Hooray! You bought a Stick & Stitch pack of embroidery motifs!
Now what?
First of all, here’s how to use it.
Easy Instructions
Step 1
Cut out the motif you want to use. Leave a little extra all the way around.
Step 2
Peel off the paper backing and stick the film to whatever you want to stitch. You can use this on any fabric, including felt. (If you’re using wool felt I recommend soaking it first to pre-shrink, then letting it dry flat on a towel.)
Step 3
Stitch your design! You can use any stitches and any thread colors you like. There are links to loads of videos teaching all my favorite stitches below.
Step 4
Soak away the stabilizer in cool water. Just drop it into a bowl and let it soak until the stabilizer dissolves. It should only take a few minutes, but something I forget and leave it there overnight. That’s not a problem!
Step 5
Rinse it well under cool running water. You can use a sprayer to get off any stubborn bits – especially if your stitching is particularly dense – but don’t scrub at it, especially if you stitched on felt.
Step 6
Let it dry. If it’s felt, just lay it flat on a towel and let it air dry. If it’s stitched on woven cotton you can press it dry using a hot iron. Just make sure you do it face down on a fluffy towel to keep the stitches from getting smooshed.
Finished!
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re just getting started, here are a few more posts with more info to help answer some common questions.
What kind of supplies do I need? Not much – a needle, thread, and fabric. The post has more details.
How many strands of embroidery thread should I use?
How do I tie a knot in the end of my thread?
My Four Favorite Stitches
With these four simple stitches you can embroider just about any design! The links all go to video tutorials.
Backstitch – my favorite stitch for lines.
Lazy Daisy – my favorite stitch for drop shapes, perfect for water drops, flower petals, beanie propellors, and more.
French Knots – my favorite stitch for dots.
Satin Stitch – my favorite stitch for filling in solid areas.
Want more?
Additional Outline Stitches
Running Stitch – great for dashed lines, like the flight of a butterfly.
Split Stitch – makes a pretty textured line, similar to a braid.
Stem Stitch – helpful for stitch tight curves, like the ones you’ll have in cursive letters.
Chain Stitch – make a pretty chain texture. I love this one when I need a thicker line!
Threaded Backstitch or Running Stitch – a two-color stitch! Very fancy.
Whipped Backstitch or Running Stitch – another two-color stitch! This one makes a barberpole-style spiral line.
Backstitched Chainstitch – one more two-color stitch. This one is extra fancy and a personal favorite.
Couching – I’m not sure if this counts as “true” embroidery, but I love it!
Additional Fill Stitches
Satin Stitched Points – Tips on how to satin stitch pointy shapes, like bird beaks
Seed Stitch – great for furry animals and grassy fields
Long & Short Stitch – makes fun stripes and shading
Split Stitch as a Fill Stitch – a lovely textured fill, great for areas that are too large for satin stitching
Turkey Work Embroidery – a 3D stitch that makes awesome fluffy eyebrows and flower centers
Other Stitches
Eyes – this is how I embroider small eyes
French Knots with Stems – I like to call this one Lollipop Stitch
Cross Stitch – not counted cross stitch
Fly Stitch – makes a cute little Y shape, great for flies
U Stitch – makes a long U shape, great for feathers and details
Want Even More Tutorials?
You can find all my embroidery tutorials here, including info about stitching on paper, tips and tricks for stitching on felt, information about finishing and displaying your work, and posts about visible mending.
You can also sign up for the free Embroidery 101 email series and get all this tutorials delivered straight to your inbox, one lesson a week. Easy peasy!
Happy stitching!