Embroidered bed linens add a pretty touch to a bed. Ellie Schneider of Offray Ribbon Company gives Cindy Piccoli, host of HGTV's Decorating With Style, a quick lesson in ribbon embroidery as she demonstrates simple embroidery stitches used to embellish a pillowcase. Materials:
Wide white ribbon as background
Narrow embroidery ribbon in desired colors
Scissors
Embroidery needle or chenille needle
Small embroidery hoop
Optional: wool fabric to cover the inner embroidery hoop
- Cut a 6" to 12" length of embroidery ribbon, and thread it onto an embroidery needle. The eye of the needle must be flat and wide so the ribbon isn't crushed. To lock the ribbon onto the needle, pierce it with the point of the needle 3/8" from the end, then pull the ribbon tight to knot it on the needle.
- Put a length of wide white ribbon into a small embroidery hoop. If desired, add a layer of wool fabric to the inner hoop to keep the ribbon from slipping.
- Knot the embroidery ribbon at the end. To make a French knot, bring the needle up through the white ribbon and pull snug. Wrap the ribbon around the tip of the needle twice (figure A), then insert the needle in the white ribbon close to where it came out (figure B). Pull the ribbon snug to form a small French knot.
- Chain stitch can be used for many types of flower designs, including lazy daisy. Bring the needle up through the white ribbon and pull snug. Insert the needle close to where it came out, then bring the needle up through the ribbon again in a small stitch. Wrap the embroidery ribbon around the point of the needle, hold it in place, and tighten to form a small chain with the ribbon coming out the end (figure C). Insert the needle close to the top of the stitch to anchor it in place (figure D), and pull the ribbon snug.
- Use chain stitch to make chain-stitch rows. Create a small rosette by making a French knot and circling it with chain-stitch rows.
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