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Hello and welcome to the May edition of Focus on Craft. This month we have been exploring the wonderful craft of machine embroidery.
Contents
The origins of machine embroidery
Inspiration from artists
Supplier information
A project
Further information and resources
Recommended reading
A competition
The origins of machine embroidery
While traditional embroidery has been around for thousands of years, machine embroidery is a relatively new technique, estimated to be about 200 years old. There are two different forms of machine embroidery: free machine embroidery and digitised machine embroidery.
The first hand embroidery machine (used for free machine embroidery) is believed to have been created by Josue Heilmann of Mulhouse, France in 1828, although the first patented sewing machine wasn’t created until 18 years later by Isaac Singer. The obvious advantage to machine embroidery was that it was a much faster and more accurate process than traditional hand embroidery. Free machine embroidery is a technique favoured by fibre artists and quilters, as well as dressmakers and designers embellishing their work.
The technique has changed again in the last 20 years with the introduction of digitised embroidery. This technique is carried out by a specially-designed embroidery machine that automatically creates a design from a pre-made pattern that is input into the machine. Most embroidery machines used by professionals and hobbyists today are driven by computers that read digitised embroidery files created by special software.
Sales of sewing machines have soared since the credit crunch hit, with many of the sewing machine suppliers listed in our directory reporting huge increases in sales. So read on and let HotHive Textiles help you get the most out of your machine.
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| Inspiration From Artists |
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Machine Embroidery is a great technique for beginners as you can create a large range of effects with very little initial effort. HotHive Textiles spoke to machine embroiderers Tracy Curtis and Anne Kinniment to get their top tips and find out where you should start if you haven’t done much machine embroidery before.
Tracy believes this is a great craft for beginners, as she explains, “Beginners can pick it up very easily and then by playing around with different tension settings various textures can be achieved. And of course, it is suitable for a huge range of fabrics, textured papers and other fibres, as well as being very quick.”
So what are Tracy and Anne’s top five essential pieces of equipment for those of you wanting to give machine embroidery a try? “For me it’s a good robust sewing machine (mine has been going strong for 40 years and will stitch through anything),” Tracy shares. “A strong embroidery hoop with a decent-sized screw adjustment, an equally strong screwdriver, plenty of spare needles and last, but by no means least, a cracking good audio book to listen to while I’m working are my other essential items.”
Anne also felt that the machine and embroidery hoop were vital to her work but she adds, “’Supermend’ for bonding small bits of fabric to the background, Setasilk (Pebeo) dyes for painting the background onto unbleached calico and of course machine embroidery threads complete my essential items. My favourite threads are Madeira and Titania – I love the sheen on them.”
Both Tracy and Anne also had some great advice for those of you with some experience in machine embroidery looking to take their first steps as an artist. Tracy says, “My advice for anyone wishing to become a machine embroiderer is to build up a good collection of threads. Quality machine embroidery threads are, naturally, the best but few of us can rush out and buy several shades of every colour in the rainbow, so use what you have and build up as you can.”
So if you are short of money how do you ensure you are choosing threads that you will get the most use from? Tracy advises, “If you enjoy landscapes then concentrate on those sorts of colours first. Try to get at least four shades of each colour you think you will use. Your threads are your paint box and the most effective embroideries are those where the artist has not been afraid to constantly change both the top and bobbin thread colours in order to achieve the desired result. This is especially true when working with nature, just look at all the shades in a single tree trunk for instance”
Ensuring that you love the work you do is also very important for achieving good results, as is lots of practice! Anne says, “Find your style of work that you love doing and be true to yourself! Make lots of pieces – the more you do the better you’ll get!”
Promoting your work is one of the most difficult aspects of any artists’ job, particularly as most people just want to be creating! So we asked Anne and Tracy for their promotion advice. Anne says, “Joining a local artists’ network and taking part in the open studio event, The Art Tour, was the best thing I did to promote my work. It is a great chance to talk to your customers and find out what they think of your work. Arrange exhibitions in local galleries – get another artist to join in if you find this daunting – and make sure you get a website!”
Tracy’s advice was similar. She explains, “Naturally of prime importance is to get your work promoted to as wide an audience as possible. The first step for anyone has to be the HotHive Textiles website (thanks for mentioning us Tracy, and since you have here is the link for anyone not listed: http://www.thetextiledirectory.com/join/) and then do as many craft fairs as possible. Some of them can be very inexpensive to attend and though you may not make much money it is getting your name and work known that matters.”
