How I Ruined My First Embroidery: Don't Repeat My Mistakes

I don't usually embroider—I love knitting. I took up this hobby during lockdown. Shortly before it began, I found a "Triptych" embroidery kit in the wardrobe; it had belonged to my mother-in-law. The subject was completely my taste: I love eastern themes, so I decided to make a large bead-embroidered picture. I finished the first section in no time—although beads ended up all over the house until my husband bought me proper bead containers.

This was my first mistake: seed beads look completely different on embroidery fabric than they do on their own. They looked darker, so the picture was sweet but not at all realistic. Do you think that stopped me? Not a chance! We do not look for easy ways. My husband said it would be a fairy-tale tree—just let anyone try to criticise it!

Then came the real disaster. When I lined up the first and second halves of the kit, they did not match in height: the design was out by as much as 3 cm. You cannot order everything from AliExpress! I did not want to waste the remaining beads on a project I could no longer complete as planned. So I decided to cross-stitch that section with leftover floss—lockdown had begun and all the shops were closed—and add beads to a few areas for a little sparkle. I finished the work the day before yesterday.

The fabric had puckered in places, and small ripples appeared on the areas not covered with cross-stitch. That is when I made my second huge mistake. I covered the reverse with damp cheesecloth and pressed it lightly with an iron. Here is the result—those of a nervous disposition, look away.

Everything gathered into folds! It turned out that the base itself had stretched terribly from the heat of the iron. Here is the reverse side.

In the end, the picture was completely ruined. All I could do was mourn it.

What can I take from this? Clearly, it is better to begin a serious hobby such as embroidery with small projects. I think I pulled the fabric too tight with my cross-stitches because I lacked practice. Second, do not iron pictures made on a glue-backed base. And choose seed beads very carefully—ideally with a sample in hand. Before pressing any kit, check its care instructions and test on a hidden scrap; heat can permanently change some bases.

I have not decided what to do with this piece so that I do not have to throw it away. I have a couple of ideas; if I manage to bring them to life, I will post photos!