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TOOLS OF THE TRADE

In her ongoing effort to bring embroidery out of Grandma’s attic, Benning takes a freestyle approach, using just a few basic techniques (rather than a lot of complex stitches) and five simple items.

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American Made

GOOD LIVING

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GOOD SHEARS

“Look for a sharp pair of scissors. Fiskars makes a range of products, from large fabric shears to small thread snips to really cool, TSA-friendly foldable ones,” Benning says ( fiskars.com).

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STARTER FABRIC

“The best material for beginners is cotton: It has a tight weave, so you can keep your stitches close together. Linen is more challenging, but it creates a nice textural difference between fabric and stitching.”

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A PATTERN

“I use regular pencils to trace a pattern onto fabric, because I can achieve more detail than with a fabric marker. If you’re working with dark fabric, switch to tailor’s chalk or a white pencil.”

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COLORFUL FLOSS

“DMC embroidery floss and needles— I like size 5—are widely available and come in more than 400 rich colors. Plus, the thread is so silky and smooth when you’re sewing” (dmc-usa.com).

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NICE HOOPS

“I always use wooden ones. Once I’m happy with a completed project, I trim the excess fabric, leaving a quarter-inch all around, and secure it to the hoop with tacky glue.”

Benning’s Inspiration

“Whenever I travel, I seek out botanical gardens and wander greenhouses, take pictures, and sketch ideas for future projects.”

Botanischer Garten, Berlin “My absolute favorite. So many of the details I find there make their way into my work.”

The Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago “This is the first botanical garden I ever visited, and I instantly fell in love with it. I visited every few months when I was in school.”

Kew Gardens, London “The glass houses here are an amazing mix of classic Victorianera architecture and modern designs.”