project notes:

I recently watched some sewing tutorial videos on YouTube to learn steps that up until now, I had just guessed at how to perform.

(I needed to know how to do a hand seam for another project I will post about soon)

After this bit of research, I discovered better methods for threading the needle, tying off the knot, and some tips for hiding loose tails. All this time, I had been cutting the tails off super close to the knot. I really thought that was the best way to protect it from unraveling… buuut the tutorial ladies all told me that the knots are not secure without a tail, so whoooops.

Anyway, with this Uhtred embroidery, I tried to keep the tails, hide the knots, and also hide the back floss inside the sleeve. All of this definitely elevated my embroidery skills, although I still have a lot to learn. You can see in a couple of the photos where I hid the tails. They aren’t visible in normal light, but I had that desk light shining through so that you could see.

In the construction of a button-down shirt, there are two layers of fabric which make up the cuff. So, I was able to embroider the outer layer, keeping the back floss within the layers of the cuff. All that remains on the inside (the side which is in contact with my wrist) is one single knot. I don’t really know how to avoid that first knot yet, but there might be a way, and I will attempt to hide it on the next embroidery project.

All in all, I’m very proud of this quick little project. I turned a plain white shirt, that I had zero desire to wear, into a piece that feels like a better representation of me and my style. All it took was a touch of red thread.