Embroidery Everywhere: How to Embellish Your Life with Stitches
- Jan 15
- 4 min read
Before the dawn of fast fashion and all the economic and environmental havoc that it has caused in the 100 plus years that followed, one of the main ways to add visual interest to clothing was through embroidery. Sure, fabric has a long history of being woven with multi-colored threads, or dyed with certain techniques to have colour changes that create patterns, but it has been embroidery that has created fine details and textures on garments.
Cuffs and collars, edges of skirts and shirts, aprons and belts, even undergarments have had hand stitched embellishments added to them throughout time and place. The desire to make clothing unique and interesting has been a creative outlet for many historic stitchers, a drive that continues, despite the oppressive nature of fast fashion.
These days, hand stitched accents can still be seen on clothing, you just have to look for it. A fleece vest that I saw a fellow needle workers guild member wear has a white thread pattern, created from a simple running stitch, weaving its floral way up one side, around the back of her neck, and down the other. Sashiko, the technique is simple, but effective, against the dark blue of the fleece.
A woman that I observe on the train wears a long coat, but her shirt peeks past the hem. A traditional looking garb, with a thick repeating pattern of white flowers and leaves edges the hem of that shirt.
In my own closet I have several examples of visible mends that I have made. Finding inspiration in the chain stitch, I made use of colored perel cotton to make spirals and flowers over the frequent small holes my cats have made in t-shirts as they crawl over and away from my shows of affection.
Domestic situations have also historically been a place where embroidery has found a place to shine. Historic examples of embroidery have survived in museums and private textile collections. These artifacts have been as large as the famous Bayeux Tapestry, used to warm the uninsulated stone walls of castles, to smaller functional objects like cloth covered boxes, or caskets that featured elaborate stump work. Used for storage of precious personal items, these caskets showcased the skills of the stitcher.
Today, the desire to decorate our personal spaces has survived on a smaller scale. Cushions can be worked with wool or cotton threads to make covers like this huck stitched pillow, to add a feminine flare to aprons, mending a burned spot on a pot holder, like this patchworked one I have mended over and over again with cloth straps and herringbone stitch.
Stitchers have been, and continue to be, on the lookout for where they can put their creative flair, in every aspect of their lives. Tote bags are an opportunity for me to add a few or many elements to the exterior, like this boro inspired patchwork bag. Eyeglass cases can be a quick and functional project that scratch the crafter’s itch, and offer a highly functional item in the end. This kugurizashi sashiko made strap keychain is a visual, daily reminder of who I am, a stitcher, a creator, in trying periods of my day when I may feel overwhelmed with the daily grind.
The tools of the trade are another opportunity for stitchers to strut their stuff. Why buy sewing supply storage items when you can make them yourself?
Like the stitchers of olde, needle books, like this cosmic creepers one I made with running stitch and chain stitch accents, are great for keeping your needles from rolling off to who knows where. On a smaller scale, needle keeps are great for the single current needle that you have to put down as you pause to have a sip of tea, like this shirt lace button/bottle cap keep, where I embroidered small flowers over the surface.
A must for all stitchers, scissors, can have very sharp, pointed blades. To protect the point of these snips, custom scissor cases can be made. Thick felt and a coarse thread can make a simple or complex design, and will forever save the sharp points from dulling, or worse, stabbing a hole through your current project, through accidental bad packing.
Pincushions are great ways to use up small panels of decorative stitching. The Biscornu pincushion is a nice way to use 2 small pieces of embroidery. Sewn offset from each other, I was able to use up two bits of remnant sashiko in this stylish project, accented with two small thread covered buttons.
Small drawstring project bags always come in handy and look even better with a bit of stitching to show off your skills while you work on the project it contains. This small project bag uses kugurizashi sashiko as the main design.
But why only make things for yourself? Gifts are more memorable if they are hand made. While not traditionally meant to be Christmas tree ornaments, this tamari ball makes a nice addition to the seasonal evergreen. Side by side with this needle tatted line of lace skulls, placed on a black Christmas ball, the two make great themed gifts for those with special interests.
While commonly not thought of as embroidery, crochet, the art of making solid objects out chains of stitches, are great for manufacturing baby blankets. What would be better than a gift, hooked with love from a granny to her grandchild, like this granny square blanket that my own Gran made for me an eon ago.
Embroidery has helped me extend the life of loved sweaters, t-shirts, stretch pants and jeans. A weak spot, or plain old hole, has numerous times been a chance to add personality to my wardrobe. A swirl of chain stitch here, a splash of satin stitches there and I have won several more months of wear out of that pair of jeans. Fast fashion be damned! My skills as an embroiderer have taught me to slow down; to cherish the things I already own and make the most of them, one beautiful stitch at a time.
