Embroidery Library 12 Top-Trending Embroidery Styles Lookbook

to explore exciting machine embroidery styles & techniques.

GO BEYONDTHE BASICS

Applique,freestanding lace,

in-the-hoop designs,and more!

12 Top-Trending Embroidery Styles

Lookbook

Embroidery Library artists and digitizers love bringing traditional needlecraft arts to the embroidery machine realm. As crafters and artists, we want to take those classic styles, like applique, lace, and vintagestitches, and use them in our contemporary machine embroidery projects.

This Lookbook is all about moving beyond the basic (and beloved) to explore more crafty embroidery types and techniques. Get the secrets for stitching freestanding lace on your machine, and see the simple elegance created with redwork, blackwork, andcandlewicking designs. Enjoy exploring these twelve excellent styles. We hope that you find somethingnew to you, and use it in your nextembroidery project.

Tell your friends about this Lookbook, too! For the very best in machine embroiderydesigns, and creative ways to use them,visit our website: www.emblibrary.com.

Thank you!

Deb MundingerPresident, Embroidery Library, Inc.

Hello!

3-6. Classic Applique

7-10. Heirloom Applique

11-14. Crafty Cut Applique

15-18. Vintage Stitches 19-20. Sketch & Toile

21-24. Freestanding Lace

25-28. Battenburg Lace

29-32. In-the-Hoop Embroidery

33-34. Redwork

35-36. Whitework

37-38. Blackwork

39-40. Candlewicking

Topics Included:

Design Used: Country Apple (Applique)

Classic Applique3

Applique embroidery uses fabric pieces to fill in parts of a design. The classic style has a satin-stitch finish, like this apple design shown on a kitchen towel. Compare it to the stitch-filled version on the right. It also looks great on the towel, but it’s filled with dark red thread instead of that cute print.

Design Used: Country Apple

Classic Applique4

Choosing the fabric for the applique design is a great way to exercise yourcreativity. It’s fun to look for prints and patterns that are a perfect fit for your decor and taste. In the example on the left, we used a plaid print to enhance the country motif.

Free!Project

Instructions

Classic Applique

Bohemian Flower Frenzy Border

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Design Used: Happy Birthday Cupcake (Applique)Design Used: Peeking Bear (Applique)

Design Used: Floral Folk Art (Applique)

Click here to see

a free video tutorialthat demonstratesthe technique forclassic applique.

Classic Applique

Applique designs are nice for a wide variety of items, including kitchen and terrycloth towels, table linens, and more! The applique fabric keeps the napof the project fabric from peeking through.

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Designs Used:Teapot in Bloom (Applique) Teacup in Bloom (Applique)

Designs Used:Charming Country Animals (Heirloom Applique) Design Pack

Click here to see

a free video tutorialthat demonstratesthe technique for

heirloom applique.

Heirloom Applique7

Blooming Blossoms NecklineHeirloom applique, likeclassic applique shownpreviously, uses fabric tocover areas in designs. Thebig difference? Heirloomapplique designs have ablanket stitch (also calledan E-stitch) finish. This styleis reminiscent of handembroidery work.

When working with thisstyle, you may want to choose fabric that won’t fray. Felt or Ultrasuede are good choices. Using double-sided fusible web between the applique fabric piece and the base fabric is a great way to create abond that will last for along, long time.

Click here to see

a free video tutorialthat demonstratesthe technique for

heirloom applique.

Free!Project

Instructions

Heirloom Applique8

Heirloom Applique9

Design Used:Ohli the Owl with Tulips

(Heirloom Applique)

Heirloom applique designs are nice for baby items, like bibs or onesies. They’re also eye-catching on tote bags, mug rugs, coasters, and more! See all of Embroidery Library’s heirloom applique designs here.

Heirloom Applique10

Design Used:Ohli the Owl with Tulips

(Heirloom Applique) Design Used: Sew Sweet Owl (Heirloom Applique)

Free!Project

InstructionsDesign Used: Cup For A Book LoverCrafty Cut Applique

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Crafty cutapplique has raw fabric edges,bringing beautiful dimension toembroidery projects. Use fabric like felt or denim for this type of embroidery. Decorative scissors add interesting texture.

These types ofdesigns use arunning stitch to tack the applique fabric down to the base fabric. The edges are left loose and free, resulting in a unique look.