“I would also suggest you try to attend at least one of the major textile shows each year, such as the Knitting and Stitching Shows, Creative Stitches, etc. These do cost a lot more money, especially if you need to include admission costs, but bite the bullet! Try to see your first few as mini holiday breaks (though it’s hard work!), as like most of us you’ll have a fabulous time, meet lots of people and come away inspired.” You can find out more about what to expect from these shows by reading our interview with Knitting and Stitching Show organiser Andrew Salmon here.
Anne is taking part in another Art Tour open studios event on 13-14, 21 and 28 June. Her studio is based in the village of Kirkwhelpington (it will be sign posted) and she would love to meet you if you can make it!
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| Supplier Information |
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Without doubt the most important piece of equipment you will need for machine embroidery is your sewing machine. HotHive Textiles spoke to Pam Neave, Husqvarna Viking Education Manager, to get her advice: “If you are thinking of buying a new machine you should consider one that includes an additional embroidery unit. These machines give the sewer a new lease of life,” she says. “There are models suitable for all ages and pockets and you may find the cheapest is not the best for your needs. Husqvarna Viking offer machines with large embroidery hoops from under £1000 and they have a myriad of extra features, right up to the flagship Designer Diamond machine. A dealer can advise you which is the best machine for you and teach you all you’ll need to know to get the most enjoyment from your new purchase.” Take a look at the sewing machine section of the HotHive Textiles suppliers directory for more help and advice on choosing the right sewing machine.
There are many other materials needed for machine embroidery including threads, needles and fabrics, to name just a few. Wendy Tong, owner of 21st Century Yarns has some advice for choosing good quality threads to use in your work. She says, “Our fine silk wound onto a bobbin is lovely to work with, you could also use the very fine silk depending on the sensitivity of the machine. If you are using shiny or viscose/Rayon threads then make sure you use a large-eyed needle and always try to use good quality threads, not ones found in the back of a cupboard that could be old and break easily.”
The HotHive Textiles directory lists a whole host of suppliers who can help you with all your embroidery needs. So if you need any further help with choosing the right materials for your projects then they will be very happy to assist you. You can browse through the embroidery suppliers here.
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| Project to Try |
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We have a great project for you to try this month: a machine embroidered poppy meadow greetings card, designed by machine embroiderer Anne Kinniment. This card can be used for any occasion, or you could turn it into a framed picture for your wall.
To download the instructions to make the card then please click on the link below:
Poppy meadow card instructions
If you need to buy any of the materials listed for this project then please consult the HotHive Textiles suppliers directory here.
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| Further Information |
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For those of you with a sewing machine who would like to try your hand at machine embroidery before buying all the materials then our kits would be a great place to start. The kits can teach you to create images such as a seahorse, enchanted wood and treasures of the sea, and with prices starting at just £7.99 they won’t break the bank either!
For the more adventurous among you we have some larger kits available, which are known as a ‘course in a box’. These are priced at £40 but will take you through more of the techniques required in machine embroidery. You will make several machine embroidery samples before finishing the ‘course’ by making a cushion. These kits feature gorgeous fashion images (pictured left) and are available in blue or pink and green. To view our complete range of machine embroidery kits please click here.
If you get on well with these kits and want to take your skills further the School of Stitched Textiles online machine embroidery course could be the ideal solution for you. The course, priced at £95, takes students through the craft from the very beginning and gives a good skills grounding in at least six techniques. Each technique is graded by the production of a sample, images of which are sent to the tutors for making. On completion of the course students are given a certificate of achievement from the School of Stitched Textiles.
Course leader Gail Cowley tells me, “Students will learn the basics of machine embroidery – how to set the machines up (using the feed dogs, the tension, etc), how to use water soluble fabrics, how to use metallic threads and how to frame up, among many other techniques. The course usually takes around 25-30 hours to complete and students can pay online and download the modules straight away.”
The course is very popular with students, and we spoke to one former pupil, Diane Rockett, to see how she had found the experience: “The course was very well set out and instructions were clearly organised so that I was able to work through each area and pick up new skills in the process. For instance, I had never worked with slashing material before and one of the activities dealt with building up a pattern and then slashing parts of it to allow the under pattern/material to show through.”
