QUILTsocial Issue 21

3 ways
to make simple embroidery stitches extraordinary
I’ve used the SURELight M4M LED 3-in-1
Lamp, and it’s really quite awesome!
The light has multi levels of brightness
each with different temperature options
(warm or cool light). Although I use it
on a table, it comes with a giant clip for
attaching to your work surface or chair
as well as a floor stand. Because it can
be powered with AC or the enclosed
battery compartment, you can bring this
light to any work area. There is also a 2x
magnifier on an adjustable goose neck
to help clearly see the fine details of your
embroidery project.
Let's talk about whipped, threaded, and
woven embroidery stitches and how to
use whipping and threading to change a
basic embroidery stitch into something
more interesting. For this type of stitch,
it’s important to use a blunt needle such
as a DMC Tapestry Needle so the needle
doesn’t pierce the fabric or split the
threads of previous stitches.
Technique 1 – Whipping
Almost any stitch can be whipped
with another thread to create a more
interesting stitch. The simplest stitch to
whip is the running stitch. You can easily
work a whipped running stitch around
tight corners or in intricate designs and
you can change the look of the finished
product by changing the spacing of the
foundation stitches or by changing the
weight of threads you use.
When you start with a backstitch as
your foundation, you create a whipped
backstitch which has a slightly raised finish
that looks a lot like a rope or cord. It’s great
for enhancing the edges of an applique
design or for making flower stems.
To stitch a whipped stitch, bring your
needle to the front of your fabric slightly
below the foundation stitch at the right
end of the row. Slide the needle behind
the next stitch from above, and pull
the thread through. Repeat until you
whipped all of the foundation stitches.
Here are examples of some of the
whipped stitches on my embroidery. The
top line is a blue and yellow whipped
backstitch that’s stitched with six strands
of DMC Rayon Satin embroidery floss
from the DMC Satin Floss 8 pack – Radiant
Treasures. The bottom is a pink chain
stitch that’s stitched with six strands of
embroidery floss from the DMC Light
Effects Floss 6 pack – Tropical Glow and
then is whipped with 6 strands of blue
rayon embroidery floss.
Technique 2 – Threading
Threading is similar to whipping because
it starts with a line of foundation stitches
like a running stitch, backstitch or chain
stitch. We’re still using a DMC Tapestry
Needle so that we don’t catch the base
fabric or other stitches.
The SURELight M4M LED 3-in-1 Lamp
A whipped backstitch diagram
Whipped backstitch and whipped chain stitch
OUILTsocial | issue 21 17