Give Your Wardrobe a New Lease of Life
With embroidery one of the hottest fashion trends of 2016, there’s never been a better time to learn the skill.
If there’s one trend that’s making a comeback right now, it’s embroidery! At the start of the year fashion journalists were telling us that we’d be seeing plenty of embroidered garments in the shops – and boy were they right! From jeans to dresses, the more embellishment the better. So there’s never been a better time to take up embroidery than now. With the right skills, tools and knowledge, you’ll quickly be able to add some beautiful embroidery to your own clothes.
Do your research
That’s not to say that books can’t help you out – there are some fantastic ones out there. Have a look online and in your favourite bookshops for some beginner’s level books. If you see a book that’s full of beautiful projects but they’re a little advanced, pick it up! After all, if you’re going to improve you’ll want to have more challenging projects to get started on. Subscribing to a magazine is a great option too, as you’ll be inspired every month to create something new. With the right written advice and the support of your classmates and teachers, you’ll be an expert in no time at all!
Buy the right machine
Of course, all the knowledge in the world isn’t enough if you don’t have the right tools. While it’s incredibly easy to embroider by hand, machines allow you to embark on more ambitious projects and help you to build on your existing skills. Shopping for embroidery machines can be pretty daunting – there are just so many out there! Brother embroidery machines are a great choice for those starting out. The controls are easy to get to grips with, and they come with an array of built-in embroidery designs. As your skill level grows, you’ll find that the familiar comfort of a Brother machine means that you’ll be unafraid to tackle any project.
Take a class
There are many ways to familiarise yourself with embroidery. Firstly, see if there are any classes going on near you. Even if you’re shy, it’s a really good idea to get yourself out there and meet fellow embroidery enthusiasts. You’ll be able to learn not only from an experienced teacher, but your fellow classmates too. After all, some of the best tips come from years of practise rather than the pages of a book!
Some exciting projects
So which projects should you be tackling first? Well, if you want to transform some of your clothes, there are plenty of great ways to get started. Have you got lots of old t-shirts that are past their best? Brilliant – they’re fantastic blank canvases for embroidery designs. Start small, perhaps with a small detail on a pocket or sleeve, and work your way up to designs on the neckline, hem or right in the middle of the shirt. Jeans are great to unleash your creativity onto as well – and the built-in designs on your machine will work wonders. Of course, you can embroider many other things too – from pillowcases and duvets to bags. So why not give your home and accessories a facelift too?
You’ve got nothing to lose by trying
Don’t hold back once you’ve got the embroidery bug – practice makes perfect and the more things you make, the more confident you’ll grow! Once you’ve started to transform your clothes with embroidery, you’ll be the envy of all your friends. Who knows, they may even want to take it up too! With so much inspiration out there, we wouldn’t be surprised.