All embroidery projects are absolutely beautiful on their own, and often need no form of enhancement. But for that extra special finish you can add beads and sequins to your embroidery.
There are a few ways to add these extra special touches to your embroidery projects. You can incorporate them in to your stitches as you are creating your embroidery piece. To incorporate beads and sequins in to your embroidery stitches you will need very tiny beads and sequins, look in your local hobby store for seed beads and matching sequins. When attaching something as small as a seed bead to any project you will need to make sure you have a small enough needle, so make sure you purchase a beading needle.
You can also add beads and sequins to your embroidery projects once you have finished them. For example, you may only wish to add a few beads or sequins to highlight an area, such as the sparkle on a start or the twinkle in a characters eyes. This finish is very understated, but it will add just that little touch of perfection many sewers seek in their embroidery projects. You may wish to use a clear thread for this, so as not to disturb the colors of the embroidery or the sequins and beads.
Another method for attaching beads and sequins to embroidery is by using surface embroidery. This is a little more technical than simple sewing the beads and sequins directly onto the fabric. With surface embroidery of any kind the idea is to create a pattern on the top of the fabric, with minimal wastage of thread on the reverse, it can also cover a large area very quickly, where are sewing on individual beads and sequins cannot.
There are many methods of surface embroidery, although for attaching items such as beads and sequins I would recommend trying a crochet method. You simply use a tiny crochet hook to pass the thread though the fabric and when it comes back through, you make the next look and also attach a bead or sequin. This is also known as surface crochet, and can make your embroidery projects very original.
If you are looking for an even more amazing finish to your embroidery projects you could consider adding specialty threads, such as metallic threads or even embroidery threads made of special fibers such as silk or mohair.
Written by Laura Marsh. Did you find the information on beads and sequins with embroidery useful? You can find out more about enhancing your embroidery at http://www.simplyblackwork.com

Aside from the beauty of nature, your own personal style as well as your unique individuality can be reflected in any form of art, including the laborious art form of embroidery. Embroidery is an art form that uses needles and threads to make designs and patterns on any piece of cloth or fabric by weaving or sewing. It entails clear eyesight and dexterous hands to do the intricate details of designs and patterns. There are several types of customized embroidery that can surely reflect your total personality type.
Custom embroidery can be done either traditionally by hand or by electronic embroidery sewing machines operated and controlled by computers. Hand designs are truly difficult, especially if you desire a specific design that will involve complicated sewing and weaving of threads. There are several types of hand designs that can be used to make custom embroidery. A few of the things you can use are the famous Assisi design, Blackwork, Counted Thread, and Whitework.
Aside from hand made designs, custom embroidery can also be done through embroidery sewing machines. This type can give you many varied custom designs. You can also give your own design that can very well express your individuality, which can be easily crafted since it is done with the aid of computers. Unlike the hand designs, computer made custom embroidery can be done without going through much difficulties.
Besides the traditional embroidery makers or stores near you, the Internet can also be an avenue for you to have the type of embroidery product that will match the specific details that you desire. You can browse online for embroidery stores that you can trust. Just make sure that the on line store that you decided to transact business with are indeed reliable and authentic.
Embroidery provides detailed information on Embroidery, Embroidery Machines, Custom Embroidery, Embroidery Designs and more. Embroidery is affiliated with Used Embroidery Machines.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_Bailey

