Hand Embroidery for Clothing: Stitch a Collage Design

Embroidery takes on a whole new meaning when it’s put on clothing. The designs you create go beyond being decorative artwork and become wearable fashion statements. Embroidery artist and designer Stefanija Pejchinovska, known by her artist name Damaja, designs one-off pieces with sustainable brands and local artists to create ethical clothing.

In this course, learn how to embroider on stretchy garments using an original collage design. Discover the various types of stitches and how to create a color gradient in your work. Are you ready to take a break from the screen and create something unique with your hands?

Begin by getting to know Stefanija, a Macedonian hand embroidery artist that goes by Damaja. She shares her creative journey, which started with the influence of her grandmother as a child and led her to work as a designer in Berlin. Hear about the people, books, and things that inspire her.

Get an overview of the materials you need and how to use them. Discover which are the best fabrics and threads to use, and see how to embroider on a variety of fabrics. Damaja teaches you the techniques behind the back, split, stem and chain stitch. Learn how to do the filler stitches Damaja uses to fill an empty surface.

Next, get started on your original design. Get inspired by references and create a mood board. Damaja reveals her technique when making a stencil of the composition you want to embroider. Then, transfer your collage design onto the piece of clothing you are working with.

Time to start embroidering your design! Damaja starts by embroidering the head of an oryx. She takes you stitch by stitch through every detail. Move on to the body and explore the techniques to add texture to your composition. Then explore color patterns and how to embroider the tail. Damaja then starts embroidering a motel and teaches you how to create a color gradient. Wrap up your composition by adding the finishing touches and details.