1564833113&s=gateway&sprefix=john+j&sr=8-17

https://www.amazon.com/iNee-Cotton-Fabric-Embroidery-60-inch/dp/B07F171ZJY/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?keywords=cotton+fabric+by+the+yard+embroidery&qid=1564833223&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1

These are great pens for transferring patterns and drawing designs onto fabric
https://www.amazon.com/Threaders-Erasable-Fabric-Pens-3pk-Black/dp/B072QDSB2G/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=threaders+erasable+fabric+pens&qid=1564833299&s=gateway&sprefix=threaders+era&sr=8-3

Hoops
https://www.amazon.com/Morgan-Products-Stand-Combo-Hoops/dp/B000YZ3YIQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?keywords=morgan+hoop&qid=1564833394&s=gateway&sprefix=morgan+hoop&sr=8-4
Or
https://www.amazon.com/Morgan-Quality-Products-Embroidery-Interlocking/dp/B07B7C9QWQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_13?keywords=morgan+hoop&qid=1564833481&s=gateway&sprefix=morgan+hoop&sr=8-13
For future reference I get most of my supplies from 123stitch.com or embroidery.com
Great fabric can be found off Etsy
Shops I like on Etsy for linen
CloudCraftShop Robert Kaufman Essex Linen Fat Quarter Bundle, Naturals
BidouillArtStock Linen embroidery fabric coupon
FineStitchStudio Embroidery Linen 'Graziano' - Fat quarter

Etsy has good kits,
https:\namastehandembroidery.com has great kits as well. I personally love thread painting. If that’s something you think she’d like to try, go with anything from
https://trishbembroidery.com or any of her books!
Also
https://berlinembroidery.com/product-category/hand-embroidery-kits/needle-painting-kits/

I just started as well and for my first I just made a simple geometric design and did the whole thing with the satin stitch (just looping the floss in straight lines to fill it in.) It's the most basic stitch ever but embroidery is so fun and easy that it just looks great no matter how simple it is. Seriously: it's so much easier than it even looks. Anyone can do it. Other than satin stitch, chain stitch is a great one to know. Another tip is to not work with too long of floss at a time. Shorter is faster and easier to work with. Arms length is a good rule.


Also I highly recommend you get a needle threader like this (makes threading a needle SO much simpler):


https://www.embroidery.com/product.ec?productID=151811&gclid=Cj0KCQiAlIXfBRCpARIsAKvManypdM2D16hoTntOhDOklO4PNEHBQhwyaVM1VCya7THaoc7xm7uMKEEaAnHCEALw_wcB&productID=151811&gclid=Cj0KCQiAlIXfBRCpARIsAKvManypdM2D16hoTntOhDOklO4PNEHBQhwyaVM1VCya7THaoc7xm7uMKEEaAnHCEALw_wcB


And I like to keep this thimble handy in case I have trouble poking the needle through or if my finger gets sore:


Clover 614C Leather Coin Thimble https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000YZ8PE4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_APB4BbFMSRFM1


This book has a handy section of stitches with names I flip through sometimes that you can mostly figure out from looking at them, but otherwise you can just Google them for more info. Other than that it had some tips on mounting, framing, other little things you wouldnt think of like how to prevent fraying of fabric edges and even some starter ideas in the back. I like it just for the section of pictured stitches with names alone that I bookmarked for my future convenience:


Stitch-opedia: The Only Embroidery Reference You'll Ever Need https://www.amazon.com/dp/0312611595/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_h0B4BbBE49BDQ


Other than that just buy a cheap embroidery starter kit off of Amazon and draw your design straight on your fabric (they make temporary markers that can be rinsed off with water when done.) You can also use a light board to trace a drawing onto fabric after fleshing it out on paper, or even just buy transfer patterns to set onto your fabric if you don't like to draw.

I have been using the Brother SE400 for several year now , It's a sewing/embroidery machine combo that I got for under $400 (now new at $282.49). It is limited to a 4 inch by 4 inch area but it has worked great.

They now have the same embroidery features the SE400 has it an Embroidery only machine, Brother HE-1. The sale price seems to be around $299.00.

Watch Craigslist and other used places , I have seen a lot of software from women getting out of the home embroidery business and they are unloading it relatively cheap.

I lucked out and was able to get PE 7 from a relative upgrading to something else and while its older program, it works great for what I need/use it for. I have used the embird free trial and it was good for small adjustments, resizing etc, I much preferred the PE 7.

Go to your local craft store and grab some different size embroidery hoops, I personally prefer the plastic ones because they hold their tension better (personal opinion). Grab some different colored embroidery thread, some different sized needles, all these items should be in the same section (I frequent Joanne’s).

Then head over to the fabric section and go to the remnants area! This is a great way to experiment with different types of fabric without breaking the bank.
Your best experience is gonna come from 100% or close to it cotton blend.

