Craft-a-long: Embroidered Anatomy 🧠

Live: Saturday, March 15th @ 12:00PM CST

Join me for a Slightly Sinister live craft-a-long where creativity meets curiosity! In this session, we’ll explore the beauty of human anatomy through embroidery. I used AI to create a couple "sketches" to get your creative juices going. I have chosen the brain, but feel free to select your organ of choice. Whether you’re a seasoned stitcher or just getting started, you’ll learn step-by-step techniques to bring your design to life using needle and thread.

Some concepts for inspiration

🧵 What You’ll See:

-A cozy, interactive crafting session with plenty of tips and tricks.

-Insight into anatomical structures and how to simplify them for art.

-Connecting with fellow crafty minds in our community.

📌 What you will need: Tools and Resources: Links provided are for product information and not a direct endorsement of the vendor.

I am most likely going to block in large shapes using paint and accent the shapes with beads and thread. I will be doing a little bit of this for the sake of it being a three-hour craft-a-long, but I will demonstrate/explain the processes I used for the embroidery giveaway prize.

Essential Supplies:

• Embroidery Hoop – 6" or 8" wooden or plastic hoop. This has been my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE hoop so far is this one: https://a.co/d/3OaWcm8

• Fabric – Medium-weight cotton in a few colors. I am using a simple muted pattern for my embroidery base, and for my dimensional organ, a flesh-colored brocade. You can find pre-cut fat quarters at Joanne's. They have some patterns would make a nice backdrop to your embroidery. I'm using brocade for the organ because it makes it look sort of wet.

• Needles:

  • Embroidery Needles – Sizes 7–9 for standard stitching, couching, etc. Found at any craft store. Online: https://a.co/d/3ceprDm

  • Bead Embroidery Needles – sizes 10-12 are good (#10 or #11 for larger seed beads. #12 for smallest beads. I bend the hell out of them while using them, so get yourself 1-2 packs. The multi 10-12 size packs can be found at any sewing store. Here is a link to get specific sizes online: https://a.co/d/3IV4TH2

• Embroidery Floss – Various colors for shading and detail (suggest shades of pinks, grays, purples for the brain). At a minimum get a color to match your organ base, and reds, muted blues, and purples for veins, blood, structure, etc. Your floss will get separated 2 strands for embroidery and 1 for tacking down lines of beads. I will explain during the live.

• Beads – Seed beads, bugle beads, or specialty beads in coordinating colors for texture and highlights. Here is a list of my favorite beads from my last anatomy specific embroidery project:

  • Miyuki Delica - Dyed Opaque Salmon: https://a.co/d/2j0dSRF

  • Miyuki Delica - Antique Rose Silk Satin: https://a.co/d/hl4QaTl

  • Miyuki Delica - Lt Topaz Silk Satin: https://a.co/d/jg8irAi

  • Miyuki Delica - Matte Met Brick Red: https://a.co/d/6xB3Ona

  • Miyuki Delica - Salmon Silk Satin: https://a.co/d/hw3jhDZ

  • Miyuki Delica - Dyed Opaque cranberry: https://a.co/d/frfqrVs

  • Czech Seed Bead 8/0 Solgel Wheat Opal 50g (02611) – Aura Crystals, LLC 

  • Miyuki Delica Seed Bead 11/0 Transparent Ruby Luster DB1222

  • Toho Round Seed Bead 8/0 Transparent Rosaline 2.5-inch tube (11)

  • Various sized red/purple/blue seed beads that can be bought at most craft stores, there is usually a very small size up to size 6/0, 8/0, 11/0. Using a variation of these sizes is good for making thick to thin veins.

  • Buggle beads are great for larger runs over or around shapes as they are long tubes and adding a variety of bead style and shapes will make your piece more interesting.

• French Bullion Wire – used in goldwork embroidery and absolutely perfect for our anatomical structures for veins, neurons, or decorative edges. This is where I purchased mine:

  • French Bullion Wire in Matte Finish for Goldwork Embroidery, Purl, French Bullion Thread, Goldwork Materials in Shades of Red and Pink Color - Etsy

• Thread – Fine nylon or polyester thread for attaching beads, couching items to your embroidery cloth, and sewing things together. Pick a color that will hid easily.

• Padding Materials – Felt, craft foam, or batting to create dimensional areas.

Tools and Extras:

• Scissors – Small, sharp embroidery scissors for precision cutting.

• Pencil or Water-Soluble Marker – To apply the brain design to fabric. I use an acrylic paint pen in a color that doesn't stick out too much.

• Acrylic paint if you are simplifying your embroidery for time's sake – Colors to match the anatomy.

Optional (but helpful):

• Bead Tray or Dish – Keeps beads organized and from rolling around while working.

• Tweezers – For handling small beads and precise placements.

• Thimble – For extra protection while working with thicker layers or beads.

• Needle Threader – Makes threading fine beading needles easier.

• LED Light or Magnifier – Ensures visibility for intricate details.

Let’s turn science into art together! 🖤