The pursuit of wellbeing — who knew you would get it by doing just a few stitches. Well, maybe not just a few stitches; more like creative needle and thread work to produce an ornamental work. Doing embroidery delivers mental benefits that inevitably translate to physical benefits.
According to a doctor from the Monash Clinical Psychology Centre at the Monash University, embroidery is “known as logic relaxation”. Engaging your mind to follow and form patterns can induce a state of self-focus. When you focus on a task for a long while you not only improve the ability to concentrate but also work on your hand-to-eye coordination. This also stimulates creativity.
Relaxation. Focus. Creativity. And the fact that the craft allows you to come up with a beautifully handmade work, what’s not to like about embroidery?
If the lack of skill or knowledge is preventing you from doing a stitch or two, then try these easy tips for getting started with embroidery today.
1. First, get your basic tools, apart from scissors:
· Embroidery hoop – it holds the fabric and comes with an inner and outer ring, and the closure to hold the hoops and fabric in place; you can get it in plastic or wood.
· Embroidery needle – it has a sharp point and long eye to accommodate the embroidery floss or yarn.
· 6-strand mercerized cotton embroidery floss – it’s the most common style, and comes in hundreds of colours.
· Quilting weight cotton – a tightly woven fabric, and can come in plaid, solid colours, and solid patterns.
2. Learn about the different hand embroidery stitches, among them:
· The Running Stitch – you can do this by putting the needle and floss in and over the fabric in one continuous motion; it’s a quick stitch to accomplish.
· The Split Stitch – produces a solid line with an added texture and can fill designs.
· The Stem Stitch – it’s used for doing the stems of vines and flowers.
· The Satin Stitch – creates a smooth look and you can use it for leaves or hearts.
· The French Knots – decorative stitch used as accents and to create fillers for designs.
3. You can get your design onto the fabric, and not have to create a pattern from nothing. You can trace the design onto the fabric with a water-soluble marker. You can also use graphite transfer paper. You can also try the iron-on transfer technique.
4. Put the fabric in the hoop. The fabric should hang over the inner hoop’s edge by about an inch; the fabric has to be tight and pulled evenly across the hoop.
5. Start stitching. Follow a set of instructions to make sure this project goes smoothly.