Designs Used: Craft (Crafty Cut Applique) Sew (Crafty Cut Applique) Create (Crafty Cut Applique)

Crafty Cut Applique12

Crafty Cut Bird (Applique)

Spring Pig (Crafty Cut Applique)

Cozy Country Crafty CutButterfly (Applique)

Free!Project

Instructions

Design Used:Crafty Cut Daisy (Applique)

13Crafty Cut Applique

Notice how the raw and decorativeedges of this crafty cut design give it unique layers of depth and texture. It’s a gorgeous way to combine fabric favorites with beautiful embroidery.

Watch the video to see how to embroider crafty cut applique designs.

14Crafty Cut Applique

Vintage Stitches15

Vintage Stitches16

Designs Used: Days of the Week Birds and Veggies (Vintage) Design Pack

See all of theEmbroidery Library

vintage designsright here.

Browse through the designs at Embroidery Library, and you’ll find many that are marked with the word “vintage.” These types of designs use stitches that are reminiscent of handembroidery work.

Free!Project

InstructionsDesign Used: Cup For A Book LoverVintage Stitches

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Vintage designs are light with openareas. They’reexcellent for smooth and light fabrics, that have little to no nap.

Try vintage designs on fabrics like tea towels, floursack towels, canvas,denim, andquilter’s cotton.

Vintage designs have been used in several of theEmbroidery Library videos, including: - Embroidering on Floursack Towels - Embroidering on Quilter’s Cotton

Vintage Stitches18

View the Design Pack

Jingle All the WayChristmas Tree Skirt

Sketch designs are light, and a breeze to embroider on a widevariety of projects. The most popular sketch designs at Embroidery Library are animal compositions, like the dog design featured above.

Design Used: Pug in Crown

Sketch & Toile Embroidery19

Design Used: Rose Botanical (Toile)

Sketch & Toile Embroidery20

Toile designs are inspired by the classic Toile du Jouy style, often seen on fabric and wallpaper. These types of designs use only a few colors of thread. They’re light and sheer, making them quick to stitch.

Freestanding Lace21

Design Used: Frosty Winter Shine (Lace)

Freestanding Lace

Blooming Blossoms Neckline

Most embroidery designs are stitched onto fabric. Butfreestanding lacedesigns arespecially digitized for water-solublestabilizer. After embroidering, the water-soluble stabilizer is soaked away, and beautiful lace remains.

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Watch the video to see how

to embroider freestanding lace designs.

Free!Project

Instructions

Design Used:Dream Catcher and Feathers (Lace)

Design Used:Faithful Bookmarks (Lace) Design Pack

Freestanding Lace23

Click here tofind all of the

freestanding laceprojects.

Freestanding lacedesigns come in a wide variety of themes and styles.

Whip up a beautiful dreamcatcher for your home, or keep your place while readingwith a lace bookmark.

Design Used:Fairy in 3D (Lace)

Design Used:Faithful Bookmarks (Lace) Design Pack

Freestanding Lace24

Battenburg Lace25

Battenburg lace is also embroidered onto water-soluble stabilizer, but varies from traditional freestanding lace. The delicate lacewas developed in the late 1800s and was named after QueenVictoria’s son-in-law. It uses cotton thread to replicate acrochet-like look.

Battenburg Lace26

Contemporary machine embroidered Battenburg lace is abeautiful addition to any home decor project. It’s just right for dressing up dining room linens, or giving a hint of sophistication to pillows and tablecloths.

Free!Project

Instructions

Battenburg Lace

Many Battenburg pieces can be combined to make a project,such as in the examples shown here. Layer the lace to create athree-dimensional flower, or sew pieces together to make a lovely doily for your table. A crown and tiara are perfect for the princeor princess in your life!

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Design Used: Forever Flower (Layered Battenburg Lace)


Battenburg laceprojects.

Battenburg Lace


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Design Used:Celtic Knot (Battenburg Lace)


Battenburg laceprojects.

