Freestyle Embroidery - Doodling With Thread
No Pattern Needed
Embroidery with colored threads is an old craft that has been used to decorate and embellish cloth items for centuries.
With the easy availability of modern embroidery threads, it is an easy skill to learn.
Most often a commercially made pattern is either drawn or ironed onto a piece of cloth and the lines are stitched over with a needle using colored thread.
Some modern sewing machines can be set up to sew programmed designs or monograms on such things as pillow covers, tablecloths and clothing.
The results of commercial designs can be very pleasing, but there may be even more pleasure in creating something absolutely unique with your own hands.
Some Basics
Free Yourself
Freeform embroidery does not use a pattern and may not even have a subject in mind before you start to sew.
It is almost like doodling absent-mindedly on paper.
Sew a line, straight or curved. Add to the line. Change colors if you wish. Add another line. See what shapes are evolving.
Fill in a shape. If you don't like the line, you can snip the stitches, pull them out and start over.
You might start with a subject or shape in mind. A heart? A rainbow? Maybe a bouquet? How about just some organic shapes of vines or branches?
The Hat
My walking hat is old, frayed, patched and mended. The original embroidery design is coming apart which, I think, makes it more interesting. When I wear it in public, someone I don't even know says, "I like your hat."
You Need Thread
Cotton colorfast embroidery floss comes in a very wide assortment of colors. It is pre-shrunk so it doesn't do something funny to your fabric when you wash it. It comes in skeins about eight or nine yards long in a strand consisting of six threads.
Cut the strand to a useable length (two or three feet) . If you wish to have a nice bold line, you can sew with all six strands -- though it is easier to separate the threads and use strands of two or three threads. It is like using different sized pen points, depending upon if you wish to have a heavy or delicate line.
It also depends on your fabric and the detail of your design. If you are using a heavy denim and sewing a bold image, you can use four to six threads. On lightweight or delicate fabric you will use fewer strands. You can also vary the number of strands you use in different parts of your design.
Other Supplies
Embroidery needles -- These needles have a larger "eye" , making it easier to accommodate multi-thread strands. Larger, heavier needles work better on heavy fabric; smaller needles are good for delicate materials.
An embroidery hoop -- is a two-part ring or oval made of metal or wood. One is smaller and fits inside the other. The fabric to be stitched is placed between the two parts and they are squeezed together to hold the fabric taut, so you are not bunching up the material each time you make a stitch.
On the shirt a the top, I didn't even use a hoop most of the time, because the fabric was sturdy enough for me to hold it straight. The hat was also sturdy enough to not need a hoop.
A small, sharp scissor with pointy tips -- for cutting thread and for "erasing" a line you don't like. If you are not using a pattern, you might stitch a line that doesn't quite look like you want it to. By carefully slipping the pointy scissor under the stitches and snipping in several places, you can pull out the "mistakes" and start again.
Start Freestyling!
On the shirt above I have started a design by establishing a few lines in the direction I wish the design to flow.
I wanted this to be a little more subtle than the "rainbow shirt", so I have chosen more subdued and related colors, ones that don't stand out too much against the background color.
The form is an organic doodle, reminiscent of trailing vines, starting just under the right collar point. You might want to try something more geometric -- remember it's your doodle.
I have used a very basic embroidery stitch. If you have never done embroidery before, don't worry. You can learn an easy stitch or two, use a plain running stitch or improvise your own way of doing it. Remember, you can undo anything with your scissors if you don't like the way it looks.
Continuing On . . .
I next added a few darker colored "buds" to the end of some of the vining stems.
I don't like the way the open flower bumps in to another vine near the top. So I probably will change that later by removing the vine and making one that runs a little higher.
The orangy-gold color running stitches, continue to trail downward. Right now they are only an indication of where the design may go. I will probably add to them, too.
If you want to try this, pick out an older piece of clothing to practice on. I have done it on a shirt that had paint spots on it and it disguised the stains just fine, by making it a part of the design.
Your thread doodling might just start by choosing a few colors that look nice together.
Establish a few lines or shapes with your stitches and build on whatever image or design you see emerging.
Is it a flower? A butterfly? Even a totally abstract arrangement, or color blocks can work for you.
Remember to tie the end, or the stopping point of each strand, securely on the "wrong" side of the fabric.-- If it looks messy on the back, don't worry. Concentrate on the look of the front side.
The Rainbow Shirt has a row of scallop shells floating over the top of the rainbow.
I have debated whether to fill in all of the sections of the first shell, but I kind of like it that way. Besides, I can always do it later if I change my mind..
The shells are important.
See, it's a "row" of "shells".
It helps me remember my name.
The flip side.
On the other side of the rainbow shirt, you can see the trailing end of the rainbow, which flows over the sholder-- just because that's where my thread doodle wanted to go.
A bit of the vegetable garden, the pea pods, grew over the right shoulder.
And in the center is the sun, which grew outward from the center and developed swirling rays on its outward edges.
So What Do You Think?
Freestyle embroidery can be fun and relaxing.
