Wedding Embroidery Commission Part 1: Prep 🌱

I have a number of friends who are getting married next year. One of the brides, Alli, is commissioning me to custom embroider her wedding shirt. She’s planning to wear a lovely woven crop top + pants set.

Testing Threads & Styles ✦

While her top is getting altered, I’m in the process of sourcing and testing out thread options. This week I prepped a hoop to test out some stabilizer, floral design motifs, and satin thread options. The fabric of her top reminds me of Aida cloth used for cross stitch– but much lighter– so I’m using some Aida I have lying around to draft my ideas since the weaves are very similar.

My main goal is to work on creating a look she’s in love with that balances: the theme/colors, Alli’s style, the celebratory energy of their wedding, and tiny unique elements that you get to have when someone custom embroiders your wedding day look! I’m in the centering phase of my process where I dream up options and go too big before I pare it down again.

Right now, I’m simply working on testing if I want to offer to use all DMC thread, satin thread, metallic thread, or a mix. I’m also going to test out some beaded/sequined elements as well to see if she wants something a little more couture.

My research on this project is how this made my November Favorites 🫘 list.

On My Process ✦

I want to make more of a deep dive essay on this topic, but for now I just feel like brain-dumping my process here since it’s on my mind right now.

Stages of My Creative Process:

Incubating:

Ideating in the background, exclusively taking in information and not producing a thing. Where I spend the most time.

Centering:

Researching extensively, going way too big before paring things down. Like how a potter centers their clay— high and low and pressurizing to the right amount. [See: The Girl with the Milk 🌱]

Iterating:

Testing making the thing, then making it again. Sometimes repeating. Feels like a longer phase than it is.

Finishing:

Final bits, pizzaz.

Next Steps ✦

Next, I’m meeting with Alli to talk through her design ideas, hopes, dreams. Then we’ll go from there! I’ll be recording the journey and updating as I go so stay tuned. ✨

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