Design Used:Crown Fit for A King (Battenburg Lace)

Design Used:Crown Fit for A Queen (Battenburg Lace)

In-the-Hoop Embroidery


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Design Used:Swirls Heart Corner Bookmark (In-the-Hoop)

Design Used: Daisy Clothespin Cozy(In-the-Hoop)

Designs Used:Bird Stuffies (In-the Hoop)


In-the-hoop designs refer to anything that is constructedwithin the embroidery machine’s hoop. Bookmarks, handwarmers, clothespin cozies, stuffies, door hangers, bottleaprons, and more -- the list goes on and on!

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Design Used: Winter Hand Warmer Heart (In-the-Hoop)

Click here tofind all of theIn-the-Hoop

projects.

In-the-Hoop Embroidery31

Click here tofind all the in-the-hoop

woodland party projects

Designs Used: Woodland Owl Topper (In-the-Hoop) Woodland Owl Mask (In-the-Hoop) Woodland Owl Napkin Holder (In-the-Hoop)



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Design Used:Woodland Fox Topper (In-the-Hoop)

Love to Sew

Designs Used:Woodland NapkinHolders (In-the-Hoop)

In-the-hoop woodlandmasks, toppers, and napkin holders are the perfectembroidered accessories fora wild and woodsy party.These fun designs are just an example of the amazing things you can create within-the-hoop designs.

Click here tofind all the in-the-hoop

woodland party projects

Redwork33

Designs Used:Days of the Week Backyard Birds (Redwork) Design Pack

Click here tofind all of

the redwork designs.

Redwork

Designs Used:Days of the Week Backyard Birds (Redwork) Design Pack

Blooming Blossoms NecklineRedwork grew in popularity in the 1800s with the arrival of “penny squares.” These muslin squareswere pre-printed with hand embroidery patternsin red ink. Traditional redwork is composed of simplerunning stitches, and is a popular, quick-stitching choice when making multiple items, such as towel sets and quilt blocks. Embroidery Library has a wide variety of simpleredwork designs, as well as more complexchoices, as shown in this comparison below. The design on the right has simple stitches; the design on the left is more complex with a blend of running stitches and satin stitches.

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Garden Sparrow(Redwork)

Art Nouveau Gerber Daisy(Redwork)

Whitework35

Design Used: Spring Whitework Butterfly 1


Embroidery Library whitework

designs.

Whitework

If you’re looking for a dramatic effect in yourprojects, turn to whitework embroidery designs! The one-color motifs are quick-stitching andstriking when stitched on contrastingfabric colors.

36

Design Used: White Peacock (Whitework)

Design Used: Woodland Whitework Spray

Blackwork37

Blackwork embroidery is quickly recognized by its geometricpatterns, graceful arcs, and elegant lines. In these threeexamples, we can see the evolution of the art style.

Blooming Blackwork Flowers Design Pack

Tudor Rose Square (Blackwork)

Floral Elegance (Blackwork)

Designs Used:

Blackwork38

The first pillow is traditional blackwork, inspired by clothing from the 15th and 16th century. The second style became popular thanks to Zentangle ™ and modern coloring books. Pops of color add yetanother unique twist, as they add a vibrant, eye-catching look.

See all of theEmbroidery Library

blackwork designsright here.

Candlewicking39

Design Used: Rose Blossom (Candlewicking)

Candlewicking

Love to Sew Blooming Blossoms Neckline

Candlewicking began as a hand embroidery style that used white cotton thread on white muslin. Today’s embroidery machines can’t accommodate the thick thread that was used, nor can the elaborate knots and stitches be done by machine. But there are beautifulmachine embroidery designs that echo this traditional style. Here, the elaborate knots that would be made by hand are instead represented with 30 weight embroidery thread and smoothsatin stitches.

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Design Used: Flutterby Flourish (Candlewicking)

Find outmore about

candlewickingin this free video.

Embroidery Library has long been known for excellentmachine embroidery designs and inspiring ideas. We’vebeen drawing and digitizing designs, here in Minnesota,since 1998. Embroidery Library is 100% employee-owned,and each of us has an artistic nature and creative spirit.Every design we create is absolutely unique -- we don’tuse clip art, and we don’t outsource. Learn the basics of machine embroidery styles with this Lookbook,then pass along to your sewing circle to sharethe wealth of tips and tricks!

Visit us at: www.emblibrary.com.

Design Used: Flamingo with Anthurium (Blackwork)

Documents

Embroidery Library 12 Top-Trending Embroidery Styles Lookbook