For getting your patterns or drawing something onto your fabric, there are multiple different ways, YouTube can help you there. I personally like to use these pens because you can point a hairdryer at it when done and the lines will erase!
I also trace my pattern onto tracing paper, then tape the tracing paper to the back of my fabric AFTER it’s in the hoop and taught. Then I turn the flashlight on on my phone and put my hoop over it and trace with the above mentioned pens.

Go crazy! Watch YouTube videos on how to with stitches and make your own designs. Play with different stitches, see which ones you like. Practice practice practice and you’ll get hooked!

I did the same thing with the fabrics! I actually found the Aida was quite nice for my first couples pieces though because working with the spacing of the holes helped me figure out how to space out my stitches in general. I did some more research on fabrics after though and wanted to switch to some kind of evenweave. I ended up getting these plain dishtowels to try instead and they're perfect! They come in packs of 6 and have a bunch of colours to choose from.

​

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00Z2Z7GQE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I just buy the cheap ones on Amazon. You can improve them by wrapping the under hoop in string or yarn, and they paint or decorate well. For hanging I finish mine like this tutorial (though I sew on that little tab instead of gluing). I know some people have a really good hoop they stitch in and then when it's finished transfer it to a decorated one or display one.

The instructions weren’t the best and I definitely looked up stitches and techniques on YouTube! I got my kit on amazon. The one I got was Posy!

http://www.amazon.com/DMC-6101-Cardboard-Bobbins-56-Pack/dp/B004GJBHO4/ref=sr_1_26?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1409009233&sr=1-26

I like these little cardboard bobbins for floss. There are plastic ones too. It takes a little time to wind them, but it's so much easier than trying to get a clean and untangled length out of the original skein.

I was just about to say this! Amazon has great deals on 24 packs of these notebooks:

https://www.amazon.com/Kraft-Notebook-Journals-Students-Childrens/dp/B07D8PJQBT/ref=pd_cart_vw_crc_1_2/130-8669783-0452267?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07D8PJQBT&pd_rd_r=abee71cb-5756-4a55-b08e-cf9c8a76f7bb&pd_rd_w=DoI9U&pd_rd_wg=LXXr2&pf_rd_p=aa9f3def-b8ac-4b15-aa4b-c6a8313c2f5e&pf_rd_r=9VFE3TFJFRJ7Y0PYQ73V&refRID=9VFE3TFJFRJ7Y0PYQ73V&th=1

So here’s a link to the one I have, although it’s now unavailable on Amazon.

Brother SE400 Combination Computerized Sewing and 4x4 Embroidery Machine With 67 Built-in Stitches, 70 Built-in Designs, 5 Lettering Fonts https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003AVMZA4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Rl4ODb267FEG5

This one is a very similar model though!

Brother Sewing Machine, SE600, Computerized Sewing and Embroidery Machine with 4" x 4" Embroidery Area, 80 Embroidery Designs, 103 Built-In Sewing Stitches, White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074F8TZNH/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_mm4ODb6NEEZZB

I’ve had this machine for about a year but I also work professionally in the embroidery industry and have been doing that as my day job for almost four years! :)

The Stitch Bible by Haxell is my go-to book. The pictures are clear and in color. The only downside is it isn't spiral bound, so that sucks.

I also use the Mary Thomas Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches [Amazon link] (http://www.amazon.com/Mary-Thomass-Dictionary-Embroidery-Stitches/dp/1570761183/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420482775&sr=8-1&keywords=embroidery+book), as well as The Stich-O-Pedia other Amazon link. The Stitch-O-Pedia is spiral bound and is fantastic, if terribly organized.

My real recommendation is to go to your local library. Check online for a book you're thinking of getting, then see if your library has it. Get the book first from the library to see if it's worth spending the money on. I've saved myself several disappointments by doing this (the Doodle Stitching books for example).

I have this edition. It is fantastic.

Mary Thomas's Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches https://www.amazon.com/dp/1570761183/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_UH2JDbC9Q85PP

Also check out your library. I've always found that no matter where I live, there are always lots of good embroidery books to peruse when you are getting started.

Oh must not have been a good kind. This one really feels like interfacing and is easy to use and dissolve. Here's the link to the one I bought.

H2O "Eau" Gone White FSL 12" x 25... https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01LWWXA2L?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Thanks! For this one, I used a Frixion Fineliner that I picked up in Japan. I've also used another frixion pen from this pack too: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F9MYPCS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1.

You could look at Michaels to see if they have fabric swatch packs (they might for quilting). Or a pack of blanks, like this. I also saw a starter pack that included blank swatches, and a fabric pen for sketching out designs: http://i.imgur.com/AtNj0Aa.jpg

This is fabric off amazon! iNee 100% Cotton Fabric for... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F171ZJY?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Sure thing! The floss bobbins have a section for writing the color ID number, definitely write it down no matter your level of organization. Don't rely on sight because you WILL run out of a weird shade of green halfway through a project and then stall in the floss aisle as you realize it could be one of three skeins.