When we think about embroidery, we usually imagine working on a flat, stable fabric like linen or cotton. Embroidering on wool, and especially on a knitted garment, is a completely different experience. The surface is elastic, textured, and alive in a way that challenges us but also gives us endless creative possibilities. In this lecture, we’re going to explore step by step how to plan an embroidery project on wool, from the very first idea to the finished piece.

We’ll start by looking at drawings and motifs, and I’ll show you what makes a design suitable - or unsuitable - for a knitted surface. Then we’ll talk about the tools and materials you’ll need, comparing different tracing papers, markers, scissors, needles, and whether or not a hoop is actually helpful. From there, we’ll move on to yarns, because the choice of fiber and weight is crucial: the same design embroidered with different yarns can give completely different results.
Once we’ve covered the materials, we’ll talk about where to place embroidery on a sweater, how to work around the construction of seamless garments, and one of the most common questions I get: should you block your sweater before embroidering or after?

By the end of our time together, you’ll have a clear framework for planning embroidery on wool, a set of tricks to make the process easier, and hopefully the inspiration to start experimenting on your own garments with confidence. And please, bring as many questions as you like, questions are really the spice of any class, and often they lead us to the most interesting discoveries.

Want to know more about me and my work? Visit www.dariotubiana.myportfolio.com or find me on Instagram @rosso.cardinale.

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• Any pictures or drawings you’d like to transform into embroidery
• Ideas, sketches, or inspiration you’d like to discuss
• Wool or yarn you’re considering for embroidery projects
We’ll use these to spark conversation and explore how to adapt ideas into real projects during the lecture.