The pros (and more pros) of embroidery kits

Back in January (see my first post) I wrote about making my own zippered throw pillow with "decorator fabric" and using it to tie together an orphaned Kate Spade coverlet set, and then creating pillowcases from a kit with an altered color scheme. I really believe in these kits for anyone interested in this hobby. As I said before, pillowcases are a great start because they leave their creator with a functional piece to enjoy on a daily basis. The Martha Stewart sets are pricy, compared to others, but they are worth the price especially for first time stitchers. They thread, or "floss" as it is called in embroidery, is sorted and included, and the directions are the clearest I have ever seen. They only extra tool that one needs is a hoop. I have included a link to Amazon's listings of some Martha Stewart kits in the first entry below. Mastering these projects for me, really opened up the door to more complicated ones such as the creation of my own designs and the ability to transfer them and determine proper stitches and patterns on a variety of fabrics.

Finished Pillowcases from Martha
Stewart. Completed in the
summer of 2011, for a Christmas gift. 

These kits rely on a few easy and basic stitches. These include the stem stitch, the backstitch, and french knots. As I enter my past and current projects into this blog, I will explain the stitched used. I have worked the pattern for the pillowcases pictured above twice. The first time I followed the color pattern of the kit. This was an early project of mine and the first one that I did as a present. My Aunt requested pillowcases for Christmas the previous summer, and knowing that if I was going to make one family member something, I best make them all something. Her only specific request was that they incorporate the color red.

The Stem Stitch. 

The stem stitch being worked,
image from embroiderersguild.com 

This kit requires the mastery of the stem stitch. The stem is a common stitch used for outlining all kinds of shapes, not just plants and flowers. This stitch is worked in such a way that it result in a twisted appearance, almost like a rope. It's a strong stitch and can hold up well on materials that are used and washed frequently. With the stem stitch you always want to work from left to right, taking care that your entering and exiting the fabric at even intervals. When the needle emerges, it should always be on the left side of the floss from the previous stitch. This is what results in the twisted-like look.

Pillowcase kit with altered color scheme. 

As with anything in life, once you have mastered it, it becomes more of your own. This kit called for three shades of picks and reds for the petals. Each has their own intentional picked color density to add to the sense of depth in the flower. I swapped these out for shades of light orange and yellows for my own bedding. And instead of using the standard greens for leaves and stems, I used a chocolate brown and golden tan. You're not always limited to the rules proposed by kits and designs, although they offer a great pedestal for beginners.