Meet Brazilian Embroidery: A Personal Review
I can’t quite recall which fortuitous, Etsy search bar word combo led me to Brazilian embroidery. But oo-la-la!!
The way those petals pop and the bird’s wing and tail burst from the fabric is sheer magic. I had to know the secret. I wanted in on the sorcery.
Generally speaking…
Despite its dimension-defying nature, it’s a great starter needlecraft. Simple enough to be inviting. Challenging enough to make you learn. And, let’s be frank, unusual enough to win motivating public admiration.
While the thread sheen highlights the occasional “oopsie”, the organic floral subject matter makes most mess-ups impossible to recognize and sometimes even serendipitous.
Supply needs are limited and budget-friendly. Plus, it can all be easily incorporated into other needlecraft projects, so nothing goes to waste.
For you creative types out there, Brazilian embroidery is in the “freestyle” family, meaning (basic guidelines aside) it’s open to interpretation. You can truly let your “artist” out here.
It’s versatile… and sturdy! To that end, this particular needlecraft is often melded with other embroidery types; bedazzled with beads, pearls, and other accents; or the techniques are modified on the fly to create one-of-a-kind art.
On a personal note…
I loved seeing and feeling this project bloom into textural life under my fingertips. Most of my art experience is from a 2-D world, where the third dimension is an illusion created with layering, shading, and perspective. With Brazilian embroidery, I became a sculptor!
I would strongly advise good lighting, hand support, frequent stretch breaks and, if you’ve got one handy, a magnifying glass. It will keep carpal tunnel, neck cricks, and eye strain at bay.
If you’re patience-challenged like myself, you’ll find it helpful that many Brazilian embroidery kits are small and rich in variety. There isn’t enough repetition to get bored, but just enough to get the hang of new stitches.
I also deeply appreciated that this embroidery style is traditionally background-free. Subject stitched on fabric. Very folk style. Very clean. It offered instant gratification diving right into the heart of the piece. And with the monumental amount of crafts I’d like to try in my lifetime, I won’t say boo to projects that move right along!
Overall, I can unhesitatingly recommend Brazilian embroidery as a stellar craft for fellow budding thread heads, budget-conscious embroiders, and time-limited artists. It’s one I certainly plan to revisit - and soon!
What do you think, reader? Has Brazilian embroidery piqued your curiosity?? Please let me know in the comments below!
And there she is (above) - all pretty and ready to be framed!
