Some Inspiration for Embellishing A Fabric’s Design Elements

I really love to embroider and to learn new embroidery techniques and stitches, but I don’t always feel very inventive when I see a blank canvas. Instead, a new hoop of white fabric makes me feel a little overwhelmed and nervous. Do you ever feel the same way?

I was in a fabric shop one day and saw a fun fabric designed by Alison Glass that has stitches in the fabric design, it’s called “Day Rainbow Stitched.” There is also a black background version called “Night Rainbow Stitched.” Here is an idea of what I mean and the fabric that inspired this technique:

When I saw this fabric, I suddenly realized that I didn’t have to start out with a blank canvas! So I took some over to the register to check out and left feeling inspired and ready to embroider.

When I got home I decided to pick out some colors for the fabric first. I got my embroidery floss out and carefully selected some colors. Choosing some that seemed to match exactly, and some that would add just enough contrast to the existing colors.

Following the Lines

As I started to embroider, I used the lines that were already there first. There are so many good outlining embroidery stitches. Here are just a few ideas:

• Running Stitch
• Backstitch
• Whipped Running Stitch
• Laced Running Stitch

There is also the possibility to develop the lines even more by going into the negative space with stitches. Some examples of this technique would be to use:

• Chain Stitch
• Blanket Stitch

You can see where I really liked playing with these stitches in my sample above! If you are new to embroidery, you can also check out my free guide for these stitches and a few more at the end of this post.

Here is an example of following a line by stitching into negative space as well. Here I am using a blanket stitch:

Using the Negative Space

Negative space is any area of your fabric that doesn’t have a design element except for color. It’s something to think about as you select fabric. What inspires you with the design, even in terms of the negative space? Some fabric doesn’t have a lot of negative space.

I decided to add some stitches in the negative space to add some of my flare to the embroidery! This is a list of some stitches that you could use, but of course this is a very limited list:

• Straight
• Lazy Daisy
• Fern
• French Knot
• Butterfly Chain
• Star

Here I added some Straight Stitches into the negative space and a good ol’ cross stitch as well!

The options are endless and this is my favorite new way to embroider now!

Follow along for some more inspiration and ideas for this technique! I have some fun tutorials in store.

If you are in the Northwest Chicago suburbs, you can join me at Warman Cozy Quilt Shop in Barrington, IL for some in person fun with hand embroidery classes! You can find available classes on their website: warmancozy.com/classes

You’ll see a simple beginner guide for Embroidery Stitches below, feel free to download it for your use!

Until next time, I’ll see you Around the Spinney!
<3 Kate

For more check out, Around the Spinney’s Sewing Circle