Embroidery Fills

[Craft Addict]

Hopefully this hasn't been already brought up.  I was wondering if anyone has advice about filling in large sections.  I usually use the satin stitch but I wasn't sure if it would look funky over a big area.  Help!

[annavs]

Ugh!  I just wrote a long reply but apparently I took too long.  So, here's my short answer.  There are tons of online sources for stitches.  Check out http://users.rcn.com/kdyer.dnai/stitches.html; you'll primarily be looking for "filling" stitches, but you can use all sorts of stitches (I had made a list) depending on whether you also want to introduce color variation (some require two colors) or texture.  There are some great books out there too.  I like the Anchor Guides.  They have a guide to Freestyle embroidery and their crewelwork book would be helpful to embroiderers as well.  Try the nice girls in North Dakota: http://www.nordicneedle.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=NN&Product_Code=2331

[elixia13]

You might try taking some embroidery books out fromt he library--I've been finding it very useful to browse through them and try to find a stitch that a) I think I can figure out how to do, and b) will look nice in the project.  On something I'm working on now, I filled in some areas with a sort of weaving--make long stitches from one side of the area to the other maybe a thread-width apart and then make long stitches in the perpendicular direction, weaving the needle under and over the first threads.  It was pretty past, and I think it looks neat--lots of texture.  Might not be great for clothing, though, or anything else where the threads might get snagged.

[Craft Addict]

Thanks for the help!  Maybe I can stop tearing my hair out now.

[LuluB]

i'm addicted (ha, get it, anyway. . .) to doing fills so much so that i rarely just do an outline of a pattern.

i generally use a split stitch for the fill.  it's especially good for items you plan on using a lot like bags or clothes because it anchors the floss really well.  i have never had a problem with pilling or pulling when i fill with a split stitch. 

yep.  i would use a split stitch.
that's what i would do.

erika

[PollyEsther]

If I have to fill a big area, I like to use strips of New England laid stitch. It doesn't use up as much thread as satin stitches, and doesn't feel as thick (important, since I mostly embroider my clothes).  But if your goal is not to cover up all the fabric, but to just fill the space, there are a lot of open stitches that are quicker. 

[Craft Addict]

I'm making a Homestarrunner tote and have finished one of his feet.  I like the split stitch idea, the question is, do I make the other foot all nice using that idea or would that look weird.  Or should I just continue satin stiching all willy nilly like I did the other one???

[LuluB]

maybe do the other foot like you did the first and then use the split stitch for the rest.  that way it looks intentional.

erika

[JaneJane]

Split stich and "short and long" stitch are old traditions for fills