Hand Embroidery

This Instructable will teach you how to satin stitch a celtic knot (or anything else that will fit the instructions. If you are intimidated by this project, do a google image search on 'feis dress' and weep.

Step 1 Transfer the Image to the Fabric

Start with a simple line drawing/image (no shading). Print it out but try and keep it so that it would fit into a picture frame -unless you are doing a wall hanging- make sure you iron on a fabric stabilizer on the back. I used a light board to transfer the image to the fabric but fabric transfer paper also works well. Either way you need to draw over it with a white colored pencil or a fabric pencil so you can handle it and still have something there to sew.

edit: the stabilizer I used was the cheap Joann's stuff for $.99/yard. I can't find the brand because I think it was made by Joann's but Sulky Fuze and Stitch is pretty close. The fabric is 100% cotton quilting fabric. I chose black with scrolls so that the background wouldn't be too busy and take away focus from the knot.

Comments

[Iyer2711]

AWESOME! AWESOME! AWESOME ... simply the best. Thank you.

[evascloset]

these are amazing...I am trying to learn how to do embroidery - hopefully my first project will turn out as awesome as yours! thanks for the easy to follow instructions!

[Charles IV]

We colored celtic Illuminations in religion class (very educative... not) and one of them was the fifth picture on the last slide.

[feistydonut]

and did you stay in the lines?

[Charles IV]

Yes I did lol, nice random question...

[HimeNoHana]

Where did you get the pattern? It's gorgeous!

[AidanG]

For the really wide parts, like in the birds' bodies in the zoomorphic ones, do you just use really long stiches, or do you use a couple short stiches?

[feistydonut]

No long stitches, I'm still sewing across the lines at 90 degrees but they get skinnier and skinnier. You want consistency in the piece and part of that is keeping the stitch work the same throughout.

[SWV1787]

I love the project but I think the Instructable might be better if you had some photos of you actually stitching it and the transfer process in action. But please don't think I am being overly critical I just want to see more photos or videos of the Instructables that I really enjoy.

[scoochmaroo]

I agree. Show us more about the stitches you used. Just back and forth? What kind of stabilizer did you use? When did you add it? Did you knot your threads before you started and after you were done? What kind of fabric is this? Would any kind work? What kind of thread? How did you do the black stitching? I'm also not trying to be too critical, I've just always wanted to do embroidery like this and never really known how to go about it. How do you make all the stitching look so filled in? And keep the fabric from puckering?

[feistydonut]

I used the cheap stabilizer, $.99/yard. I will edit this instructable tomorrow with more detailed info. I don't have more pictures but I can draw some info for ya. Any other requests/questions? (yeah this was my first one)

[scoochmaroo]

Cool! I can definitely understand it better now. Thanks for the edits,and beautiful work!

[feistydonut]

Glad I could clarify, with this being my first Instructable I was grateful for the feedback.

[artquilter]

Holy Moly, why didn't you do it on a machine? You did a beautiful job! How many hours did it take you?

[feistydonut]

It took about a weekish (9 days), I did this after work everyday when I was watching tv. So about 10 hours.

[patmac]

This is one heck of a lot of work, but worth it. It is beautiful!

[jeff-o]

Wow! I think my fingers would be twitching and crying for mercy after finishing that. Very nice!