When I first started two years ago, after coming home with a bag full of cotton linen, boxes of embroidery floss, wooden hoops and a head full of ideas, I wanted to dive in, full steam ahead. Unfortunately, I realized I didn't even know what to use to draw on a pattern. When my grandma taught me, she of course taught me the way she knew, except I didn't even know the names of the stitches I was making.
I learned what I could from my grandmother on a two week vacation, but that was it. My embroidery is inspired by her, but there's not much she can do for me in the ways of technical support. We don't really call each other on the phone and she won't skype, so there's no way for her to show me how to make a certain stitch. I can only look at her tiny perfect stitches on the kitchen table cloth so many times, before I have to look elsewhere.
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| Embroidery detail on the table cloth. |
I learned what I could from my grandmother on a two week vacation, but that was it. My embroidery is inspired by her, but there's not much she can do for me in the ways of technical support. We don't really call each other on the phone and she won't skype, so there's no way for her to show me how to make a certain stitch. I can only look at her tiny perfect stitches on the kitchen table cloth so many times, before I have to look elsewhere.
Enter Google to the rescue. I have stayed up late into the night googling tips, reading blogs, pausing and starting videos on YouTube to make sure I understand how to do a stitch numerous times.
In one of my searches, I thankfully landed on Sublime Stitching's website. I highly recommend it to any newbies. It has great tutorials, with easy to understand language and you can even buy kits and all sorts of supplies there. I can't vouch for the kits, since I already have most of my supplies, but I have seen them used by other people and they always praise them.
I've also been fortunate enough to find Needle 'N Thread. They're a great technical site that explain stitches like no other, and introduce you to all sorts of different stitches. I keep it bookmarked whenever I want to try a new stitch. Just a month ago, I learned the rose stitch. It's one of my new favorites.
Finally, Instagram has been my greatest source of inspiration and information. I have found a community of stitchers that inspire me to go above and beyond. It's been a hard learning process, since I, a perfectionist by nature, and a competitive one at that, want everything done right the first time. But embroidery isn't like that. Instead of comparing myself to others, I've learned to be inspired by them. I think that like any other forms of art, you can look to great artists for inspiration. But don't compare yourself to them. They all started in the same place you did. Only through hard work and dedication can you get to where they are. And most importantly, have something that motivates you. Don't just do it because, or because you want to make money out of it. Have something that inspires you. My favorite artists all do it because something moves them to stitch. You can check out some of my favorite artists here, here, here and here.
Finally, Instagram has been my greatest source of inspiration and information. I have found a community of stitchers that inspire me to go above and beyond. It's been a hard learning process, since I, a perfectionist by nature, and a competitive one at that, want everything done right the first time. But embroidery isn't like that. Instead of comparing myself to others, I've learned to be inspired by them. I think that like any other forms of art, you can look to great artists for inspiration. But don't compare yourself to them. They all started in the same place you did. Only through hard work and dedication can you get to where they are. And most importantly, have something that motivates you. Don't just do it because, or because you want to make money out of it. Have something that inspires you. My favorite artists all do it because something moves them to stitch. You can check out some of my favorite artists here, here, here and here.
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| Inspiring Instagram accounts |
I'm glad I've been able to find such great resources to help me learn. Don't think that because there's no one around you that can teach you, you have to give up. With just a little bit of research, you can learn too. And of course, if there's anything you want to know, you can always drop me a line! I'll be glad to help.
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