1. Use one strand of embroidery floss and a #9 crewel or #26 tapestry needle. The #9 crewel needle will make a smaller hole in the fabric.
2. Use a shade darker floss than desired, as the color will not be as vivid showing thru the fabric.
3. Stitches should be approx. 1/8" long.

1. Fabric for shadow stitching should be opaque such as organdy, batiste or lawn. Choose floss that is a shade darker than desired as the criss-cross of the thread on the wrong side creates the shadow effect.
2. For shadow stitching and satin stitching alphabet and designs, trace the outer lines of letter and designs to be stitched using a sharp #2 pencil. Backstitch any thin lines. Use French knots, satin or shadow stitching for center of designs.
3. Use waste knots and weaving to secure end threads in shadow stitching, back stitching and satin embroidery. Use tiny knots for securing French knots.

1. Waste Knot - Knot placed on the wrong side 3 or 4 inches away from the area to be stitched. Knot will be cut and woven after stitching is complete to secure thread.
2. Back Stitch - After placing waste knot on wrong side of fabric, come up at point A, stitch down into point B, come up at point C, and down into point A again. Continue. Secure by weaving. Figure A (see figures below)
3. Satin Stitch - Close stitching worked over an area to provide entire coverage. After placing waste knot on wrong side of fabric, come up at point A, stitch down at point B, come up at point C and down into point D. Continue. Secure by weaving. Figure B (see figures below)
4. Weaving - To secure back stitching, shadow and satin stitching, weave needle in and out of stitches worked on the wrong side. Figure C (see figure below)
5. Straight Stitch - Bring needle up at point A, down at point B, up at point C and down at point D. Continue. Secure with a tiny knot on the back. Figure D

1. Lay fabric over design and trace with a sharp #2 pencil.
2. Insert fabric into embroidery hoop right side up.
3. Place a waste knot on the wrong side and come up at point A. put needle in at point B and pull to the back. Bring needle up at point C and down into point B. Bring needle up at point D, and down at point A. Each "hole" will be used twice. Floss will cross on the wrong side to create the shadows.
Figure A (see figure below)
4. Tie off by "weaving" the thread under and over the crossed thread on the wrong side. Weaving should be done on the extreme side of a shadow-stitched area so the woven straight thread will not show.
5. When stitching an uneven curved area such as a scallop, make slightly smaller stitches on the inner curve and slightly larger stitches on the outer curve. Figure B (see figure below)
6. When stitching thin lines such as a stem for a flower, work the same backstitch in a straight line. Come up at point A, place needle in point B and pull to the back. Come up at point C and down in point A. Continue. Figure C