Embroidery 101: It's Not Just For Pillowcases Anymore!

The first Saturday of each month from February through June, the Art, Music and Recreation Center will present a series of hands-on craft events called Good Crafternoon.

Our March 2nd Crafternoon program will be “Embroidery 101: It’s Not Just for Pillowcases Anymore!” in the Sycip Conference room on the 4th floor of the Main Library.

Samples of embroidery go back to ancient times -- some date back to the 3rd century BCE.  Yet this craft is more popular today than ever. Freeform embroidery makes the plain and practical into something creative and colorful.   Embroidery is a fun, inexpensive, portable craft. It is easy to learn, but offers an infinite variety of projects and skill levels. From covering a hole in your favorite jeans to reproducing the Bayeux Tapestries, embroidery is a wonderful way to express your creativity.

In class you will learn how to choose the right tools and materials, where to find designs and inspiration, and how to transfer your designs to your fabric. We will practice the seven most commonly used stitches and apply them in class. You will be able to choose one individual project to take home. The projects are a framable sampler of the stitches you’ve learned, an embroidered covered button, a bookmark or a coffee cup cozy. The fabrics are white cotton, natural linen, or navy blue wool felt. You may also bring a project from home.

All of our Crafternoon programs are limited to 12 participants, so that everyone can get plenty of hands-on attention. In order to guarantee a spot please register ahead of time by calling (415) 557-4525 or emailing our department at artmusicrec@sfpl.org.

SFPL also has a great collection of embroidery books with thousands of inspiring projects. You will find them on the Fourth Floor in call numbers 746.44 – 746.446.