Sometimes I think that although I became addicted to needlepoint in 1970, I did not really learn how to do needlepoint until sometime in the early 80’s. Because my then I actually had learned about materials, good technique etc. So here’s a pile of mostly unorganized tips to get you started right.
Use your guild or shop! Shopowners want to turn your from browsers into regular customers. So ask them how to do a stitch, what thread you could try, what might be a good background. Take a beginner’s class if it is offered. Find out the name and meeting time of your local guild. When I am at my local shop stitching, I often help the customers there. Stitchers are friendly and love to share!
Use the freebies out there. Many sites and shops have free patterns. These patterns can help you learn new threads, techniques and stitches. If you use them for practice instead of a doodle cloth, you could have something charming when you are done to look at with pride.
It will not necessarily be right the first time, but strive to make it as good as you can. Going slowly at first helps. Your hands learn the pattern and rhythm of the stitch. Strive for correct placement and even tension of each stitch. This is especially important when doing tent stitch. Work on small pieces until you feel comfortable with correct tension. Even after more than 30 years, my tension can be improved — but it has been good for at least two thirds of that time because I worked at it.
Know what things you have and keep them together. I go through my stash about one a year, clean up things regularly and keep an inventory of threads. It does not always work, but I am much better about not buying things I already own.
Get needlepoint tools and a container to keep them in. This will keep them corralled. In our house tweezers are the thing we lose — people take my needlepoint ones and then I do not have them when I need them.
Use a frame of some kind for your needlepoint. This can be a scroll frame or stretcher bars (not an embroidery hoop). Since tension is at the heart of needlepoint (you are really making a new fabric here), keeping your canvas taut makes a difference. Get in this habit early and you won’t have problems later.
Find a good stitching chair. People stitch in lots of different places and where you sit should be comfortable not cramped. Lots of people like chairs which let them sit mostly straight with high backs. I used a wing chair for years, but now I have switched to a Mission style recliner with wide wood arms.
This may sound strange, but have the TV on (even if it’s muted) or talk to someone when you stitch. If you keep your eyes on your stitching and don’t look up, your eyes will get fatigued. If you are talking to someone or watching TV, then you will look up to see what is happening. Doing this even for a few seconds regularly will relieve the strain. My family knows when I have a stitching deadline because I rent three movies a day! Last — stitch because you love it! Make what you do a pleasure, even if it’s just for yourself.
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.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Janet_M._Perry

Embroidery is a fantastic hobby, for many people it is incredibly soothing. However, after many years of embroidery as a hobby, you may find that the amount of finished projects you have accumulated is vast. This is when you should consider selling them.
I expect you have probably given a lot of your embroidery and other sewing work to friends and family as gifts for Birthdays and Christmas, but after a few years it’s nice to offer them something else. You could use the extra money you raise from selling your embroidery projects to fund your Christmas shopping.
When you decide to start selling your embroidery projects, you should first think about the usefulness of it. For example, you have a finished cross stitch piece but you have done nothing with it. For many people, this would not be an enticing project to buy, because although you have finished the embroidery side of it, they would not consider it to be finished. What you need to think about is how you can convert it in to a useful or decorative object. Could your embroidery piece become a cushion cover, the top of an ottoman, a wall hanging etc. Pieces of embroidery like this are much more likely to sell.
The type of embroidery you have completed may also effect the price, for example, a piece of completed cross stitch may not fetch as much as a completed piece of Assisi embroidery, as Assisi is often thought of as historic embroidery and cross stitch is considered to be very modern.
You will need to consider your selling venue, craft fairs are an excellent place to start, as you will get to meet other crafters and embroiderers who will guide you, offer you advice and often be a good inspiration for more of your embroidery work. You will often fetch a much higher price for your work at a craft fair than you will else where.
Another option that presents itself to most embroiderers is using online auctions such as ebay. This is simply because of the ease of use, there is no planning involved and you can list your items on when you have time. Although ebay has its benefits, you’ll be hard pressed to get a very good price on your item, so choose your venue carefully.
When you price your work there are a few things you should add in to the cost. Include the cost of materials, any postage costs if you order the materials via the Internet or mail order, any fuel if you had to collect your materials, work out your hourly rate and then calculate the number of hours that it too you to complete. Some people may advise you to multiply that number by 4, however it is up to you. Often a piece of embroidery can take months to finish, and multiplying the cost by 4 would make the finished piece out of many peoples price range, so choose wisely.
If you are still unsure there is a third option open to you, and that is getting someone else to sell your embroidery for you. If you are lucky enough to live in a tourist town you could approach gift shops to sell your embroidery projects, or if not, many craft shops have displays of finished wares. Often these shops will also help you with pricing and give you a guide. If you build up a good relationship with these shops you may find you get commissions for your embroidery which will earn you quite a bit of extra money.
Written by Laura Marsh. For more useful information on different types of embroidery visit http://www.simplyblackwork.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Laura_Marsh

Do you know the different tools that the ladies in the Victorian Era used when they were into their tapestries? It would not matter how long ago it was, embroidery supplies must have been ready for use. For earlier civilizations that were into sewing, what could they have used for their tools? These people were smart and were able to come up with their own items.
Common knowledge will tell you that before you learn the simplest sewing like cross stitch, the running stitch, or the quarter stitch, you will need to become familiar with the supplies you will need for embroidery. You can not use the many items for creating the best designs if you do not know what they are used for.
You will certainly not find it hard when you are looking for embroidery supplies because they are available in mot of the stores. You can find them in the online stores giving you an easier way since you will be able to shop from home. By using your mouse you will be able to get your order sent to you in a flash. In a few days, you will have all the products you have ordered right in from of you. If the ancients were still around today, they would love to try this way of shopping.
One of the things you will need is the hoop. This item is round or oval in shape. It usually comes made out of wood, plastic, or spring form and will hold the fabric in place. Most of the hoops have brass screws that will allow you to make it tighter or looser than it was before. You will find that three hoops exist. They are the jacket back, the magnetic, and the tubular. The tubular has arms for the loops that are on the outside. The jacket back will give you a strong tight hold. And the magnetic has ends that are secured together.
You will also find that you will need bobbin thread. You will find that four types of this thread exist. They are spun polyester, cotton, nylon, and continuous filament. The cotton can accommodate a large range of tensions because of the texture. The polyester is closer to the wool. The continuous filament gives a clean result and does not leave any lint behind. Nylon is the strongest when you are adding pressure to it.
You can also find more info on Embroidery Design Software and Embroidery Designs. Allthingsembroidery.com is a comprehensive resource to know more aboutEmbroidery.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Faulkner

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.