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Silk Ribbon Embroidery For The Beginner

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

By Elena McDowell


When people see examples of silk ribbon embroidery, they often feel that they would never be able to do something as complicated. This is far from the truth as mastering a few simple stitches is all that is required to begin with. It goes without saying that experience is required for more difficult projects.

Many kits are available from online stores that include the materials needed to begin a project. If you are beginner, taking advantage of one of these offers may be the easiest way to start. All the difficult decisions about colors, sizes of ribbons and needles are already made for you. You will also receive fabric with a design already printed on it and instructions are usually given on exactly how to proceed.

Any kind of material such as cotton, linen and even denim may be used for such a project. As long as a needle can get through a material it is suitable. This means that a variety of items such as pillow cases, sheets, clothing and even greeting cards can be given a decorative touch.

The right type of needles must be used as a large eye is important. This makes a big enough hole in fabric for ribbons to pass through easily. The point must also be sharp enough to pierce ribbons without splitting them.

If you want to prevent fabric from puckering, a hoop must be used. Ribbons tend to fray easily, so it is better to work with shorter lengths that do not have to pass through the fabric too often. The width of ribbons differs and the most common ones used are 4mm and 7mm. Good quality ribbons should be chosen for the best effect.

Online websites offer an opportunity for beginners to learn a great deal. There are videos demonstrating everything a beginner needs to know, from how to iron crinkled ribbons to how to care for completed projects. Reading online blogs is one way to pick up many useful tips, especially if they are written by experienced embroiderers.

Some basic stitches like the straight stitch, lazy daisy, French knot and stem stitch are explained on these websites with easy to follow illustrations and instructions. Using these stitches in different combinations enables you to create many different floral motifs and patterns. Some stitches are suitable for creating petals of flowers and leaves, whilst others are more suited for making stems and outlining.

An important tip to remember is that tension is very important when creating stitches. Pulling a stitch too tightly can ruin its effect. The proper tension creates more dimension.

Silk ribbon embroidery is well worth trying. It is not too difficult to master a few basics that can be used to produce surprisingly delicate designs. Few supplies are needed and they can be taken everywhere. This art can be adapted to numerous different projects and the imagination is the only limit to what is accomplished.




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