Embroidery has been known since antiquity. At all times, skilled craftswomen decorated household items and clothes, created amazing paintings, chic tapestries. For some peoples, embroidered clothes are national.
Like many centuries ago, modern needlewomen continue to delight the world with wonderful masterpieces. This is an exciting hobby, a means of relaxation. All you need is time, desire and a special embroidery kit.
Today, manufacturers offer a huge variety of sets. These are landscapes, icons, portraits, still lifes, horoscopes. They produce sets for adults, collections for children. We offer a rating of the best embroidery kits in 2022.
Content
To choose the best set, it is appropriate to consider the types based on the embroidery technique used:
The undisputed leader in the needlework market are classic cross stitch kits. Thread material: cotton, silk, wool, acrylic. Even glow-in-the-dark metallic threads are offered.
To cross-stitch, you need a diagram with the image of each element of the picture and the color designation of the threads. With the help of special computer programs, you can easily draw up a diagram of a popular picture or photograph.
The work is done on the basis - canvas. This is a mesh fabric for easy placement of crosses. The choice is huge: linen, cotton, synthetic, different colors and sizes of cells. There was a plastic basis for volumetric embroidery. Most often, a dense finished canvas is produced, with which you can work without a hoop.
Interior items are traditionally decorated with embroidery:
The set is completed with the scheme, a canvas, a floss, a needle.
Beadwork has been known for a long time. In the old days, river pearls were used instead, so such products were highly valued. Handbags, cosmetic bags, hats are decorated with beadwork. Paintings using this technique are luxurious and elegant. Soft shimmer and grace of lines turn each piece into a masterpiece.
One rule: the size of the beads must correspond to the size of the canvas cells, otherwise the surface of the embroidery will be bumpy.
The set consists of a scheme, canvas, needle and glass beads, the number of colors of which corresponds to the degree of complexity of the picture. Some manufacturers supplement the package with an organizer for beads.
In the Middle Ages, wealthy people could afford ribbon embroidery due to the high cost of natural silk ribbons used. Later, with the advent of budget artificial fabrics, this activity became public. Ribbons for embroidery are made of nylon, organza, rayon, polyester. The most popular are floral plots depicting flowers. Most often, embroidery with ribbons is decorated with:
Pictures embroidered with ribbons and details of clothes amaze with their beauty and originality. The advantage of this technique is short deadlines: after a few days, the needlewoman rejoices at the next creation.
The set is completed with a fabric with a printed pattern, ribbons, needles, floss (if the techniques are combined), a diagram with photographs. Sometimes - an organizer for tapes. Some manufacturers supplement the set with related accessories (laces, tassels, pillow filler).
Products decorated with satin stitch embroidery are unique. This technique is not for nothing called painting on fabric. The works are distinguished by texture, beauty, originality.
The difference between satin stitch embroidery is that a pattern is not required, an outline drawing of the future image is used. Knowledge of the basic seams, double mercerized threads, the plot you like will allow even novice needlewomen to boast of a chic handmade work.This is a colorful picture, interior decor (towels, tablecloths) or decoration of clothing details:
The kit includes canvas, thread, needle and pattern.
Other types of kits:
It is appropriate to think about what to look for when buying.
Embroidery is an opportunity to spend time pleasantly and calmly, to escape from everyday affairs, to create a beautiful thing. Therefore, mistakes in choosing threaten with a feeling of annoyance and irritation, wasted money and time.
To avoid this, it is important to know the selection criteria:
Packaging - most often a plastic envelope with a sticky edge. You should make sure that the integrity, absence of damage, kinks. The photo of embroidery, as the manufacturers assure, is the original image of the finished work contained in the set. It is necessary that it be a full-fledged photograph, and not a digital picture with blurry outlines.
Muline of well-known manufacturers are marked with a logo. Threads with double mercerization are recognized as the highest quality, which gives strength, silkiness, stability (they do not fade in the sun).Mouline threads from Gamma, DMC, Madeira, Anchor firms have been invariably popular with embroiderers for decades.
Some manufacturers put the threads in one ball, others place them on a special cardboard divider. It is not a fact that randomly nested floss indicates poor quality. Such a ball is easily separated into separate colors.
Canvas plays an important role in embroidery. Finished, creating the effect of starched, very convenient to use. The canvas Aida, Linda, Belfast is characterized by good quality. This is evidenced by numerous reviews of needlewomen.
The needle is the main tool of the embroiderer. An indicator of the quality of an embroidery needle is its appearance and the material from which it is made. The best are needles with a long eye, a rounded end. Recently, chrome-plated needles coated with platinum or gold have been popular. However, experienced craftswomen prefer to work with their favorite needle, regardless of the presence of this tool in the set.
The readability of the scheme, the clarity of the instructions affect the success of embroidery. Manufacturers provide buyers with schemes:
Beginners like to use color schemes, there are few shades in simple embroideries. In more complex multi-color compositions, it is more expedient to use black and white, symbolic designations. For large embroideries, it is appropriate to choose sets with patterns divided into fragments depicted on separate sheets.
However, this is an individual matter, embroiderers prefer the type of scheme that is comfortable to work with.
The instructions contain a step-by-step description of the embroidery process. Sometimes the manufacturer supplies it with photographs or illustrations.It is important that the kit comes with instructions in Russian. The more detailed the instruction, the easier and faster the work on embroidery goes.
The level of complexity of embroidery is chosen by craftswomen based on personal experience. Some sets use special difficulty indicators. They are usually denoted by symbols on a scale from one to five.
