Meet Brazilian Embroidery: What You Need to Get Started
Note: I am a hobbyist who loves arts and crafts! I wrote this post as a brief intro for fellow novices - if you’re intrigued, I encourage you to dig deeper! My sources are listed here to help you get started.
Welcome back, fellow crafty explorers! In my last 2 posts, you had a chance to learn about the dimensional wonderland that is Brazilian embroidery. Now it’s time to dive in, and start stitching!
Brazilian Embroidery Starter Supplies
It’s easy to love a craft that’s light on supplies… and your wallet! Here’s what you need to get started:
Trigger cloth (a.k.a. blazer poplin) - Or other close weave fabric
Water soluble marker - Fine point, for marking your pattern on the cloth
Pattern - Or design your own!
High sheen threads - Traditionally Z-twist rayon
Milliners (a.k.a. straw) needles - Where the eye is the same width as the shaft, and the shaft itself is slightly longer for cast-on stitching
Hoops or stretcher bars
Sharp scissors
Optional extras include:
Needle pullers - Or needle nose pliers with duct taped ends (to prevent scratching your needle)
Fabric stiffener - To help shape and hold your dimensional elements
Thread straighteners - For threads that work best with pre-stretching
Thread storage - Such as plastic thread storage sheets
I made it extra easy on myself by ordering a kit. If you’re a beginner like me, it’s a great place to start.
The kit I’ve just completed is “English Rose & Hummingbirds” by the inimitable EdMar Co. I bought it through Etsy, but you can find this kit and many more like it around the web. I’m listing a handful of helpful sites below for tracking down YOUR next Brazilian embroidery adventure!
Brazilian Embroidery Kits & Patterns:
EdMar Company (under “Designs”)
Coming Up - look for my next post on Common Mistakes in Brazilian embroidery… many of which I made myself, so you won’t have to!
One woman’s musings on whether this touchy-feely craft is worth a look