Beginner's Guide to Shoe Embroidery

Hannah Mitchell launched her embroidery business in 2019. What began as a creative side project has grown into a thriving business. Today, Hannah is a leading figure in the shoe embroidery space, selling custom embroidered footwear and digital patterns at her popular Etsy shop and on social media as @HanEmbroiders

• ContentsIntroductionChapter 1 Shoes and SuppliesChapter 2 Basic Stitches and TechniquesProject: Embroidered HeartsProject: BumblebeesProject: Letters and NumbersChapter 3 More Advanced StitchesProject: Polka Dot Sunflower SneakersProject: Wildflower SneakersProject: Autumn Sneakers Project: Sunflower Sneakers Chapter 4 Embroidery on Chelsea BootsProject: Autumn Chelsea BootsProject: Chelsea Boots with DaisiesProject: Chelsea Boots with WheatChapter 5 Creating Embroidery DesignsChapter 6 Bridal ShoesProject: Bridal Shoe AppliqueChapter 7 LandscapesProject: Mountains and SunflowersChapter 8 PetsProject: Dave the CatProject: Lio the DogChapter 9 Care and MaintenanceChapter 10 Photographing and Sharing Your Finished ProjectsConclusionAcknowledgmentsGlossarySuppliers

Embroidery artist Mitchell debuts with a delightful introduction to hand-stitching designs onto shoes with a needle and thread. She begins by detailing how to pick the right shoes to embroider. Her favorite are Converse All Stars because the fabric isn’t too thick, and she recommends steering clear of leather and pleather shoes, which embroidery can distort and crack. She walks crafters through basic stitches, like the straight stitch and backstitch, and explains how to prepare shoes for embroidery (take out the laces and tuck in the tongue) and sketch the desired design onto the shoe using an erasable marker or pencil. Instructions are included for simple hearts, bumblebees, flowers, and leaves. Readers also learn how to stitch letters and numbers, enabling them to add names or dates to their shoes. Aside from canvas sneakers, embroidery can also be added to Chelsea boots, which have an elastic section near the ankle that’s perfect for stitching, according to Mitchell, who offers instructions for stitching daisies, autumn florals, and wheat sprigs on them. Elsewhere, she explains how to create one’s own embroidery designs, how to hand-stitch lace and other embellishments to decorate bridal shoes, and how to create pet-inspired patterns. Comprehensive and easy-to-follow, this is sure to inspire anyone looking to rock unique kicks.