Instructions & Tips To 'Stitch Your Shoes'
Follow our tutorials and top tips for stitching up your Shoemakers Tote Bag!
We've teamed up with the Shoemakers Museum to bring you this gorgeous shoe themed tote bag.
This is a great project for trying out new embroidery stitches and bringing colour to each shoe!
Whether you sew each and every shoe, or just fill in your favourites, your tote bag will soon come to life with colourful stitches.
The Basics: Step by step
Dividing your thread
- Our embroidery thread is made up of 6 strands. We recommend splitting your thread in half to 3 strands for the main outlines (but you can use a mixture of thicknesses for various textures.)
- Separate the threads in half at one end - then gently pull them apart.
- The thread has a tendency to tangle so it is best to keep the other end taught as you separate them (a third hand is helpful if you have someone nearby!)
- Now thread your needle (moisten the ends to help guide all 3 strands through) and tie a knot in the other end. You're ready to start stitching!
Backstitch
Backstitch is brilliant for outlining the flowers and is the perfect stitch to master as a beginner.
- Starting from the back of the fabric, push your needle through the grey outline at your starting point, pulling the thread fully through.
- Put your needle back down about 3mm along the grey outline. Pull the thread firmly through to make your first stitch.
- Push your needle back up through the fabric another 3mm along the outline from your last stitch. Pull the thread fully through.
- Now push your needle back down the same hole as your last stitch so that the line has no gaps.
- Continue to stitch 3mm ahead and then back down the previous hole to make a continuous line... this is backstitch!
- Complete the outline in this way until you get to the end of the design.
- Tie off your thread (see the last stage). Now you can swap your thread for the next colour. Remember to divide the green down to 3 strands, thread the needle and knot the end.
- You can continue to use backstitch to outline the stalk until it is complete.
- For the detail marks, we recommend using only 1 strand of thread for a finer line. Like before, split the thread so that you have only 1 strand.
- Use backstitch to fill in the detail lines
- Try to keep using neat, close stitches for a consistent look.
Tying off your thread
- When you've finished with a colour you need to tie off your thread. Turn your bag or apron over so you're looking at the back of your fabric. With your needle still threaded, go through a stitch (but not through the fabric) - and rather than pulling it all the way, pull the thread just halfway through.
- A loop is created - put your needle through the loop and then pull the thread tight to create a knot. Repeat this stage to secure the stitch.
- Cut the thread close to the knot, and trim any other loose threads from the back.
You've finished your first design
Other stitches - Video Tutorials
If you'd like to try some more stitches you can follow our video tutorials to add different texture and finishes on your shoes!
Back Stitch
This basic outline stitch can be used for most of the shoe designs.
French Knots
A great stitch to accentuate any circles - we've used on the red heels
Chain Stitch
We've used chain stitch for the textured straps on the turquoise heels & the silver hardware - it gives a great textured finish!