Through the course you will complete six samples – a straight stitch, a heart stitch, a swing needle, an automatic pattern, a water soluble sample and a final piece, which is usually a photo album or notebook cover (you can see student Diane Rockett’s final piece pictured left as an idea of the work achieved).
Students who complete the course are also given a 15% discount on City & Guilds course if they wish to take their skills further, something which Diane decided to do. She explains, “Gail, the tutor at the school, sent back some favourable comments about my work which prompted me to apply for the City & Guilds Level 3 in Embroidery, which I am doing at the moment.”
If you would like to apply for the beginner course in machine embroidery please click here.
There is also a great organisation for machine embroiderers: The Machine Embroiderers Guild Incorporated (MEGInc). The Guild was founded on 8 August 2005 to support Machine Embroiderers, by providing information on trends, training, hardware (sewing/embroidery machines), software and events.
The Guild provides an essential medium through which members can communicate and exchange information with like minded people. Members also receive a members-only newsletter and access to retreats, website tutorials, seminars, conventions and conferences, and forums. Membership to the Guild costs $25 per year. If you would like to join the Guild please visit www.meginc.org.
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| Recommended Reading |
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Machine Embroidery: Stitched Patterns by Valerie Campbell-Harding (£15.99)
This book shows how anyone with a sewing machine can experiment with stitched patterns to create innovative embroideries. The book presents new ways of adapting stitch patterns on a variety of different fabrics and combining them with a range of techniques - hand-stitching, free machine embroidery, quilting, applique and beads. Swinging stitches, patterns and ribbons, stitching and slashing, quilting with patterns, machine-wrapped cords, stuffed ribbon braids and larger motifs are just some of the ideas included in this colourful book.
For more information or to buy this book please click here.
Machine Embroidery & Textile Decoration By Elli Woodsford (£14.99)
This book covers a range of machine embroidery and textile decoration techniques, and shows machine embroiderers and those with an interest in fashion and accessories how to apply exciting and innovative techniques to their work. Each chapter focuses on a particular machine embroidery or textile decoration technique, with ideas of how to apply that technique to various items such as jackets, bags, shoes, hats, corsets and jewellery, and includes patterns and templates for each project. Anyone with a basic sewing machine and an enthusiasm to try something new can create the clothing and accessories shown in this book.
For more information or to buy this book please click here.
Encyclopedia of Machine Embroidery by Val Holmes (£14.99)
This is an invaluable reference guide to the latest machine embroidery techniques, materials and equipment, all in handy A-Z format. Entries include correct tension settings, digitized motifs, enlarging patterns, fabric sculpture, gold thread, hand embroidery machines, interlaced machine stitches, lace techniques, multi-head machines, overlockers reverse stitching, smocking, understitching, whitework and many more. Embracing both free motion and computerised embroidery, this book contains all you need to know to make the most your machine.
For more information or to buy this book please click here.
Machine Embroidered Woodlands by Alison Holt (£9.99)
Learn how to create beautiful woodland pictures using various combinations of two simple machine stitches. Techniques and instructions are broken down into clear, colour step-by-step instructions, with many helpful photographs and a great range of inspirational pieces. Alison 'paints' her threads on to hand-coloured backgrounds, blending her stitches and achieving stunning results. The raised effects of the embroidery produce a beautiful three-dimensional look and her clever use of perspective is effective and easily achieved. This book covers everything, including the materials required; how to compose a picture from photographs that have inspired you; painting backgrounds; and all the basic stitch techniques you need to know. Detailed instructions explain how to create realistic trees, foliage, flowers, woodland paths and much more. The book concludes with four stunning projects based on the four seasons. This is an interesting and must-have instructional and inspirational manual for anyone interested in learning about free-motion embroidery
For more information or to buy this book please click here.
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| Competition |
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This month we have a fantastic giveaway for the budding machine embroiderers among you, with two machine embroidery kits courtesy of embroiderer Tracy Curtis. We are celebrating the summer holidays with this giveaway as the two kits available feature a seahorse and treasures of the sea.
For your chance to win, simply email your name and address to textiles@thehothive.com with ‘kits’ in the subject line. The competition closes on 30 June and we will announce the winners on the website after this date. Good luck!
We would also like to congratulate Louise Tring from Cheltenham, who is the winner of the lotus tunic and cami pattern by Amy Butler offered in last month’s focus on craft. Your prize is on its way to you.
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