Are you new to the world of embroidery? Here are my favorite products that I consistently use with every pattern I stitch.
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- iNee Pens! While a regular soluble marking pen is great for most projects, it won’t work for fine lines. When it comes to fine lines such as tracing eyes or hair, you will need a fine-tipped pen(s). I like the pens from iNee (see them here). They come in 5 different colors and they come with ink refills. When I ordered them I wasn’t sure they would work well because the reviews said the ink doesn’t rinse well, but I’ve learned you have to soak the finished in warm water to get the ink out. I haven’t had one project stay stained with the ink, it washes out with proper soaking and the tips are amazing to work with. The tips glide across the fabric smoothly without pulling or stretching the fabric, and the ink transfers easily.
- 2. Heat-erase pens to mark on dark fabric. Dritz makes a nice one that you can run your iron over and the lines will erase once you are done with your project. Just a word of caution; do not leave your projects in a hot car!
- Fabric matters! As much as I’d like to send you to an online source to buy good fabric, I’m going to tell you to get up off the couch and go down to your local fabric store. Read the labels there and FEEL the fabric. Buy what feels best for you and your wallet. I purchase white, or ecru-colored fabric used for my pieces because they later get turned into quilts. I then cut the fabric into either 8.5′ x 8.5″ squares or 6.5″ x 6.5″ squares all at once. That way I’m not constantly cutting a square every time I need one. I’d rather get it all done at once and have them ready for when I feel like stitching. You can store the fabric pieces in gallon-size bags for quick use.
- Floss matters too! Buy the type of floss that is sold near you. There’s nothing worse than running out of a color and having to wait 10 weeks to get a new skein of the color you need. I use DMC floss because I can purchase it everywhere near me and because I can purchase it on Amazon if I can’t find the color that I need. For me DMC floss works best for how I stitch, it also doesn’t tear or tangle easily.
- Hoops are as individual as the stitcher themselves, buy what works best for you. I have several different kinds of hoops, wood, plastic, and a few sizes of each type. All are inexpensive. I’ve found that the hoops by Frank A. Edmunds work best for me, in the smallest size they carry. I’d rather move my hoop several times than have on gigantic hoop that never needs moving. Small hoops are easier for my hands to hold, plus they are portable.
- A lightbox is an absolute must for me. I found a cheap one on Amazon that is now about 7 years old and still working great! (check it out here) The lightbox can dim, is portable, and uses a USB cord that you can use to plug into any USB outlet either at home or on the go. The light box has a ruler on two sides of the box, and you can tape your work directly to the box so it won’t move while you are working.
- I know this sounds weird, but tape is an absolute must for me. I use it to tape my patterns onto the lightbox and for taping my fabric down onto the lightbox so nothing will shift. I’ve found that an actual tape dispenser works best, as well as the real Scotch tape brand. I’ve used knock-off brands before and they don’t work as well because they tend to pull the threads on my fabric, they also are too sticky and leave residue on my lightbox board.
- Embroidery scissors are a must! They seem extravagant, but the blades are different than your kitchen shears, or the scissors that you use to cut paper. The blades will cut threads close to your work so that you don’t have a big thread mess in the back of your work. These scissors are super cute and come with a protective cover so you can put them in the bag with your work and carry them with you. I have owned this brand for several years and they still look and work great.
- Speaking of scissors… Get yourself a good pair of fabric scissors! I have owned Gingher’s for about 35 years and not once have I had to get them repaired or even sharpened. They are amazing! They keep their edge as long as you never cut anything but fabric with them.
- Thread organizer boxes are a must! There are all kinds of different types out there but I own simple boxes that didn’t cost a lot of money (here are mine). Any type of thread organizer box will work, just find the ones that work with your budget.