If you like having something to do when watching TV, you might surprise yourself with the unique and interesting designs you can create with no patterns and no rules.
Do You Like to do Needlework?
Comments
What beautiful freestyle designs you have created! They really brighten up a shirt or hat. I believe that they would sell well in craft shows. Just think of the seasonal designs that could be created!
That is very interesting, Randy. Your mother was very creative. Did you know that some embroidery stitches stemmed from the way men stitched together animal hides in ancient times? When my son was little and at times when he was ill, I would give him some needle work to do - simple pictures traced from a coloring book onto a cotton towel - and let him stitch the lines with embroidery thread. It helped him to relax and also developed his creative side.I can really relate to your mother.
I really have to try Rochelle's thread doodling. I love to create embroidered pieces.
Believe it or not I learned to embroider when I was in grammar school. I was ill with some childhood malady or another when my mom put some appliques--not flowers or butterflies or other such sissy stuff--on some linen, gave me a hoop, some needles and colored thread and turned loose.
My mother was a self taught seamstress and could make anything she had the pattern for. She made most of my sister's dresses and all of our costumes for school plays and Halloween.
Later on in the 60s when I was playing rock and roll for a living I embroidered a denim vest and other items. It's a manly craft I tell you!!:)
This hub made me remember my youth....
Hi Rochelle. I am so glad I came across this hub of yours. I love to embroider. I usually use a pattern and a few times drew my own pictures to embroider, but I have never doodled with the threads. This is a wonderful idea and just may give it a try.
Thanks for sharing this delightful and fun idea. I must share and pin.
if i draw the shape and then start sewing stitches, do i have to overlap each stitch?
I learned to embroider when I was just 5 and started hand sewing and designing clothes for my dolls then too. In high school I sewed most of my own clothes including prom dresses. The most recent thing I sewed was a tote bag and I embroidered my own pattern onto the pocket.
You have some beautiful examples here. Excellent article!
One of the best ways to keep the hands busy while watching TV is to sew or embroider...many a project has been completed that way here :-)
I love what you did with the bucket hat! You really have a mastery of the art!
My wife is into various arts and crafts, including artistic quilting and sewing. Maybe she'll like this freestyle embroidery idea.
It looks like you could start and etsy shop with some of your cool designs.
I learned to embroider when I was 5. Have been doing it from time to time ever since. I don't try to do the really complicated things because I don't have the patients, but it's possible to do some cute things pretty quickly with a little practice. I like to use my own patterns too. This looks like a good hobby to have for when you have to sit in waiting rooms. Great additions to crazy quilts/pillows, etc.
Voted up!
I learned how to embroider 30 something years ago in high school and I have been wanting to relearn it for some time now. I love your theme on your rainbow shirt. It's unexpected and a little quirky which makes it fun. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Rochelle - oh my gosh that shirt up at the top is so beautiful! I used to sort of do a bit of this, but ususally drew a light pencil outline first. I love the simple organic design too and that one looks doable as a free hand embroidery. Here is a way to have a piece of clothing that is unique - no one else in the world will have the same thing! Voted up and awesome. Must tweet too!
Interesting but looks hard to sew. I can sew simple stitch but not this. Interesting hub. Voted interesting
This is such a beautiful idea. My mother's family has always done much sewing and needlework, and so the skills got passed on - even my brother knows how to sew and embroider - but I've never done much freestyle embroidery. I did a little on a quilt for my daughter - a crazy quilt with all kinds of designs, and a few pictures, including "Wynken, Blynken, and Nod" -but I feel inspired by this hub to try something more.
Wow, so cute! Can't believe you made these without patterns. I'd love to try freestyle embroidery sometime. It would be interesting to see where my creativity takes me.
Beautiful embroidery! I love hand embroidering clothes and linens, and have used my own designs. It is very fun and relaxing. Plus, it gives you more choices...there just aren't many patterns anymore.
Love that shirt!
These are so beautiful!!! I can not draw so I doubt I could freehand designs like this; your designs are really great.
Voted up and beautiful. Thanks for the Hub. Wish I could still embroider, but my hands won't obey my instructions anymore!
You have resurrected in a very interesting way, Rochelle, what I thought might have been a lost art. Very imaginative designs, m'dear.
These are beautiful Rochelle, I used to love to embroider, but haven't done it in years. That rainbow shirt reminds me of my old hippie days. Voted up and shared.
LOL....way too funny!
Let me know if you figure out how to add more hours to the day and I'll sign up for that course. :)
Rochelle, this is when you know you have a loyal follower. There is no way I'm doing this, but I'm more than willing to show you support and read it anyway. :) By the way, Carol has beaten me to four straight hubs....she is a bit feisty today. :) Good job my friend.
Sounds like something new and fun to do...I have spent so much time on Hubpages the last four months a lot of my other fun things I do have been neglected. So once I start painting again this could be fun. I love free handed things...Following instructions for me is very difficult..not that I don't understand..just impatient. Very creative and fun hub. Voted UP and shared.
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