How to Embroider a Letter With Yarn

Yarn can be used in embroidery to create letters, monograms and other designs.

Embroidery is an artful way to embellish gifts and personalize items in your home. Embroidering letters onto handkerchiefs, hand towels, kitchen towels and other linens can transform plain cloth into a decorative treasure. Fine yarn, such as the type used in crewel needlework, can be used in place of silky embroidery thread. Using yarn to embroider a letter will give your stitches a raised texture, as the yarn will stand out from your fabric.

Things You'll Need

• Embroidery hoop
• Embroidery needle
• 2-ply wool yarn
• Fabric to be embroidered
• Pencil
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Select a the style of lettering you would like to use from a book of templates or patterns, or use a pencil to draw your own letter lightly on the fabric.

2. Place the open weave fabric, such as linen, between two sides of a plastic or wooden embroidery hoop and fasten the hoop securely. The fabric should be pulled taut.

3. Take 2-ply yarn of any color and cut a length of 18 inches. Pinch one end of the yarn and push it through the eye of the needle. Pull the yarn through the needle and stop pulling a couple of inches before the yarn ends.

4. Poke the needle through the underside of the fabric at the bottom edge of the letter you have drawn on the fabric. Pull the yarn through the fabric and leave about 2 inches of yarn underneath. Decide how far apart you want the stitches to be. Then poke the needle down into the fabric, following the line of the letter. Catch the tail end of the thread underneath as you stitch to secure the yarn. Repeat this stitch, called a running stitch, until the shape of the letter is covered with yarn.

5. Finish by poking the needle down through the fabric. Draw the needle back and forth through the backside stitches to secure the work. Cut the remaining yarn and discard. Unfasten the hoop and remove the fabric. Iron if needed.

Tips & Warnings

• The satin stitch, cross stitch and basting stitch can all be used to embroider with yarn.

References

• Needle 'n Thread: Hand Embroidery Lettering and Text Index
• Needle 'n Thread: The Embroidery Stitch Video Tutorial