You can create beautiful things with hand-sewing or knitting, but there is one technique in particular—embroidery—that can help you achieve gorgeous works of art to display in your home, give as gifts, or anything else you can think of!

Directions:

1. Use the scissors to cut the fabric slightly larger than the hoop, insert into the hoop, and pull taut to secure.
2. Using a pencil, trace your design onto the fabric with the carbon transfer paper.
3. Slide two pr three strands of the embroidery floss into the needle (keeping the floss fairly short so it’s easier to work with), and secure with a knot.
4. Stitch along each line. (The type of stich depends on the look you are trying to achieve.) Tie a knot at the end of the floss to secure when finished, and trim any excess fabric.

Learn the stitches

1. Back stitch: the most basic embroidery stitch; used to connect lines, or to outline designs to be filled in
2. Chain stitch: looped stitch; can be on a curved or straight line
3. Detached chain stitch: looks like a teardrop or flower petal; formed by linking chain stitches together
4. Buttonhole stitch: used to secure a fabric edge; finished stitch resembles the letter L
5. Satin stitch: used to fill an outlined area; starts along the outline and works inward to cover a shape