Recently embroidery is fast gaining popularity as quilting. In fact, many quilters enjoys embroidery as well. Quilting and embroidery makes excellent companions. A quilt embellished with embroidered stitches is one of the most beautiful hand-crafted creations. Some of the best Victorian crazy quilts are made of silk from leftover men's ties and other bits of fabric. These fabric are randomly sewed together embellished with heavy embroidery. These crazy quilts gives you great ideas on how to add embroidery on your quilts. Although crazy quilts use embroidery extensively, you may choose to use touches of embroidery here and there to give your quilt added life and texture.
Many quilting beginners think that embroidery is a different skill to learn. You may be surprise how easy it is to learn embroidery stitches. You may even know it already. Many sites on the internet give you many great pictures of embroidery stitches. Some common embroidery stitches you might want to use include blanket and chain stitch for outlining, and feather, herringbone, lazy daisy, straight and cross stitches for decorative touches.
Applique is a quilting technique which many quilters enjoy. Embroidery is the perfect partner to applique. The process of appliqué involves layering one fabric atop another, as opposed to sewing pieces of fabric together, and embroidery stitches such as the blanket stitch can be used to decorate the edges of the appliquéd piece. Or perhaps you may want to use embroidery on the background fabric, to emphasize the appliquéd pieces. The manufacturers of embroidery floss have kept pace with developments in the world of crafting, and now offer floss in an array of fibers, including perle cotton, rayon, silk and even linen and hemp. They also feature brilliant colors, with some even offering hand-dyed and variegated flosses.
Embroidery can be done by machine just as quilting can. While some may prefer to do their embroidery by hand, it is mainly a personal choice. With the advance technology of today's sewing machines, quilting with embroidery is a snap. Many of these sewing machines comes with embroidery functions, with an extensive lists of stitches. Switching different stitches is as easy as flipping a switch on the machine. As with embroidery floss, there are many specialty threads available for machine embroidery.
Explore the possibility of adding embroidery to your quilting projects. It may just open up a whole new world of quilting and crafting pleasures to your quilting efforts.
Quilters' Quotes - Author Unknown
~Those who sleep under a quilt, sleep under a blanket of love.
~A bed without a quilt is like a sky without stars.
~I'm in therapy and sewing is cheaper than a psychiatrist.
~Love is the thread that binds us.
~When I learned to sew, I forgot how to cook.
~Our lives are like quilts - bits and pieces, joy and sorrow, stitched with love.
~A quilt will warm your body and comfort your soul.
~Quilters know all the angles.
~Quilt 'til you wilt.
~When life throws you scraps, make a quilt. |
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