| Lots of people are taking up stitchery these days. | | | | pique or light linen. You don't want the weave to be so |
| That's because it's easy, relaxing, and inexpensive. To | | | | stiff that it constrains the path of your stitchery pattern |
| get started you need a needle, some thread, and | | | | or design. A good beginning project is a simple cotton |
| fabric. You can buy almost everything at your local | | | | tea towel - no terrycloth! It's a good idea to prewash |
| craft or fabric store. | | | | and preshrink your fabric before you start stitching. |
| So far as needles are concerned, any kind of needle | | | | An embroidery hoop will make your life as a stitcher |
| you can easily thread and pass through fabric will | | | | much easier. Although called a hoop, it's really two |
| work. There are various sizes of needles. You will | | | | hoops, one that's adjustable and one that isn't. The |
| want to choose a medium-sized one, with a large eye | | | | adjustable hoop fits outside the smaller one. Your |
| that you can thread in just a couple of tries. If your | | | | fabric goes between them, gently stretched. Like |
| fabric has a tight weave, you'll want to use a slimmer | | | | needles, hoops come in various sizes. They are made |
| needle and finer thread. If your fabric is more open, | | | | of plastic, wood, or metal. If you're a beginner, you will |
| you can opt for a larger needle and thicker thread. | | | | want to start with a five or seven inch size. Wood is |
| Easy threads to work with are either colorfast perl | | | | just fine. Be sure to loosen your hoop when you aren't |
| cotton or six-strand embroidery floss. You don't | | | | working on your stitchery pattern to avoid permanently |
| separate perl cotton. If you choose six-strand | | | | distorting the weave of your fabric. |
| embroidery floss, you can separate it for finer detail. | | | | The last item that you will want to have on hand when |
| Embroidery floss is most popular and it's the thread I've | | | | you begin is a pair of tiny, sharp embroidery scissors. |
| always preferred, but maybe that's because it's what I | | | | This may be your most expensive investment. Some |
| was taught to use when I was first learning. Floss is | | | | stitchers like to use a thimble, but this is a matter of |
| sold in bundles called skeins and the colors are | | | | personal preference. With just the items discussed |
| absolutely gorgeous! | | | | above - a needle, thread, fabric, hoop, and scissors - |
| One hundred percent cotton fabric is perfect for | | | | you're good to go. Happy stitching! |
| stitchery: flour sack; monk's cloth; muslin; diaper cloth; | | | | |