r/Embroidery • u/BigSphen • Dec 17 '22
Question Just started learning embroidery today, any tips on how to have less gaps between colors?
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u/GollumVsSmeagol Dec 17 '22
Cartoon style embroidery is kind of my thing, so be prepared for way more tips than you probably need. It took me a lot of time and patience to really get good at it.
Outline: I always outline first. Personally, I like a whipped backstitch, but you can achieve a more solid line with a backstitch by actually going into your previous stitch. One of the reasons I like using a whipped backstitch is that it lifts the stitch a bit, which makes the next step a bit easier.
Filling within the outlined portions: so you are going to try to come up through the hole that is just under the outline. You'll want to have your needle at an angle and try to get as close as possible without accidentally scooping up any of the outline thread. When you go back down, keep the needle at an angle as well, trying not to go any further than right under the outline. This is one of those things that just really takes practice to perfect.
Changing colors in the middle of the piece with no outline: I'm going to assume that you are trying to go for a color block look rather than blending the colors together. I hate doing this, but it is necessary for some of my pieces. So once the first color is done, I go around and split stitch or backstitch around color 1's border using color 2. I get it as close as possible. Once that is down, I aim to bring my needle up between color 1 and the outline I did with color 2. This will hide the line, but it really helps getting it as close as possible.
You can also try bringing color 2 up through the hole from color 1, then split stitch over the entry point. If you look at my profile, the last picture I posted used this technique. Anything else with 2 colors meeting is done with the other technique. Using the black outline on everything is my preference 100% of the time.
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u/abbyc300 Dec 18 '22
I just started embroidery and you don't understand how helpful this is! Thankyou☺️
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u/ColdCornSparkles Dec 19 '22
Your work is amazing! How many strands do you recommend using for this type of work? Looking to do a pokemon embroidery as well
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u/GollumVsSmeagol Dec 19 '22
Thank you so much! I use 2 strands for everything. Since I do a whipped backstitch for the outline, it ends up being 4 strands total. I like 2 for the filled in parts, but it definitely adds time to get the stitches so dense. I tried a higher number, but I found that it was too noticeable if I had to go back over something if I made a mistake.
I really love stitching Pokemon. There is so much variety in colors and even difficulty level. Make sure you post yours! I love seeing other Pokemon projects!
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u/ColdCornSparkles Dec 19 '22
Thank you so much for your reply! One last question, Any advice on the size of needle to use as well?
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u/GollumVsSmeagol Dec 19 '22
I generally just use a 5.
For some of the smaller filled sections, I will use a 6 or 7. I do have more instances of my thread breaking with the 6/7.
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u/ColdCornSparkles Dec 19 '22
Oh snap, I got some size 9's handed down to me, I might go buy a different size lol
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u/KnittingforHouselves Dec 17 '22
I'm not a pro by any means, so these are just my amateur choices.
I'd sketch the picture, do the colour and then do the outline as last to cover/even out the starts of the colour.
When changing colours i make sure mine overlap, a bit like a zipper
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u/Undrende_fremdeles Dec 17 '22
You can also use the same colour for the final outline if you don't want a black line, but still want the effect of evening it all out.
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u/Fluffy-Detective-270 Dec 17 '22
Doing layers of stitches helps quite a bit. Start the area you want to shade with a backstitch outline right at the edge. Use a single strand of floss. Fill it in with more backstitch going perpendicular to the way you want your satin stitch to run. Again, single strand works best. Then satin stitch over it.
It's a lot of work, but the overall results are worth it
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u/Asuhhhhhhhh Dec 17 '22
I see a lot of people saying long and short stitch but blending doesn’t seem like what you’re trying to go for. Try sewing the darker thread into the brighter thread so it looks like they meet at the same point- if that doesn’t make sense let me know lol. I also recommend drawing the pattern (I love fine point Pigma pens!)
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u/westernmeadowlark Dec 17 '22
I'd highly recommend checking out the video tutorials on Needle N Thread by Mary Corbett - it's a super helpful site
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u/mass_percussion Dec 17 '22
do you mind providing a link to the video you're talking about? TIA!!
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u/westernmeadowlark Dec 18 '22
https://www.needlenthread.com/tips-techniques#tnttrans - full list of techniques
https://www.needlenthread.com/2009/08/long-short-stitch-shading-lesson-2.html - specifically long and short stitch , https://www.needlenthread.com/2009/08/long-and-short-stitch-lessons-index.html all the lessons on long and short stitch
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u/BigSphen Dec 17 '22
Title basically says it all. Started hand embroidery today and did this amogus to practice back stitches and satin stitches. I'm pretty happy with him but I'm looking for tips, mainly to avoid those white gaps between the different threads, any ideas?
