For Lindsey

I'm just going to throw a few things together and hope that they will help demonstrate some things I learned and others I figured out on my own.  Maybe we can get together over Thanksgiving break and make something together, which is probably the better way to learn anything.  :)

So first, I find something that inspires me.  Some idea that I might copy as a gift for someone.  Here's a few that I have stumbled across and either pretty much copied altogether or simplified to my own capabilities.

Heart ornaments from an Etsy page

So these little red and white heart ornaments are pretty simple.  I can tell she  had to have cut out 3 hearts, 2 in red and 1 in white slightly smaller than the red ones. First she probably stitched the ribbon loop onto what will be the inside of one of the red hearts.  Then she layered the hearts together: plain red heart, then red heart with ribbon loop, and last the white heart.  Holding all of that together with one stick pin, she did the red straight stitch you can see tie it all together.


Here's a link to a video demonstrating the straight stitch, also known as a running stitch, which you probably already know it but we'll humor each other.  :)  I think she does a pretty job demonstrating the straight stitch, plus a good tie-off technique.  ALSO, here's a blog entry that details a variety of line stitches, most of which I haven't practiced myself, so I am glad I am creating this little compilation of tips for you!  Click here for more basic embroidery line stitches...

So that gets a basic concept down.  Next you'll start thinking about layered ideas, different colors, and use the straight stitch for effect.  You can use it to secure the layers of felt together or use it as a freehand design.  Here are a few images I have found that demonstrate fun use of the simple straight stitch.

Great tutorial!
	Another tutorial!

So those are some straight stitch ideas.  Let's move on to what I call a loop stitch, which can add more interest, disguise, texture, etc. I use it a lot when I am layering some felt pieces and want to "close" the layers, especially if I stuffed it with polyfil.  Some people use what is called a buttonhole or blanket stitch. I realize now what I have been doing is the blanket stitch but without staying in the "loop," or some seem to call it a "whip" stitch.  Here's a blog entry by someone showing a variety of uses and forms of the buttonhole stitch. And here's a youtube video demonstrating the blanket stitch.

 Here's some images of felt projects that use the blanket stitch in a variety of ways, but usually as an edging between at least two layers of felt.

As a contrasting color edging, this looks like that whip stitch...	As an invisible edging... (also, that white embroidery is just straight/running stitches)	Blanket stitch on the outside edge to enclose the whole little project since it is stuffed with polyfil. Also uses the whip stitch around the eyes.
This is an EXCELLENT tutorial on how to do the blanket stitch. It is the one I learned from.	Another example of blanket stitch edging.	Four layers of blanket-stitching... Pretty

The next thing to show is french knots!  I love them and once I got the hang of them I started using them in everything 'cause they are relatively easy and add some interest and texture.  Here's a youtube video demonstrating how to do french knots. I'm pretty sure this is the video I first watched.  The needle doesn't have to be as she described, but I guess depending on other needs it might be better.  I've made knots with three loops instead of just the two that she describes, which means the french knot will be a little bigger.  Practice on something with number of loops to see the effect.  Plus, the thicker the thread, the bigger the knot will appear.

Also, this woman has a number of VERY well done demonstration videos that I haven't look through entirely, but she seems to be the most articulate and better filmed than any others. plenty of other videos and stitches to learn!  http://www.youtube.com/user/MaryCorbet 
Her videos can also be watched from her blog, and she's got them organized: How-to Videos by Mary Corbet

Examples of the french knot used in some of the felt freehand embroidery I have liked and tried copying...

French knots used to create floral embroidery	French knots in a circle	Yellow french knots
Just little dots of interest	French knots to make hearts	French knots in the big flowers to hold down the little blue circles down and french knots for the tiny flowers at the bottom. All other stitches are straight line stitches strategically patterned.

So this is a huge collection of ideas, images, links, videos...I hope they helped!