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Shisha Embroidery

Free project instructions for an embroidering Kashmir mirror art machine embroidery designs.

Add some shine to your embroidery projects! Shisha embroidery, or mirror-work, is a type of embroidery that attaches mirrors to fabric. The word "shisheh" means mirror in Persian.

Mirrors are not the only thing you can add to shisha embroidery to achieve a shiny effect. In this tutorial, you'll learn how to work with other materials as well.

Read on to learn how to make your embroidery sparkle!

Other Supplies Needed:

**Medium weight cutaway stabilizer

**Temporary spray adhesive

**Craft punch for preparing aluminum shapes

Supplies Needed:

For the mirror applique pieces, choose one or more of the following:

**Craft aluminum (lightweight embossing aluminum; I found mine at Michaels)

**Mylar (foil gift wrap or foil balloons)

**Metallic fabric (such as lame)

**Metallic-sheen ribbon, at least 1 1/2 wide

Designs used:

A Kashmir Mirror Art Design Pack -- Large and Small

Note: This technique is featured in the Curtain Pullbacks with Mirror Art project. Mirror-work will also look fabulous on other home decor items such as pillows, wall hangings, table toppers, and more!

When you download Kashmir Mirror Art designs, you will find two files: one starts with a "Y" followed by four numbers; this is the embroidery file. The other starts will a "Y" followed by four numbers and ends in "_DL" -- this is the dieline file.

Hoop the fabric or garment you will be embroidering and attach the hoop to the machine. Load the embroidery file (the file that starts with "Y" followed by four numbers). Embroider the design. The first thing to sew is the dielines for the mirror pieces. After the dielines have sewn, stop the machine.

Next, I will prepare the mirror applique pieces. I am using four different kinds of materials to demonstrate the different looks. First, for the aluminum, use a 1" circle craft punch to cut the pieces.

For metallic fabric, spray a piece of medium weight cutaway stabilizer with temporary adhesive and smooth the fabric on top. Print the dieline file using embroidery software. Spray the backside of the paper with a quick shot of adhesive and smooth it on top of the fabric.

Cut out the shape.

For Mylar and metallic-sheen ribbon, cut the pieces just as you would the metallic fabric ("sandwich" the three layers together with adhesive) and cut out the shapes.

Now that all the pieces are cut, spray the backside of the pieces with adhesive.

Place the pieces right inside the dieline shapes on the fabric. Continue embroidering the design.

The next thing that will sew are the borders around the pieces, and then other elements of the design will sew.

And your mirror art design is complete! Here is a close-up of the aluminum piece.

And here is the Mylar.

And the metallic fabric (I used lame).

And finally the metallic-sheen ribbon.

All four materials give great results. Have fun choosing your favorite to make your projects shine!

Click here for a printable version of these project instructions.

Kenny is a master digitizer and Vice President of Production at Embroidery Library, Inc.

Ask Kenny! Send email to stitch@emblibrary.com.


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