Embroidery is a fun and calming craft. At its heart is embroidery floss. What is embroidery floss? It is a special thread used to make pictures and designs on fabric. It is made of cotton, silk, or other fibers. How do you use embroidery floss? You use it with a needle to make stitches on fabric, following a design or creating your own art. This guide is perfect for anyone new to sewing with floss, offering simple steps for embroidery for beginners.
Using embroidery floss is simple once you know the basics. It is the main material for your embroidery projects. Learning how to handle it well makes stitching much easier and more enjoyable. Let’s start with the basics of this colorful thread.
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Knowing Your Embroidery Floss
Embroidery floss is different from regular sewing thread. It is thicker and usually very shiny. Most common floss is made of six strands twisted together. This lets you change the thickness of your stitches. You can use all six strands for bold lines or just one or two for fine details.
It comes in many colors. Each color often has a number code. This code helps you find the same color again. Floss is sold in small bunches called skeins.
What You Need To Start Stitching
Before you pick up your needle, gather your supplies. You don’t need much to begin.
Needed Tools:
- Embroidery Floss: Pick a few colors you like.
- Embroidery Fabric: Cotton or linen is a good choice. Muslin or aida cloth also work well for beginners. Choose fabric that is not too stretchy. It should be easy to push a needle through.
- Embroidery Needle: These needles have a larger eye than sewing needles. The eye is the hole you put the thread through. This big eye fits the thicker floss. Needles come in different sizes.
- Embroidery Hoop: This tool holds your fabric tight like a drum. This makes stitching much easier. Hoops are usually two rings. You put the fabric between them and tighten a screw.
- Small Scissors: For cutting your floss.
- A Design: You can draw one on your fabric or use a pattern.
Choosing Your Tools Wisely
Embroidery needle size matters. Smaller numbers mean bigger needles. A size 7 or 9 needle is good for beginners. It works well with a few strands of floss. A larger needle like a size 5 is better if you use more strands. Using the right needle size helps protect your floss and fabric.
Embroidery fabric should be sturdy. It needs to hold the stitches without pulling or tearing easily. Light colored fabric is good for seeing your stitches.
Preparing Your Embroidery Floss
Remember that floss has six strands? You usually do not use all six at once. You will need to separating embroidery floss strands. This is important for controlling how your stitches look.
Steps for Separating Strands:
- Cut a piece of floss from your skein. Make it about 18 inches long. Too long and it will get tangled easily.
- Hold one end of the cut piece of floss.
- With your other hand, gently take one strand away from the others at the cut end.
- Slowly and carefully pull that single strand upwards. The other five strands might twist around. Just let them. Do not try to stop them.
- Keep pulling the single strand until it is free from the bundle.
- If you need more strands, repeat this process. For example, if you need two strands, pull one off, then pull a second one off the remaining five.
- After pulling off the number of strands you need, put them back together. Hold the ends and smooth them down the length. This makes them lay flat and ready to use.
Using fewer strands makes thinner, finer stitches. Using more strands makes thicker, bolder stitches. Your pattern or design will often tell you how many strands to use. If not, you can choose based on the look you want.
Getting Thread Ready for Stitching
Once you have separated your strands, the next step is getting the floss onto your needle. This is called threading embroidery needle. It can be tricky at first, but you will get better with practice.
How To Thread Your Needle:
- Take the number of strands you plan to use.
- Hold the end of the floss.
- You can lick the end or use a little bit of thread wax. This makes the end stiff and pointed.
- Pinch the very tip of the floss end flat between your fingers.
- Look closely at the eye of your embroidery needle. It is bigger than eyes on sewing needles.
- Push the pinched, flat end of the floss through the eye of the needle.
- If it does not go through, try wetting it again. Or cut a fresh, clean end on the floss. Sometimes the end gets fuzzy.
- Once the floss is through, pull about 4-6 inches of it through the eye. This tail will help hold the thread in the needle.
Using an embroidery needle size that matches your thread thickness helps a lot here. A needle with too small an eye for the number of strands you use will be very hard to thread.
Starting Your Stitching
Now your needle is threaded and your fabric is in the hoop. How do you start stitching without the thread pulling out? You need a way to secure the thread on the back of your fabric. This is called a starting embroidery knot, though often you avoid a big knot.
Different Ways To Start:
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The Waste Knot Method (Good for Beginners):
- Make a small knot, about the size of a pea, at the very end of your floss tail.
- Bring your needle up from the back of the fabric, about an inch away from where your first stitch will be.
- Make your first few stitches. Stitch over the spot where the tail with the knot is on the back. This traps the tail under your stitches.
- Once the tail is held firm by a few stitches, cut the starting knot off. This leaves the back of your work neater.
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The Loop Method (For Even Numbers of Strands):
- Cut your floss twice as long as you need. For example, if you need two strands cut one strand twice as long. Fold it in half.