The simplest embroidery is characterized by a small size, the absence of small, difficult elements, and a minimum of shades.
There are more colors in sets of medium complexity, there are small details. A combination of two different techniques is possible.
The most complex works require a high level of skill of the needlewoman. They are distinguished by their impressive size, a huge number of shades and small details. In such embroideries, various techniques are combined, auxiliary decorative elements are necessarily present:
These and other elements will allow you to get beautiful embroidery with an original, complex, multi-color plot and a realistic image.
Characteristics are indicated on the packaging. It is advisable to familiarize yourself with them before buying. It:
By subject, embroidery kits are divided into portraits, icons, flora and fauna, still lifes, landscapes. Plots of fairy tales, horoscopes, images of paintings by famous artists are popular. This is only a small part of the rich design choice, which depends on the preferences of the embroiderer.
The size range is striking in variety: small pictures, medium-sized works and huge canvases give freedom of choice. The main thing is that the size of the future embroidery looks appropriate in the room where it is supposed to be placed.
It is advisable to pay attention to the execution technique indicated on the packaging. Sometimes manufacturers produce kits of the same design for different techniques.
An important characteristic is the number of colors used. For experienced craftswomen, this is not important. However, it is appropriate for beginner embroiderers to choose sets with fewer shades.
Data on the canvas and threads used in the set: the type, composition is indicated, coinciding with what the needlewoman expects to see in her future creation.
Often the main characteristic when buying is the brand. This is a reasonable decision, since the popularity of models, the comfort of embroidery is largely ensured by the name of the manufacturer.
The price, despite the popularity of the brand and quality, should be adequate. Many needlewomen, when deciding which one is better to buy a set, proceed from the price. They look at how much the set costs by choosing inexpensive popular models.
Cheaper are the sets of those manufacturers who themselves produce components, develop a design. The average price in such cases is acceptable to buyers.
We offer an overview of the best, according to buyers, embroidery kits in 2022.
The most popular manufacturer offers a wide range of various topics and techniques. Captivating good value for money. A huge number of small pictures, a special children's series from 3 years.
Average cost: 990 rubles.
A well-known American manufacturer has been supplying the market with high-quality embroidery kits in a variety of techniques and their combinations for 30 years. Currently, production has been moved to China.
The company employs more than 200 designers who regularly delight craftswomen with new interesting compositions. Cross-embroidered baby blankets look original. The optimal amount of backstitch gives the paintings a finished, realistic look.
Average cost: 1450 rubles.
The Russian brand, which is famous for its diversity, colorful scenes, mixed media, high-quality components. Gamma budget threads are used, which reduces the cost. Well-known designers are working on compiling new compositions of various subjects. The names of the authors are indicated on the packaging.
Average cost: 980 rubles.
The Russian manufacturer offers needlewomen a large selection of kits: children's pictures, landscapes, animals, female images, urban compositions, floral patterns. For a beginner who does not know where to start, simple but original plots of the Golden Fleece brand are recommended. Schemes of different degrees of complexity.
Average cost: 1020 rubles.
A domestic manufacturer that produces canvas with a printed pattern, embroidery kits in various techniques. A high-quality base is used: classic German Aida, linen, as well as rayon.
Average cost: 690 rubles.
The popular Belgian brand has been offering kits of various difficulty levels for 40 years. Launched the release of thematic collections, including original black and white paintings. The production of kits for embroidery of tablecloths and pillows, equipped with everything necessary, has been launched. DMC branded threads are used.
Average cost: 1550 rubles.
An English manufacturer whose products are designed for experienced needlewomen. A popular collection with Teddy bears. Humorous stories look original. Different techniques are often combined, tracking fashion trends in the field of embroidery gives originality and uniqueness to the paintings. Used floss of own production. The sets are fully stocked.
Average cost: 1680 rubles.
A manufacturer from South Korea presents quite worthy embroidery kits. They are distinguished by the quality, richness of stories on all sorts of topics. In assortment sets for cross-stitching, beads, ribbons. The novelty of the company, in addition to paintings, were watches, wallets, cosmetic bags. In the multi-color palette, the shades of the threads are selected so that the finished embroideries look like real paintings.
Average cost: 1050 rubles.
Ukrainian manufacturer of high-quality kits for embroidery with beads in a circular technique: complex elements of the pattern and background are printed on the base. Used satin fabric with a full color image and calibrated beads.
Average cost: 1620 rubles.
A world-famous brand for the production of threads of the same name loved by needlewomen, as well as chic embroidery kits. DMC floss is durable, elastic, resistant to washing and fading. Thick plastic packaging.
Average cost: 1700 rubles.
The choice of the proposed sets is so large that needlewomen can get confused.
For beginner craftswomen, in order to avoid large expenses, the firms of the Golden Fleece, Marya the Artisan are recommended. For experienced embroiderers, large and multi-color Anchor works, beautiful budget Dome sets are suitable. For lovers of beadwork, it is better to use Riolis, and for more experienced ones, choose Butterfly paintings. For interior decoration, it is advisable to choose sets with color-resistant threads Vervaco, DMC. Panna products allow you to create a chic creation in mixed media without breaking the wallet. The most luxurious works with realism of the image are offered by Dimensions.
Each needlewoman herself determines which set of which company is better.The rating presented above is intended to help in choosing so that your favorite hobby is not overshadowed by faded threads, a sprawling canvas, or a mismatch of the finished embroidery with the sample declared by the manufacturer.