How to Embroider Birds

Single strands of embroidery threads are used to depict bird subjects.

Capture the essence of a bird subject with embroidery stitches that imitate the colors and contours of the particular species. Split stitches are best for needle painting. With this stitch, you follow the contours of your subject to create a dimensional, realistic representation. Small feathers are produced from short stitching and longer feathers are portrayed with bigger stitches. The thread is split by the needle with each pass to embed all the stitching into a continuous surface.

Things You'll Need

• Tracing paper
• Pencil
• Muslin
• Straight pins
• Dressmaker carbon paper
• Embroidery hoop
• Embroidery floss
• Embroidery needle
• Scissors

Instructions

Transfer Design

1. Place tracing paper over a bird image, original art or a picture found in a publication. Draw the design onto the tracing paper. Omit fine lines from your design.

2. Pin the tracing paper to heavy muslin fabric. U two straight pins at each top corner.

3. Insert dressmaker carbon paper between the tracing paper and the fabric. Stick one pin at the bottom of the tracing paper to hold the carbon in place.

4. Trace over the bird image with a pencil to transfer it to the muslin. Use even pressure.

5. Check that the image is transferring properly after a few strokes. Lift a corner of the carbon to see if there are carbon lines.

6. Remove the straight pins and papers after tracing.

Stitching

1. Center the bird design on the inner hoop of a two-part embroidery hoop.

2. Put the top hoop over the fabric and partially tighten the screw. Adjust the muslin so it's free of wrinkles and tighten the screw completely.

3. Choose threads that match the colors in your reference bird picture.

4. Measure a strand of embroidery floss so it is the length of your extended arm and cut it.

5. Separate the strands of floss into six individual threads.

6. Thread one strand into the eye of an embroidery needle. Knot the end.

7. Bring the needle up from the back of the muslin. Begin making long and short split stitches that follow the contours of the bird's anatomy.

8. Stitch forward one stitch. Point and go through the center of the last stitch to form a split stitch.

9. Fill the entire contours of the bird image with these short and long split stitches. Pierce the threads of the previous rows to form a seamless whole that changes colors and direction conforming to the shape of the bird's body.

10. Refer to the reference photograph throughout your stitching. Continually compare color and stitch changes. Make longer stitches on the wings where the feathers are bigger than on the head and underbelly.

References

• "Helen M. Stevens' Embroidered Birds"; Helen M. Stevens; 2001
• Heritage Shoppe; The Art of Embroidery Series: From the Beginning, A Primer: Section Two Hand Work Basics; Dianne Lewandowski; 2001
• Berlin Embroidery Designs; Bird Needle Painting Kits; Tanja Berlin