Are you planning to present a cross stitched item made by you as a gift for your friend's birthday or as a Christmas present for your grandmother? It is an excellent and very innovative idea and you will be thanked for giving them such unique gifts. Cross stitch is very easy and if you are a beginner then also it is hassle free. You can start with simple designs and migrate to complicated ones once you are accustomed with the process. There are some important necessities like the cross stitch materials that you need for your creation.
Fabric
The most favored fabric for cross stitch is the Aida. It is made of cotton and has large pores. So this is a very good material to work on if you are a novice or if your eyesight is not good. You can use some other cross stitch materials also such as linen which give very good effects. It is better that you first try out your handiwork on inexpensive fabrics. Make sure to use an embroidery hoop which helps in keeping your fabric taut and facilitates easy stitching This also ensures no oil staining problems on your fabric and prevents your hands from becoming moist. Leave a gap of 3-4 inches on each side of the design.
Needles
Tapestry needles are best suited for your cross stitching purposes and one of the most essential cross stitch materials The blunt end and the large eye of the needle prevents damage to the fabric. Select the right sized needles that can pass through the holes in the fabric effortlessly without enlarging them or distorting the fabric. Also never leave your needles on the fabric as it could leave a stain.
Threads
Use single strands of embroidery floss when you are using 2 threads for stitching. If you are uncertain about the color fastness of the floss make sure that you wash them before you use them. Immerse the individual skeins separately in distilled water. If the color of the embroidery floss bleeds when you move it in water remove the skein and use the same procedure with fresh water till the color stops running. Remove and dry it.
Frames and Hoops
Embroidery frames and hoops are good options among cross stitch materials to mount your fabric onto so that it is easy to handle and the stitches are smooth. Select a frame that envelops your entire design without you having to fold the fabric or bend it. If you use white bias tape on the outer ring of the hoop this will hold the fabric in place and prevent it from staining as well. Using a tissue paper between your fabric and the wooden hoop also helps to prevent your fabrics from getting stained by the wooden hoops.
Scissors
Always use a sharp pair of embroidery scissors for cutting the threads neatly.
April owns website Cross Stitch Supplies which has details of where to purchase cheap cross stitch frames and cheapest cross stitch kits
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=April_Kerr

A book like The Needlepoint Book can be one of your handiest tools when you are stitching. While this book is like a college degree in needlepoint between covers, most people (even experienced stitchers) turn to it because of the wealth of information about stitches included in it. These kinds of books are called stitch dictionaries.
In a stitch dictionary you will find many different needlepoint stitches diagrammed for you. Often, as is the case here, there are also pictures of the stitches worked on canvas.
The diagrams tell you how to make the stitch. Sometimes, as in my diagrams, the stitches aren’t numbered, sometimes, as in The Needlepoint Book, they are. Although for most stitches you don’t need to follow the numbering diagram for making the stitches, it is good to do so until you understand how to make the stitch. Then you can work them any way you like.
Often the stitches in stitch dictionaries are divided into families of stitches. Some of the families are diagonal, cross, box, straight and compound. Each family of stitches consists of stitches which share common characteristics. In the case of diagonal stitches, all the stitches are made up of diagonal lines, which do not form a definite box.
A unique feature of The Needlepoint Book is the table of stitches which appears at the beginning of each chapter of stitch diagrams. It lists along the left side each of the stitches which appears in the chapter. Then it gives information about the characteristics of each stitch. It tells you about possible uses (border, background, accent, etc.) whether it will work for areas which receive lots of wear (backing, snag-proof), how much texture and pattern it has, and whether it uses a ton of yarn.
I love these tables because I can use them to find a perfect stitch for a particular use.
Other stitch dictionaries, such as the Stitches for Effect books, will have lists of stitches for particular areas, which are divided by area (sometimes even in different books), or will say something in the text itself.
I also make notes about the stitches in the margins of my stitch dictionaries. Sometimes I note when I use the stitch, sometimes I comment on whether I like the stitch or not. And when I’ve done classes exploring threads, I them as opportunities to try new stitches. That way my stitch dictionaries become records of my needlepoint experiences.
When I’m planning a canvas I look at my stitch dictionaries to get ideas for stitches. Often seeing a picture of a stitch will spark your imagination -- what about Encroached Gobelin for the mermaid’s hair? How about a nice, knobby cross stitch for that gold patch? Every stitch dictionary I own (and I have dozens) has unique stitches in it.
As you become more familiar with different stitches and threads in needlepoint, you will find your own favorite stitches. Some teachers like particular kinds of stitches so much they become trademarks. For example, Jean Hilton has invented and is identified with wonderful “string art” stitches. She uses them in most of her designs and they are so associated with her that people call the “Jean Hilton stitches.”
Janet M. Perry is one of the leading writers of needlepoint stitch guides in the world. She writes innovative guides for needlepoint canvases from over 20 designers. She puts into practice her motto to make needlepoint fast, fun and affordable.
She is an expert in needlepoint, both on the Web and through her writing as the Needlepoint Pro for Cross-Stitch & Needlework magazine. She works with deigners, shops, and thread manufacturers on new products and regularly reports on trends in needlepoint.
Her newest book, Needlepoint Trade Secrets, will be available in the summer of 2007 on Amazon. Visit her website (http://www.napaneedlepoint.com) or blog (http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com) to learn about my newest products.