:QUOTE [quotetype:personal] Eight stitches. The rest is just deciding where to put them. :INFO The Foundation Stitches of Hand Embroidery All embroidery — from simple folk patterns to complex shaded portraits — is built from a small set of fundamental stitches. The running stitch, backstitch, stem stitch, satin stitch, French knot, chain stitch, lazy daisy, and cross stitch cover 95% of patterns you will encounter. Learning each individually before combining them gives you the vocabulary to read any embroidery pattern and adapt it. :COUNTER.half 6 Strands | :COUNTER.half 4 to 6 Inch :PATH Set Up Hoop and Prepare Floss Stretch fabric tightly in hoop, separate floss strands, and thread needle. | :INFO Set Up Hoop and Prepare Floss Place fabric over the inner hoop ring, press the outer ring down over it, and tighten the screw until the fabric is drum tight. Cut 18 inches of floss — longer lengths tangle and fray. Separate the 6-strand floss into individual strands and regroup into 2 or 3 strands for most work (2 for fine detail, 3 for solid fills). :PATH Learn the Backstitch First Work the backstitch — the most versatile outline stitch in embroidery. | :INFO Learn the Backstitch First Bring the needle up through the fabric at point A. Insert it back down at point B (behind A, toward the start). Bring the needle up at point C (ahead of A). Insert back down at A. Repeat, always inserting the needle into the end of the previous stitch. This creates a solid, continuous line with no gaps — the cleanest outline stitch for lettering, borders, and design outlines. :PATH Practice the Satin Stitch Fill Work parallel stitches side by side to fill a shape completely. | :INFO Practice the Satin Stitch Fill Satin stitch fills a shape with parallel straight stitches placed immediately adjacent to each other. Keep all stitches at a consistent angle (typically 45 degrees from the outline). Work from the center of the shape outward in both directions to maintain symmetry. Pack stitches tightly — fabric should not show through the completed fill. :PATH Add French Knots for Texture Wind floss twice around the needle and insert adjacent to the entry point. | :INFO Add French Knots for Texture Bring the needle up at the knot position. Holding the thread taut with the non-dominant hand, wrap the floss twice around the needle shaft. Keeping the wraps taut, insert the needle back into the fabric immediately beside (not into) the entry hole. Pull the needle through slowly while holding the wraps in place until the knot seats against the fabric surface. :CHECKLIST Starter Kit [ ] Embroidery hoop — 4 to 6 inch [ ] Cotton or linen fabric — quilting cotton is ideal [ ] DMC 6-strand embroidery floss in 4 to 6 colors [ ] Embroidery needles — size 3 to 5 (size 1 is largest) [ ] Small scissors with sharp tip [ ] Water-soluble fabric pen for transferring designs :NOTE Thread Length Matters More Than You Think Threads longer than 18 inches fray and knot from constant pulling through the fabric. They also develop a twist that causes the stitches to look uneven. Cut shorter threads, thread more often, and your work will look dramatically better. Run the thread across a beeswax block before each new length to reduce friction and knotting. :QUOTE [quotetype:personal] Every design that has ever been embroidered started exactly where you are starting. :LINK https://www.sublimestitching.com/blogs/news/beginner-embroidery-tutorial Sublime Stitching — Complete Beginner Embroidery Tutorial