What is it and step-by-step "how to" ...

Photo Stitch is a technique of machine embroidery that could be called Impressionistic Stitching. It’s often used for digitizing work of arts but could be used for almost any embroidery project.

This technique uses very densely placed stitches, always overlapping each other. When completed, it gives you an impressionistic effect and the effect is even more stunning when you look at it from a distance.The colours are embroidered in layers, colour after colour and usually go from lightest to the darkest.

It is very important to follow the order of colours because once you miss one; the total effect is ruined, as it is impossible to return to it. It takes much more time to do Photo Stitch than your standard embroidery of the same size as the stitching is very dense. For bigger projects it takes hours.

However there is good news – it doesn’t have to be completed in the one go. You can stop your machine, write down the colour and number of stitches already embroidered, switch off your machine and come back at any time. If your machine doesn’t have a stitch counter, just finish the colour and write down the one you have just completed. After that, your machine can be switched off until another embroidery session.

Photo Stitch is not a technique that can be used on any fabric. All knits are out of the question. Only woven fabrics are suitable – even organza (given that you use a good stabilizer).

For our projects we use linen, homespun, silk, denim and other similar fabrics.

For those of you who don’t know and haven’t used this technique before, here is a short lesson on how to start - with a few free designs to download and ideas of projects you can try yourself.

Ok, here we go! Click on your format to download the design to your computer:

. HUS          .JEF        .PEC        .PES        .VIP

Click to download one of the following embroidery files in your format and save it to an original card, floppy disc or CD (whatever your machine takes – my Brother Galaxy takes both Brother Cards and Floppy discs).

Switch on your machine and find your pattern.Your screen should look similar to mine.

I have all the information about the design on the screen.

The size of design is 10.4 cm high, 11.1 cm wide, 43,368 stitches, 10 colours and it takes 82 minutes to complete this design on my machine. Depending on the speed of your machine it might take longer or shorter.The screen also shows me which hoop I should use.

I used Schmetz  EMBROIDERY NEEDLE 90/14 , Xuanli 100 % Polyester Embroidery thread (#40)  and KING STAR bobbin thread. Fabric – calico.To stabilize the fabric I used MEDIUM WEIGHT Paper based iron-on and I added a piece of Tear Away but I did not hooped it, just slid it under the hoop before the stitching started.

Attach the hoop to your machine, thread the machine with the first colour and start stitching.After the first colour your embroidery should look like this:

Now, something I didn’t mention before. There will be some jump stitches after every colour and if we want a beautiful final effect we have to trim them after each colour, either using HOOP SCISSORS or by de-attaching the hoop and trimming them with any other embroidery scissors. Don’t cut the jump stitches on the wrong side of the design – the reason being is that these jump stitches keep your work from fraying.To make these jump stitches easier for you to see, I have drawn the black lines along some of them.

The photo below shows the jump stitches trimmed after the first colour is completed:

Again, jump stitches are to be trimmed, and below is a photo of the second colour completed:

Looks nicer, doesn’t it?

3rd colour below:

I didn’t have to mark these jump stitches here; you can see the aqua jumps. Let’s trim them too:

Ready for the next colour?

  Trimmed!

Next colour finished and jump stitches trimmed:

Next colour:

Can you see the jump stitches on the one above?

The same colour but trimmed:

 

Next colour completed and trimmed:

Now the jump stitches are really visible:

 

Trimmed!

 

Let's do the last colour:

And the final effect, awsome isn't it ?

 

Detach the hoop from your machine, get rid of any unwanted stabilizer, press your design and it’s ready to frame

 

 

The Photo Stitch technique we have just finished is called Colour Photo-Stitch.

But there is one more technique called  Mono- or One colour Photo Stitch.

If you want to try these too, start with downloading the following file as you did with the previous one. Choose your format and save to either card, floppy or CD.

.HUS     .JEF     .PEC     .PES     .VIP

Switch on your machine, find the design, prepare the fabric, hoop it, attach to your machine and start sewing.

This design is 12.4 cm high, 13,2 wide,  24,764 stitches, one colour.

After your machine has finished stitching the design, trim all jump stitches

If you have already fallen in love with this technique and are having fun, try more of our free designs.

Available from this page .