- Thread the two cut ends through the needle eye. You will have a loop at the other end.
- Bring your needle up through the fabric where your first stitch starts.
- Make your first small stitch (go down through the fabric).
- When you pull the thread through on the back, pass the needle through the loop you made when folding the floss.
- Pull gently. The loop will pull tight against the fabric on the back, securing your thread without a knot. This is great for embroidery for beginners as it is very neat.
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The Knotless Method:
- Bring your needle up from the back of the fabric. Leave about an inch or two of floss tail on the back.
- Make your first stitch.
- On the back, hold the short tail against the fabric.
- Make your next few stitches, stitching over this tail on the back. This holds the tail in place. Trim any extra tail close to the fabric once it is secure.
The goal is to secure the thread neatly on the back. A big lumpy knot can show through the fabric. Using a starting knot or the loop method keeps the back of your embroidery projects flat.
Making Embroidery Stitches
With your floss threaded and secured, you are ready to make embroidery stitches. There are many kinds of stitches, but a few are used often.
Basic Embroidery Stitches:
- Running Stitch: The simplest stitch. Make small stitches going in and out of the fabric. Like making small dashes. Great for outlining shapes quickly.
- Backstitch: Makes a solid line. Bring the needle up. Make a stitch forward (needle goes down). Bring needle up again behind where you just went down. Go down again at the end of the first stitch. This makes stitches that touch each other. Good for outlining and writing letters.
- Stem Stitch: Makes a rope-like line. Good for curved lines and stems of flowers. Bring needle up. Go down a short way forward, but come up again halfway back, keeping the thread loop below the needle. Pull tight. Repeat, always coming up through the previous stitch.
- Satin Stitch: Used to fill shapes with smooth color. Make straight stitches side-by-side across a shape. Keep stitches close together so no fabric shows. Use a lot of strands for thick fill. Good for leaves or petals.
- French Knot: Makes a small dot. Bring needle up. Wrap the floss around the needle tip one or two times. Hold the wraps tight. Push the needle back down very close to where you came up. Pull gently. Good for centers of flowers or eyes.
- Lazy Daisy Stitch (Detached Chain Stitch): Makes petal shapes. Bring needle up. Make a loop of thread. Go back down very close to where you came up, but don’t pull tight. Bring the needle up again a short distance away, inside the thread loop. Go back down just over the loop’s edge to secure it.
Practice these basic embroidery stitches on a piece of scrap fabric. This helps you get a feel for how the floss works and how many strands you like to use for different effects. Remember to keep your tension even. Tension is how tight you pull the thread. Pulling too tight makes the fabric pucker (get wrinkly). Pulling too loose makes messy stitches.
Working With Floss While Stitching
As you stitch, your floss will get shorter. It might also twist.
Tips for Working with Floss:
- Untwisting: If your floss gets twisted, let the needle and thread hang down for a moment. It will untwist itself. This keeps your stitches looking neat.
- Thread Length: Do not use pieces of floss that are too long. They tangle more. About 18 inches is a good length.
- Keeping Clean: Your floss can pick up dirt from your hands or work area. Wash your hands before you start. Keep your work surface clean.
- Handling Gently: Floss can fray or get damaged if you pull it too hard through the fabric or a small needle eye. Use the right embroidery needle size and pull gently.
Keeping your fabric tight in the embroidery hoop also helps. It gives you a firm surface to stitch on. Re-tighten the hoop screw if the fabric gets loose.
Ending Your Thread Neatly
When your floss is almost gone, you need to secure the end on the back of your work. Just like starting, you do not want a big knot.
How To End Your Thread:
- On the back of your fabric, slide your needle under a few nearby stitches. Do this carefully so the needle does not go through to the front.
- Pull the floss through, leaving a small loop.
- Pass your needle through that loop.
- Pull gently to create a small knot close to the fabric.
- Repeat this step once more for extra security. Slide under stitches, make a loop, pass needle through loop, pull tight.
- Cut the remaining floss tail close to the fabric.
This method secures the floss end without a bulky knot. It is neat and keeps the back of your embroidery projects looking tidy.
Getting Creative With Embroidery Floss
Once you know the basics of using embroidery floss and making simple embroidery stitches, you can make many things.
Ideas for Embroidery Projects:
- Decorate a plain t-shirt or denim jacket.
- Add a design to a tote bag.
- Make a small picture to frame.
- Stitch a design onto a pillowcase or tea towel.
- Make patches to sew onto clothes.
- Create simple gifts for friends and family.
You can find many free patterns online. Or draw your own designs directly onto your embroidery fabric using a washable pen. The colors and textures you can create with different numbers of strands and different embroidery stitches are endless.
Caring for Your Embroidery Floss
Embroidery floss can last a long time if you take care of it. Proper storing embroidery floss keeps it from tangling and getting dirty.
