The embroidery world is changing! I have been sewing embroidery professionally for over 10 years. Over this decade, I have seen many embroidery trends come and go. Today, I am going to share one my favorite embroidery techniques with you - embossed embroidery. In this post, I am going to show you how to elevate your embroidery style and create elegant embroidered pieces for very little cost. As a bonus, I am including one of my embossed letter designs for FREE for you to download and try your hand at this beautiful technique.
What is Embossed Embroidery?
Embossed embroidery is a style of embroidery stitched on a medium to high-pile or plush fabric where the stitching is designed to allow the pile of the fabric to peek through negative space, creating a three-dimensional look to your design. I find this style to be simple and elegant. Also, since the designs include a lot for negative space and very little density, they do not take long to sew. For those of you who sell your embroidered work - these types of designs are ideal, since you can sew many pieces in a very short amount of time.
What Do I Need to Sew An Embossed Design?
Today, I will be sewing on hand towels. You can find good quality hand towels at Target, Walmart, or Amazon for few dollars each. My favorite towels to embroider are the Threshold Performance Towels from Target linked here. They are very high quality and come in a variety of colors. A set of hand towels makes a beautiful, personalized gift that will be enjoyed for years to come.
Choose Your Materials
I prefer solid color terry cloth for embossed designs, but you could choose any medium to high-pile fabric. When choosing a thread color, you could choose a thread that matches your fabric for a subdued, tonal look. White on white is crisp, classic, and elegant. Or, choose a contrasting thread for a bit of a pop.
Download Your FREE Design
Below, I am including my Embossed Letter "A" Single Initial Monogram Embroidery Design for you to download and try for FREE. I did a quick Google search for the most popular letters for first names, and the letter "A" was the winner.
Download your FREE file here:
Here is a video of how the design will stitch:
I used a blackwork stitch for the background. Blackwork embroidery is a technique that uses two types of stitches to create repeating patterns that fill shapes. This technique was popularized by Catherine of Aragon, first wife of King Henry VIII, during the Tudor Period in England. Catherine brought blackwork embroidered clothing with her from Spain. The technique likely originated in Northern Africa, and brought to Spain by the Moors. This technique is not only beautiful, but has an elegant history.
I have individual embossed letters are available for purchase here for just $1 each. Or, you can purchase the entire alphabet here for $4.99.
Load the Design onto Your Embroidery Machine
Once you download your design, save the design on a USB to load onto your embroidery machine.
Mark Your Center and Hoop Your Fabric
I used a disappearing ink marking pen to mark the center of my towel. You won't need any water-soluble topping for this project, since the beauty of the technique comes from the pile of the fabric peeking through the stitching. Simply hoop your towel using one sheet of tear-away backing and you are ready to sew.
Now, I am going to show you four ways that you can stitch this design.
1. White on White
White on white is elegant and makes a beautiful gift. It's the perfect choice for a bridal shower.
2. Tonal to Match Your Fabric
Choosing a thread color to match the color of your towel is another elegant and classic choice. You can also choose a similar color within the same tonal range as your towel, but a slightly different shade. This will make your design slightly more noticeable, but still creates a sophisticated, classic look. Here I have chosen a silver thread to pair with this taupe towel.
3. A Pop of Color
Choose a contrasting color to make the design pop. I chose a mix of colors for a fun look. I selected three pastels to create this look for my daughter's bathroom. This design is set up in three sections - the background knockdown stitch, the satin stitch around the letter, and the satin stitch around the quatrefoil. Simply stop your embroidery machine when it finishes sewing each of the three sections and change your thread color.
I hope you enjoyed learning about one of my favorite embroidery techniques.
Happy stitching!
Beth
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