Hand stitching on felt

[josiebrat]

Hello felters and those who embroider,

When you hand stitch on wool felt what thread do you use and why?

I have done machine stitching using both cotton and rayon, depending on the look I want. I’m making ruffle scarves now and want to hand embroider the edge. Is cotton ok or would you use something else? Looking for pros and cons? Thanks Josie

[caterina]

Hello.
I hand embroidered (or maybe I should say hand stitched, as my stitches were nothing to embroidery) on my felt portrait "Bernie".
Here you can see the detail of the headscarf, that was a white felt detail before my creating a pattern with black cotton thread and yellow needlefelted squares:
www.dropbox.com/s/cll3lvpz5q840zn/IMG_20210613_181420.jpg?dl=0

I used cotton thread, but not embroidery-quality thread. It didn't really matter in my case, as it is not something that will be subjected to wear-and-tear usage, as it is a portrait.

I guess, in your case, having to account for usage and washing and so on, I would use only the best-quality embroidery thread if you use cotton thread.

Cotton thread would tend to bond to wool with washings and time, I suppose, and maybe disappear a bit into the felt (being eaten by it). Whereas synthetic thread would be very resistant and also tend not to be eaten by wool, but stay more on the surface of it, I guess, as synthetic yarn is harder to get included in wool and takes more effort to felt it into wool.
If your scarves are the very luxurious, special-occasions ones, a silk thread would give an interesting texture and shine to the embroidery: of course, it requires careful handling, both in embroidering and in using/washing the final scarf.

Please, let us know how your project is coming out.

[lyn]

Sewing cotton, embroidery thread, thin knitting yarn, crochet cotton ... as long as I can thread it through a needle and it will pass through the felt easily, I will use it.

[Ann @ frabjous fabrica]

I don't think it matters what type of thread you use provided you embroider in such a way as to have your stitches remain on the surface. Usually, unless you are careful, or use a stabiliser, stitches will disappear into the felt, so a thicker yarn would probably be best. A water soluble fabric used as a stabiliser usually ensures that your stitches remain on the surface even if you use a fairly fine thread.
You could of course crochet an edge to your scarf, that wouldn't disappear.

[Shepherdess]

I think you answered your own question . It depends on the look you are going for. All of it will work.

[josiebrat]

Dear All,

Thanks for all the comments and feedback. Thanks Catrina for sharing your work with embroidery. Very cool. In my case the embroidery is on the edge. I noticed the cotton embroidery thread I tried so far seems to disappear so I will take Lyn's advise and check my knitting yarn. Since it's along the edge this maybe my best solution. I will share my wrap with you in a separate message and again after I redo the embroidery.

[josiebrat]

Hello everyone,

I hope you're able to open this image. I saved to my dropbox to get a link.
The stitching will be along the outer edge.

thanks
Josie

[Deleted]

Josiebrat, I can't see a picture

[Shepherdess]

the link didn't post. Looking forward to seeing it

[josiebrat]

Sorry, but I can't figure out how to get the link. Will try to send another day when I figure it out.

[Shepherdess]

there is a post in the FAQs that explains it for many sites