Getting Started With Embroidery

If you are interested in learning how to embroider but you aren't sure where to start, then you've come to the right place. With this tutorial we will have you ready to stitch in no time!

All of our kits and patterns have detailed instructions and visuals included. But we all learn differently and sometimes a video can really help - so we will lean heavily on video tutorials in our Beginner Embroidery series.

1. Gather your supplies. Every kit from Rosanna Diggs Embroidery has all the supplies (and instructions) you will need - just add scissors. If you're starting with one of our PDF patterns, the supplies guide will walk you through what is needed. Generally speaking, you will need:

• fabric
• embroidery hoop
• needle
• embroidery floss
• pattern
• a transfer method (water soluble pen, stabilizer, pencil, etc.)
• scissors

2. Hoop your fabric.  Sandwich your fabric between the inner and outer hoops, using the bolt on top to help get good tension.  You want your fabric to sound like a little drum, but not be distorted.

3. Transfer your pattern onto your fabric. All of our kits currently use a water soluble pen as our transfer method.  In the coming months, we will explore more methods for transferring patterns, but this continues to be my favorite, especially for teaching beginners.  

4. Pull, cut, and separate your floss.  Most embroidery floss is six-stranded, and splitting it can be a little confusing if you've never used it before.

 5. Thread your needle and knot one end of the floss.

Now you're ready to stitch!