Embroidery hints?

[RachelJ]

Does anyone have any hints or tips for embroidering on knitted fabrics?? I managed chain stitch without a problem and got a little overconfident, now I'm struggling to make even sized stitches and french knots were a complete disaster. I'm using embroidery thread whole (i.e. without splitting into strands). I'm trying to create leaves and flowers similar to that pictured on the knitty pattern.

Any help appreciated!

[Knitted_Painting]

which leaves and flowers exactly are you talking about? I've also made some knucks and I've done the embroidering on the knuckels and now I'm embroidering some swirls with leaves on it. I'm just using chain stitch all over and it's working out pretty well for me. when I start a leaf I chain stitch the outlining first so I have the shape I want and then I work inwords so the whole leaf is filled in. All done in chain stitch aswell. It's only the first time I'm doing this aswell so I'm sorry but that's all the help I can give:(

[pamelamama]

I'll ask Elizabeth to come tutor, but I have a few tips:

1. use one or two strands of embroidery floss. I mean, split it, so you're working with just a couple of thin pieces. I used two strands. The whole piece of floss is too thick to get fine results.

2. make tiny stitches

3. to fatten things up, run rows of chain next to each other

4. I draw out a sketch before I begin, just on scrap paper, to have an idea of where I am going with it.

5. Use a sharp needle so you can pierce the knitted fabric; don't try to embroider in the holes between stitches, but work through the actual knitted fabric.

Elizabeth/knitinyourpantsmama is the expert though. I 'll show her this post!

[KnitInYourPantsMama]

Expert huh?
Well I'll give it a shot.
I embroidered my knucks with one strand of tapestry wool. The wool comes in 3 strands and you have to separate it.

I haven't tried embroidery floss. I would think you'd want a pretty tightly knit fabric for that. Is it slippery?

Anyway, yeah I use a LOT of chain stitch. Just try to keep them uniform but not perfect. Better too small than too big and likely to catch on nails, buttons, or whatever.

For the knots, I don't work true french knots but do chinese knots. I pull the yarn up, knot it once, then back thru. I think for the knucks I used 2 single strands of the tapestry wool for the Rowan berries.

For the leaves, I don't outline, but use a common embroidery technique that is cleverly called leaf stitch ;)
Anybody have a link to an embroidery how-to site? Why can't I find one? This is the closest I've found. It's really just this fly stitch stacked several together.
fly stitch video (http://www.anniesattic.com/stitches/embroidery/stitch_pages/emb_fly.html)

It's probably not a big deal on knucks, but for soakers I try to pick stitches that sit on top of the fabric and don't distort it. So, stay away from stitches that require you to pull the yarn thru the same hole over and over as that will not do well with knitting.

As luck would have it, I'm working on a wisteria item for the Midday Faire grand reopening next tuesday - and will be doing knots and leaves all night and most of the rest of the week lol. Surely I can take some pics.

[KnitInYourPantsMama]

ok way more information that you want here I'm sure.
first pic is me making a knot. I use the needle to snug it up against the knitting.

Then, there's a succession of photos showing a leaf. I've outlined the general leaf shape in red in the first. You just stack the fly stitches to make the leaf - as many as you want.

Thanks for the opportunity to provide a shameless sneak peek at the wisteria stump shorts I'm making ;)

http://knitinyourpants.com/fpdb/images/embroidery_technique_0012.JPG
http://knitinyourpants.com/fpdb/images/embroidery_technique_0007.JPG
http://knitinyourpants.com/fpdb/images/embroidery_technique_0006.JPG
http://knitinyourpants.com/fpdb/images/embroidery_technique_0005.JPG
http://knitinyourpants.com/fpdb/images/embroidery_technique_0004.JPG
http://knitinyourpants.com/fpdb/images/embroidery_technique_0002.JPG
http://knitinyourpants.com/fpdb/images/embroidery_technique_0001.JPG

[Knitted_Painting]

wow thank you so much Elizabeth! I will definatly be using that Leaf Stitch in my next projects:D I didn't even think of using embroidery floss I just used Sports Weight yarn dummie that I am lol I think it turned out alright though for my first ever serious embroidering:)

[KnitInYourPantsMama]

I use plain yarn for embroidery all the time. Just be sure it's not something that might bleed.
The knots in the pics are hand painted fishermans paired up with tapestry wools. There are no rules!

uh oh rowan likes the flying pig :pig

[Knitted_Painting]

Oh ok:D well I've posted the pictures of my finished Knucks in a seperate Thread if you want to see how I did:) I really like the idea of using 3 colours at the same time like you did in the pictures above aswell I've never thought of doing that!