Crafty: Easy needlework

It’s getting cold and rainy out there. Perfect weather for staying inside and doing a little embroidery. It’s not as hard as you think! Unlike some crafts (knitting, ceramics) where you could have bought a better looking finished product in a store for less money, embroidery is actually a good value.

Start by buying something to embroider. My favorites are pillowcases, fleece blankets and dish towels. You can also work on a holiday stocking, table runner or set of napkins. Next, sketch out your design. Keep it pretty simple. A set of initials and some flowers or snowflakes is good for beginners. Pick a simple stich that works for your design or just wing it. You can also incorporate some cute buttons into your design, cutting back on the amount of sewing required.

Now the fun part, go to a local craft store and buy embroidery floss for your project (It’s more fun than shopping for eye shadow and much cheaper). You’ll also need an embroidery loop and some needles. Sketch your design on the fabric using washable chalk and get started!