Hand-embroidery transfers? making your own?

Question

does anyone know where i can find cool modern embroidery or cross-stitch kits (i've already looked at subversivecrossstitch.com,, and their stuff is awesome but not exactly what i'm looking for), or tips on how i transfer a pattern or image of my own onto embroidery material so i can embroider overtop of it? transfers always make me confused in terms of materials, order of operations, etc. thanks!!

Answer 1

The easiest way to transfer your own work to embroidery design is to follow these easy steps:

1)  draw out (on paper) the design you want to embroider

2)  place a piece of onion skin paper or tissue paper over the design and trace it onto the lighter paper - the reason for this is that it makes it easier for the transfer to come out on your fabric as the paper is thinner

3)  place the piece of fabric you want to use on a hard surface - the kitchen table will do - make sure there are no wrinkles in the fabric and that it is smooth (iron it if necessary)

4)  place a piece of transfer paper (paper side up) on the fabric where you want the design - tape it in place

5)  place the onion skin or tissue paper where you transferred your design on top of the transfer paper where you want the design to appear - tape it in place to make sure the design doesn't move.

6)  retrace your design using a fine ballpoint pen (I find this works better than a pencil) - pressing firmly and making sure that you don't tear the tissue paper.

7)  when complete, remove the tape and paper and voila!  a design ready to embroider