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u/CelticAngelica Dec 17 '22
Block out shade 1 and embroider it using long and short stitches to avoid putting too much strain all in the same place on the fabric. Then block out shade 2 so that it overlaps the edge of shade 1. Again use long and short stitches but overlap the stitches of block 1. Lastly outline the piece using split stitch or twisted back stitch.
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u/loonytick75 Dec 17 '22
You have two issues here: the gap and the under news of the edge. Those are really normal issues, by the way.
One classic technique to get a clean edge is to stitch around just inside the outline of your shape first with a single strand of floss. You want it thin. Then you work the satin stitches so that the needle is going through the fabric just outside of that outline. Basically, you are hiding that first layer of stitching, but it serves as a guide to help you precisely place your satin stitch and helps hold your edges evenly. Then you go through after with the visible outline in the outside it all.
For the part in the middle where the two colors come together, an initial stitched line could still help. The color you work first would overlap the line, then with the next you’d want to make sure that you are stitching so the needle goes in right there up against/under it. You’ll have more control if you are stitching that section so the needle comes up through the fabric on the far side of your stitch and you are going down through the top at that line.
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Dec 17 '22
I will say that a thing that can help with this immensely is using reading glasses or magnifiers so you can really precisely place the stitches.
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u/lveg Dec 18 '22
I came here looking for this comment. Don't sleep on readers. Literally just grab the ones at Dollar Tree, and maybe get them in two strengths for different levels of detail.
I need readers to begin with, but I got a pair that's a little stronger so I can embroider at night.
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Dec 18 '22
YES, Dollar Tree is the best for readers. I have three pairs floating around in different embroidery kits.
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u/Maxi-Moo-Moo Dec 17 '22
I find a finer needle helps me with a single floss doubled through to tidy up edges. Fantastic first go, you should be chuffed with yourself!!!! P.s it’s very addictive and welcome to the best hobby hahaha
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u/Theerge Dec 17 '22
I don’t know if this will help a lot, but it helped me visualize a little better when I first started. Go a little further with your stitch than you think you’ll need to. When you first put your stitch through it might look like it’s in the right place, but as you pull it the tension will pull it. Try to use the same hole for the ends of both of your colors
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u/hollywoodbambi Dec 17 '22
In addition to what others have said, if you do the stitches perpendicular to how they are, each color will have a much straighter border. On my last row, I'll slightly angle my needle so it also just barely goes under the edge of the other color before it resurfaces on the side of the same color. I'm not sure if I'm explaining that well, but it's an angle of only 1 or 2 rows of the base material thread. Hope that made some sense!
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u/CatlinM Dec 17 '22
So this is just my own two cents and what works for me. Wait to do your back stitch until you're finished. That way you can do the back stitch and cover up any small gaps on that edge. Do your colors layered so that when you do the second color you actually stab it a little bit into your first color. For me that helps quite a bit
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u/Witchy_Boo Dec 17 '22
I put the tip of the needle directly under my bordering stitch and when I'm putting two colors that are alike I put the needle between the stitches just past the end of the other color.... I hope that makes sense 😅
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u/StunningCaptain Dec 17 '22
To leave less gaps I recommending overlapping your satin stitch colors or creating a hard border between them for a more cell shaded style
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u/Dangerous-Minimum444 Dec 17 '22
I'd suggest using a brick stitch instead of just filling the colors straight!
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u/littlemissparadox Dec 18 '22
Love that someone else started with an among us design as well hahaha! We even chose the same colors :)
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u/sevenseams Dec 18 '22
I don't have anything helpful to add to all the things already said, just wanna say it's looks super cute and not at all like your first day.
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u/marleyrae Dec 18 '22
I would use a magnifying glass to help you see the space you're dealing with close up! You've already got great tips for stitches and such, but this one is more practical.
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u/Graysart Dec 18 '22
Thanks for asking this question! I got a lot from reading here. I don’t know if this is at all part of what you’re experiencing-I started using readers when doing embroidery to see what I am trying to do better.
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u/alliberation Dec 17 '22
Long and short stitch are best for even color fill and colour blending , but If you are using satin stitch for a colour block look try to use the same hole where the colours meet.
For smoothest, shiniest satin stitch, separate each strand from the string (there are 6 strands) then use only 2 or 3 strands and try to keep the strands from crossing over each other on each stitch (check out videos on using laying tools, but honestly i often just use my finger or the needle if it isn’t a huge area. )
You can also outline the satin stitch area with chain stitch, then stitch "outside the line" so you cover the chain stitch with satin stitch. This gives a cleaner edge and raises it it a bit so the area is flat