• Vintage patterns, such as samplers
• Initials or names
• Samplers for a baby's birth or for a wedding
• Teddy-bears
• Bible verses or inspirational quotes
• "Home Sweet Home" designs

Factors to Consider Before Buying or Starting on Embroidery

Before buying an embroidery project, you should consider a few factors.

• What is the size of the embroidery project you wish to complete? If it is your first embroidery project, you are best starting with a small project.
• Do you want to purchase an embroidery kit, or would you prefer to find a pattern and buy the items separately?
• Do you need instructions for learning how to completely embroidery? Can you follow craft instructions when they are written down, or will you need classes or a friend to help you learn?
• Do you want something that can be framed or hanged, or would you prefer a more useful object, like a towel?

Once you have chosen your embroidery project, you should do the following steps before you start:

• Read all the instructions carefully. Get help if you are unsure about any points.
• Have a trial run on a scrap piece of fabric.
• Organize all your colors and threads. Label them if appropriate.

Types of Embroidery Techniques

There are many different types of embroidery techniques. Here are some of the most popular types.

• Crewel embroidery - This is a type of surface embroidery using wool applied to fabric.
• Cross-stitch - Cross-stitch is completed by using small cross-shaped stitches applied into the fabric.
• Tapestry - Tapestry is generally a half-stitch which is applied into the fabric.
• Long-stitch - Long-stitch uses long stitches to cover different patterns. Usually, it is applied into the fabric.

Top Tips for Embroidery

Once you have gotten the basic idea of embroidery, you can really have some fun in creating new and interesting projects. Consider these tips for embroidery fun:

• Think about embroidering clothes and linen.
• Embroidered fabrics can be incorporated or pasted onto boxes, coasters and other household objects.
• Get help with framing or consider a framing class to ensure your project looks great when it is finished.
• Keep everything organized - particularly threads.
• Keep your embroidery in a safe place.
• Start with small projects and move onto larger projects.
• Allow plenty of time for projects that need to be completed before a set date - such as a wedding, a baby's birth or Christmas.
• Try creating your own custom embroidery designs by using embroidery software.
• Look on the internet for free embroidery designs that can be completed quickly.