How to Embroider on Knitted Fabric

Embroidering on your knitting fabric is an excellent way to spice up your knitted items. You can add colorful designs without having to follow a complicated color chart, as you change different yarns as you knit your piece. It's also a practical way to use your spare pieces of yarn, left over from old knitting projects.

Materials for Embroidering on Knitting

Most often, wool yarn is used for embroidering on knitting. However, you can use anything suitable for embroidering. For example, you could also use embroidery floss, but be sure to use all six strands for proper coverage. If working on a a washable sweater, but sure to use washable embroidery materials, making sure your embroidery strand is large enough to cover up your knitting yarn. For embossed effects, it can be a bit larger.

Crewel Stitches on Knitting

Crewel embroidery stitches are usually appropriate for embroidering on knitted fabric. A few of the traditional crewel stitches include the satin stitch, stem stitch, French knots, couching stitches, cross stitches, and herringbone stitch.

Because knitted fabric is stretchy and open, it's best to use a reinforcing fabric behind your embroidery, such as silk organza. Another good choice is lightweight, non-woven interfacing which can be carefully trimmed (especially if using an outing stitch afterwards). Simply draw the design onto the reinforcing fabric, stitch, and then secure it in place on the knitting. All this is done with a crewel needle. For best results, embroider with one hand, above the fabric, while stationing your other hand below, as you pass the needle completely through the knitting.

Cross Stitch on Knitting

Also done on stockineete knitting, the cross-stitch creates beautiful embroidered knitting. Each stitch forms a "V" (2 threads wide), connected to 2 threads above and below. To cross stitch, bring your needle up in the center of the threads between 2 rows and 2 columns of "V" stitchs. Then, (from this position) count 2 connecting thread in either direction and across a "V" stitch in either direction to insert the needle, inserting it under the "V" stitch and then out the other side for the beginning of the second stitch. Most the time, wool yarn is used for proper coverage. However, for a dressier look, use silk yarn or shiny floss.

TheDuplicate Stitch

Also known as "Swiss darning," the duplicate stitch is a simple method of embroidering over the stockinette stitch. If done properly, it gives the same effect as if your knitted item was knitted with different colored yarns. The duplicate stitch is also versatile, as you can change it. Let's say you embroidered your daughter's name on a knitted sock. Then, after she outgrew it, you can pass it down to your younger daughter, by simply removing your older daughter's name, replacing it with the name of your younger daughter.

How to do the Duplicate Stitch

The duplicate stitch is worked over the stockinette stitch and is done by pulling a strand of yarn over knitted stitches. Although you can work the stitch from left to right, it's easier to work from right to left, the direction most likely you'd knit. The necessary procedure follows the tread of one stitch over and under the neighboring threads.

Tips for Embroidering on Knitting

*Split the yarn in the middle when stitching (rather than pulling up the needle between the spaces between stitches. Simply come up and then go down with the needle in the middle of the yarn's ply.

*Don't stitch tightly----When working the duplicate stitch, remember to pull the strand just tightly enough to cover up a stitch. In other words, don't pull it any tighter or your stitch will be distorted.

*Spit embroidery yarn---If your embroidery yarn is to bulky, then split it to make a thinner thread.

Embroidering Usedfor Mending Knitting

Before tossing out that favorite sweater that's ripped, note that besides using it for decorative purposes, embroidering is can also be used for repairing a damaged knitted fabric. With the duplicate stitch, as well as various crewel stitches, you can cover up a sweater that's been attacked by moths by just doing a few stitches.

Practice Embroidering on Stockinette Stitched Knitting

Finally, before embroidering a well-labored piece of knitting, practice embroidering various stitches on the stockinette stitch. After you've embroidered a few stitches, you'll be more confident to embroider on your knitted fabrics.