So, during one of my short "gosh my hands hurt" breaks from the cardigan, while I was surfing around on knitting blogs, I found this TOTALLY AWESOME site here: Urban Threads.com and now I'm kind of obsessed with trying out my luck on some hand embroidery!! And, I have just the project for it.
Inspired by some other blog that I saw a LONG time ago, I've been keeping my eye open for a canvas shoe organizer to hang on our shed to plant herbs in. I never did find one, and decided once I got my sewing machine that I should try my hand at making one! So, after $7 in canvasy outdoor fabric from Wally World, and a $3 dowel rod, I had this:
Cute, right? The lines aren't straight of course, but that doesn't matter! hehe What DOES matter is that I want to embroider the names of the herbs on each pocket!!
The problem? I can't find embroidery supplies ANYwhere. I'm an hour from a Michaels, and Walmart doesn't carry those supplies anymore. I went to find somewhere to buy online, but couldn't find anywhere that didn't charge ridiculous shipping. Plus, I kinda don't know what I need, so I wanted to be able to ask someone. So, instead I'm going to ask you guys!! You're all so smart! :D
What kind of needle and floss would I buy for this heavy canvas material to be able to do this? And I THINK I need a loop of some kind, don't I? But will it work on these pockets? What do I need in order to transfer on to the material?? And finally (maybe most importantly) do you know an online source that charges reasonable shipping rates?
OH and... don't feel rushed or anything? But Urban Threads is having a giveaway that ends Juen 6th. I need to submit photos of my project for a chance to win one of 200 random $10 gift certificates. *sigh* A girl can dream. :) hehe
Thanks guys!!
You'll probably want to work with a hoop- just make sure you buy one small enough to fit into the pockets. As for methods of transfer, they're rather endless- I've got a quick introduction-to-embroidery post with a limited list of transfer methods at the bottom here: http://corvustristis.wordpress.com/2009/02/12/embellishment-a-short-discussion-part-iii/ I also very much want to give this stuff a try: http://corvustristis.wordpress.com/2010/02/01/embroidery-peeps-take-a-look/
ReplyDeleteAny needle you can fit the floss through will work. As for what sort of floss, for an outdoor project, I'd probably stick to something basic like sturdy cotton- which is cool, because that stuff is cheap.
I'm afraid I can't help you with where to get it, however, because I've never bought any online. Maybe you could get someone closer to a Michaels or similar shop to go buy you some basics, and mail 'em to you at cost. I can't see it costing more than a couple of bucks in shipping that way, and no more than five bucks for the basic materials.
Maybe you could even swap someone for such things. Hell, I've got quite the cotton thread stash myself (inherited from my Grandma)... but then, I'm about to start my biggest embroidery project yet.
I've been thinking about embroidery a lot lately. I think I'm going to make a bag and incorporate embroidery some how.
ReplyDeleteAS for your questions, you probably want a fairly large sharp needle for canvas and hoops come in a variety of sizes and shapes.
Have you called Alpine Sewing to see if they may have what you need? I'm not sure where you are located or how far away they are for you but here is their link.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.alpinesewingmachine.com/products.html
Di
The Blue Ridge Gal
I would think you need a very sharp needle for the canvas. A lot of embroidery needles can be on the blunt side. Cute project, by the way. If you let me know what colors you need, I can just mail them to you. I have a HUGE stash! I don't mind sharing.
ReplyDeleteI have no advise for you, but I wanted to say that the sweater is adorable!
ReplyDeleteDMC Threads. You can buy them from JoAnns Fabrics online or local. For sewing into the canvas yes you would need a sharps Needle. The embroidery needles are too blunt for this. You can separate the DMC threads into 2 strands (they come in 6 strands). If you look up Cross Stitch supplies, those will also apply to embroidery as they use pretty much the same stuff. You can also get Aunt Martha's iron on patterns for the herb decals and iron that on, then embroider over that :)
ReplyDeletelove the cardigan!
ReplyDeleteI don't know anything about embroidery but the herbs in a shoe organizer thing is a great idea. :o That would solve my overgrowth problems.
ReplyDeleteYou guys are all so crafty! And all I do is scrapbook, which I haven't done since I've been back at work. Where do you all find the energy?! :D
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see it finished!!! Let me know when it's up!
ReplyDeletethat will be so cool to plant herbs in! Great job!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for linking up to The CSI Project's hardware Store Challenge! We hope you will come back next week for the Martha Stewart-inspired challenge -- The MS Craft Department are our guest judges!!!
XOXO
Jen