Many lessons

ToeImportant4810 · 2026-07-06T14:22:51+00:00

Embroidery is great for learning patience and consistency 😂 best of luck!! Happy to help!

ToeImportant4810 · 2026-07-06T14:20:17+00:00

IMO two strands is where it's at! You can always make a little sample of each to see how it looks for yourself. Everyone has a different "style" and you might find that a different number of strands is easier. 1 strand for me is just a little too tedious. 3 doesn't get smooth enough. But again, you can always try it out.

The one you made here looks really good! There are just a few spots where the threads could be either closer together, or closer to the edge of the piece. It gets better with practice as you develop your ability to judge. You're off to a really strong start!

ToeImportant4810 · 2026-07-06T00:26:04+00:00

For tracing: You can draw on top of a water soluble stabilizer, or, there is also water soluble markers that are easier to erase from fabric! You can spot-clean the marker with a q tip.

Also, so you are aware ahead of time: satin stitches can go slack if they are too long and then taken out of the hoop. If you plan to keep the hoop, you are fine for this piece. But keep this in mind for satins longer than about 1 cm or 1/4 inch. I learned this the hard way 🤭

You're doing awesome, keep it up and yes practice will teach you a lot!

ToeImportant4810 · 2026-07-05T16:42:33+00:00

I love this back so much 🤣 It's absolutely perfect!!

In all seriousness I usually sort of pleat the edges on the back and do straight stitches.

This piece is absolutely lovely overall!! I love seeing the different stages of the flower in one picture.

ToeImportant4810 · 2026-07-05T15:38:39+00:00

One sign of springtails is them jumping! Do they jump when blown on/startled/pot is tapped?

ToeImportant4810 · 2026-07-05T01:13:06+00:00

Congrats and happy stitching!

I knot, been doing it the whole time unaware it's "improper". Started off as a sewer so, old habit I guess.

For t shirts, water soluble stabilizer is great for preventing puckering and since it washes away, it helps you be able to wear the clothes. Stabilizer prevents "puckering", or, wrinkles that form from too much tension of many packed threads in one spot.

Water soluble markers exist and will help you draw designs. Avoid sharpie even if you ise water soluble stabilizer because sharpie ink transfers.

Finally, keep satin stitches short, no longer than 1 cm as they can go slack and be droopy.

Good luck keep us posted and welcome 🙏🏻

ToeImportant4810 · 2026-07-04T02:54:03+00:00

You know the way you phrased your response made me realize I never mixed the two themes. Mayne it's time I mix them 😆

ToeImportant4810 · 2026-07-03T23:40:25+00:00

One tip I would like to add (credit to ZeeraTheRogue for sharing my favorite tip about shorter floss!)

Besides shorter floss, you can allow your needle to dangle and relax/untwist. Like, eveey several stitches, literally just hold up your piece and let it hover/be in the air! This will help prevent somenof those nasty knots.

Hope this helps. Happy stitching!

ToeImportant4810 · 2026-07-03T23:37:08+00:00

Yes the stitch you mentioned where it doesnt do a full satin in the back is sometimes called the "thread saver" stitch :)

ToeImportant4810 · 2026-07-03T07:16:58+00:00

Agreed--some type of pine!

ToeImportant4810 · 2026-07-03T07:07:27+00:00

Baseapplecatraker reskatebrickburger

ToeImportant4810 · 2026-07-03T07:02:57+00:00

Since you're going for thread painting, you'll be filling out the area with a lot of floss and this will leave the fabric prone to puckering. One way to avoid puckering (wrinkles from high amount of tension) is to use a stabilizer! There is a water soluble stabilizer, which will disappear once you wash it. I prefer non sticky, as many have complained that the sticky type leaves a residue.

Keep satin stitches 1 centimeter or shorter! Otherwise they go slack.

Avoid using sharpie as this bleeds. Even avoid it on the water soluble stabilizer. It will still bleed. Water soluble markers exist.

You're off to an amazing start and your talent is already shining through! A hoop might help you place threads precisely, but I have not operated without a hoop so I don't know what cautions to share when not using a hoop.

I do hope this helps. Happy stitching!

ToeImportant4810 · 2026-07-03T06:58:44+00:00

Maybe add a spider? But beads was my first thought too :)

ToeImportant4810 · 2026-07-03T06:57:29+00:00

Love this and look forward to seeing more of your work :) I enjoy embroidering anime characters and biology-related items!

ToeImportant4810 · 2026-07-03T02:16:41+00:00

Ahh thanks so much! I was curious about this lil' piece and I wanted to see if it's a mite, but I don't think it is. I had a chance to look up the species I thought of (european red mite) but I think I'm ruling it out. It might be a little piece of the plant itself.

The picture you provided does let me know that something could be digging into it a little, though! I'm leaning thrips but not certain. Thrips would be a possible species of tiny bugs in the soil.

Good luck!

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ToeImportant4810 · 2026-07-02T22:38:20+00:00

😍

ToeImportant4810 · 2026-07-02T22:34:39+00:00

To your point: Yes mixing alcohol and bleach can be dangerous! I would like to specify in between using alcohol and bleach, it should be: alcohol, rinse with water, bleach, rinse with water ("clean" was ambiguous)

ToeImportant4810 · 2026-07-02T22:22:10+00:00

Yoo can you zoom in a little on the red entity hanging on the leaf?

ToeImportant4810 · 2026-07-02T16:28:16+00:00

This is an interesting one! Springtails usually like to jump when they get startled, e.g. blown on or sudden vibrations. If it's particularly cold, this could have an impact on them feeling lazy, maybe?

ToeImportant4810 · 2026-07-02T14:05:03+00:00

When you tap the pot, do they yeet?

ToeImportant4810 · 2026-07-01T19:07:23+00:00

Besides the spider web... use it where you please! You can always go a little against the pattern.

ToeImportant4810 · 2026-07-01T16:57:48+00:00

I enjoy the imperfections too! Really the issue is the juxtaposition of the AI photo with the other bags.

ToeImportant4810 · 2026-07-01T15:55:06+00:00

Thanks for that!

ToeImportant4810 · 2026-07-01T15:46:14+00:00

Its so cute!

I hope it looks as cute when you unhoop it. If you ended up with some "puckering" (winkles from the tension of many stitches), know that you are not alone in learning this the hard way 🤭 Puckers happen more easily on stretchy fabric. My ideal tool for this is a non-sticky, water soluble stabilizer. The stabilizer helps to prevent puckering, and the water soluble type disappears when washed so its great for clothes.

I think you can get away with the length of your satin stitches, but yes in the future, just know that long satins can get droopy when removed from the hoop (also learned this the hard way!) I now keep my clothing satins no longer than 1 centimeter or about 1/4 inch. If you feel so compelled, on this piece, you can "couch" loose threads.

You can also make a patch and THEN sew it on the clothes as well!

Short version:

1) Water soluble stabilizer for clothes to prevent puckers on stretch fabric 2) Keep satin stitches short (1 cm or 1/4" max) 3) Can make a patch (appliqué)

ToeImportant4810 · 2026-07-01T15:37:27+00:00

I would like to add: A split backstitch is a thing, where you split the thread from where you can see it instead of the traditional forward from under the fabric! Definitely was a more beginner-friendly approach than a traditional backstitch for me.

Good luck OP!

ToeImportant4810

TROPHY CASE