Embroidery Questions
I'm a beginner at blackwork/counted cross-stitch, so I do most of my stuff by hand. I plan on making a baby blanket for a good friend of mine's son with a good deal of hand-stitched embroidery. I realize that most fabrics and threads aren't up to being used by a baby and the repeated washings it would probably need. Other than minor repairs on my clothing this will be the first time I've done anything that wasn't on aida cloth and I'm already overwhelmed. Please excuse the utter noob-ness of this D:.
I need to know a lot. Are there any really soft even-weave fabrics, if not, then what's the cleanest way to mark out a pattern? I know it's going to be backed in a nice flannel. Right now I'm planning on tracing it in charcoal or creating the holes before I start to sew. What is a good color-fast thread that's easy to work with? How can I properly anchor the embroidery so that it won't come loose?
I need to know a lot. Are there any really soft even-weave fabrics, if not, then what's the cleanest way to mark out a pattern? I know it's going to be backed in a nice flannel. Right now I'm planning on tracing it in charcoal or creating the holes before I start to sew. What is a good color-fast thread that's easy to work with? How can I properly anchor the embroidery so that it won't come loose?