Embroidery 101: Using Texture Embroidery Project

Use texture to transform your embroidery from plain to powerful. There are a number of interesting techniques to add punch to basic stock embroidery. They run the gamut from couching, crinkling, stippling, pleating and beading to outline quilting.

Which technique is right for what project? Consider the fabric it’s stitched on and the intended use of the item, when selecting a texturing technique.

Novelty yarns or threads can add an interesting element to embroidery. Couching over the yarns with monofilament thread gives the illusion of floating threads and lets the embroidery remain center stage. It also moves the eye across the embroidered area, element to element. A quick fix, it can really jazz up a plain garment.

	Figure 1: While labor intensive, crinkling can add another dimension to complement your embroidery.

Crinkling (figure 1) can be a labor intensive technique but one that is often worth the effort. Crinkling adds dimension to an embroidered area without additional color or pattern. It can help tie different elements of a project together for a more unified look. Like crinkling, pleating adds dimension to an embroidered area without additional color. But it also adds pattern. Sometimes the addition of vertical or horizontal lines is desirable. In the small wall hanging, If the Soap’s Not Wet (figure 2), the vertical lines act as paneling on the wall.

	Figure 2: Pleating is another way to add dimension to your embroidery without complicating your embroidery.

Stippling is one of my favorite texturizing methods. Not only do I like the look of stippling coupled with embroidery, but I enjoy the process of stippling. Stippling is one technique that can be applied after the embroidery is complete. Many times, stippling comes to the rescue of mediocre results. Stippling is also a terrific remedy for puckered embroidery projects. If you can press it flat, you can stipple it flat. After the fish were embroidered on the dress in figure 3, they could have swam right off the waves in the fabric (‘pucker’ is putting it lightly). But after appliquéing the embroidered strip to the dress, I stippled the entire area. It added great dimension and texture to the ‘puckered’ strip. Now it lays flat according to plan.

	Figure 3: In addition to adding depth, stippling can help solve puckering problems with your embroidery.

Outline quilting, similar to the stitching surrounding the text in figure 2, is another technique that can be applied after the embroidery is complete. On a quilt, it can help the embroidery “pop” off the surface. It creates a small raised field much like trapunto. It is very desirable in quilts, children’s clothing and many home décor items.

	Figure 4: Outline quilting can help your embroidery pop off the fabric.

Beading is a technique that draws a second glance and oohhs and aahhs (figure 4). Subtly performed, it gives the viewer a rare treat of added color, glint and dimension. Because it is labor intensive, it’s usually reserved for specialty items such as bridal gowns and evening wear.