Ways To Store Floss:
- Floss Bobbins: These are small plastic or cardboard pieces. You wind the floss onto them. Write the color number on the bobbin.
- Storage Boxes: You can buy plastic boxes with dividers. Floss bobbins fit perfectly inside these boxes.
- Bags or Jars: For small amounts, you can keep skeins or wound bobbins in clear plastic bags or glass jars. This keeps dust off.
- Hanging Organizers: Some people use special hanging bags with pockets. You can put whole skeins in these.
Keeping your floss organized makes it easy to find the colors you need for your embroidery projects. It also prevents tangles, which saves you time and frustration. If a skein gets tangled, you can try gently working the knots out or winding it onto a bobbin.
More Tips for Using Embroidery Floss
- Using Short Lengths: It is worth repeating: short lengths (18 inches or less) are better. Less tangling, less wear and tear on the floss.
- Needle Threaders: If you have trouble threading your needle, a needle threader tool can help.
- Check the Back: Every few stitches, turn your work over to check the back. Make sure your thread is secured and not making big tangles.
- Ironing: You might need to iron your embroidery fabric before you start. Put the fabric in the hoop while it is smooth.
- Finishing: Once your stitching is done, take the fabric out of the hoop. You might need to wash it gently according to the fabric and floss type. Then iron it carefully, often face down on a towel so the stitches are not flattened.
Using an embroidery hoop keeps your tension even. It also helps you see your design clearly. Make sure the fabric is tight like a drum skin, but not stretched out of shape.
Troubleshooting Common Floss Issues
Sometimes things go wrong when using embroidery floss. Here are a few common problems and what to do.
Problem: Floss is knotting up while stitching.
- Reason: Floss is too long, or it is twisting.
- Fix: Cut shorter pieces of floss (18 inches is a good length). Let the needle and thread hang down to untwist. Pull floss gently, not with big jerks.
Problem: Floss is shredding or breaking.
- Reason: You are using too many strands for the needle eye, or the fabric is too tight, or the floss is old/damaged.
- Fix: Use a larger embroidery needle size. Check if the embroidery hoop is too tight. Use fresh floss. Pull gently.
Problem: Stitches look uneven.
- Reason: Tension is not even. You are pulling some stitches tighter than others.
- Fix: Practice keeping the same tension for each stitch. Try to keep the fabric tight in the hoop.
Problem: Hard to thread the needle.
- Reason: The floss end is fuzzy, or the needle eye is too small.
- Fix: Cut a fresh, clean end on the floss. Wet the end or use wax. Pinch the end flat. Use a needle threader tool. Use a larger embroidery needle size.
These simple fixes can save a lot of frustration. Embroidery for beginners should be fun!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How many strands of floss should I use?
A: It depends on the look you want. Use 1-2 strands for fine details. Use 3 strands for typical lines and outlines. Use all 6 strands for thick lines or filling large areas with satin stitch. Patterns usually tell you how many strands to use.
Q: How long should my piece of floss be?
A: About 18 inches (around 45 cm) is a good length. This length is long enough to stitch for a while but short enough to avoid tangling and wear and tear on the floss.
Q: Do I need an embroidery hoop?
A: A hoop is not always needed, but it makes stitching much easier, especially for beginners. It keeps your embroidery fabric taut and smooth. This helps you make neat, even embroidery stitches.
Q: Can I mix different types of embroidery floss?
A: Yes! You can mix cotton floss with silk floss, or even add metallic threads. Mixing textures and shines can add interest to your embroidery projects. Make sure they are cared for properly if washing.
Q: How do I keep the back of my embroidery neat?
A: Avoid big knots. Use the loop method or the knotless method for starting. For ending, weave the thread tail under existing stitches on the back. Cut thread close to the fabric. This is part of having good technique in embroidery for beginners.
Q: My floss keeps twisting. What do I do?
A: This is very common! Let your needle and thread hang down freely every so often while you are stitching. This lets the floss untwist itself. This keeps your embroidery stitches looking flat and smooth.
Q: How should I store my leftover embroidery floss?
A: Wind it onto floss bobbins and store them in a box. This keeps the floss organized, prevents tangles, and protects it from dust. Proper storing embroidery floss helps it last longer.
Ready To Start Your First Embroidery Project?
Using embroidery floss is a basic skill that opens up a world of creative fun. You learned about the floss itself, the tools you need like an embroidery hoop and the right embroidery needle size, how to prepare the floss by separating embroidery floss strands, how to get started with different methods like the starting embroidery knot, making basic embroidery stitches, handling the floss as you work, and storing embroidery floss when you are done.
This guide provides a solid foundation for embroidery for beginners. Pick out some colorful floss, choose your embroidery fabric, grab a hoop, and start stitching. With a little practice, you will be creating beautiful embroidery projects in no time. Enjoy the process and unlock your creativity!