Because everyone loves to get unique homemade gifts. (Almost as much as you’ll enjoy making them!)
There’s so many different embroidery types, styles and stitches to create your own unique gifts with. Some are super simple, and some are little more involved. You can even choose between hand and machine embroidery.
Whatever choice you make, whichever style you choose, the gifts you create will become treasured heirlooms to those you decide to give them to.
(A word of caution: You will have to force yourself to remember you are making a “gift”. That word does imply that you are going to give it away, and sometimes, that can be really hard to do ... especially when you see how amazing it turns out!!)
Click one of these links to immediately begin your magical journey into your choice of embroidery types.
In Hand Embroidery you’ll get a little history lesson and an introduction to some of my favorite styles of hand needlework.
Embroidery Supplies will tell you what you need to get started with your first hand embroidery project of any kind. It will also tell you what kinds of other fun supplies are out there.
Cross Stitch Stitches will give you some of the more advanced stitching tips and techniques for creating beautiful cross stitch designs. Then Cross Stitch Patterns will help you understand how patterns work and help you to design and create your own.
Shopping for Hand Embroidery will give you access to how-to books, videos and even a great store link. You'll be on your way to making your own embroidered gifts in no time! Hand Embroidery Links gives you links to quality embroidery sites I've found on the internet.
Machine Embroidery Pages
In Machine Embroidery you will be introduced to the magic of today’s technology. Find out how exactly embroidery machines work, and get some advise on choosing your own machine. (This site is a great resource also, it has some great in-depth information, history and advice on embroidery machines. Use it to make comparisons and help you see which type of machine would work best for you.) Or this page will tell you all about My Viking Machines, and why I chose them, if you need some additional input.
Understanding Embroidery Files and discovering where and how to get Embroidery Designs are important first steps in machine embroidery. These pages will give you all sorts of information about picking your files and your designs.
Learn the basic steps of machine embroidery with Embroidery Instructions. It doesn’t matter what kind of machine you have, this page will walk you through all the steps involved from getting a design to stitching it out.
Need a little more inspiration? You could try mixing up your embroidery styles or combine craft techniques to make your embroidered gifts even more unique ...
add hand embroidered accents and bead work to your machine embroidery,
embroider on unusual mediums like leather, paper and candles ...
Use your imagination, try something new. You never know, it might turn out GREAT and be your favorite project! Soon, you too, will be making embroidered gifts for everyone you know!!
If there is something more you would like to know about hand or machine embroidery that you can not find in here, please contact me. I will be glad to add it to the site, or help you with it directly.
The pictures on this page are of some of my machine embroidered and cross stitch projects. They show some of the different options you have with embroidery. Below are a few more machine embroidery projects showing some Christmas gifts I have given in the past.
I have so thoroughly enjoyed my journey into the world of embroidery. (Both hand and machine.) I have learned so much and met some really incredible and talented people along the way.
I invite you to begin your own journey. You will not be sorry, and neither will all the people you will honor with your homemade embroidered gifts!
