Hand-embroidering a monogram can seem daunting the first time, but they’re so much fun! Obviously, you will need to decide on your design first, so I recommend looking at some examples online. I personally love using calligraphy-style fonts, so it could also be a good idea to have a look at some of those.
Once you’ve decided on your monogram, it’s time to embroider! For thread, I recommend bisecting a 6-strand piece of embroidery cotton (you know the thick kind you can get at craft stores), leaving you with 3 threads on your needle.
Start by chain-stitching your entire design. The key here is to keep your stitches small and short, especially if your design is curvy.
Go over it again, just wrapping thread around the chain-stitches. So, pass the needle under and around your chain stitches, without actually going through your base fabric. Repeat 2-3 times per chain stitch. This will pull the chain stitches together into a neat line, and give your monogram a more pronounced 3d effect. Watch the video below for a step-by-step demonstration.
TRY: make monogrammed crochet-lace hankies!