Shisha mirror embroidery: A contemporary approach

Description

Mirror embroidery, also known as shisha embroidery, involves the application of small mirrors (and other objects) to fabric using decorative stitching. Shisha stitches are easy to learn and fun to experiment with! The basic concept of mirror embroidery is simple: foundation stitches are sewn over the mirror, and then decorative stitches are looped over the foundation stitches and anchored in the fabric. Supplies used in shisha embroidery Mirrors and mirror substitutes If you’re venturing into shisha embroidery for the first time, you don’t have to use mirrors to practice! I often use a 3/4″ or 1″ hole punch to make decorative card stock disks that are easy to practice with. You can also use other objects with shisha embroidery. Many embroiderers like to recycle old CDs by cutting them into shapes to stitch onto fabric. Large, flat sequins or paillettes work well, too, as do flat buttons, coins, punched heavy duty foil, mylar mirrors, seashells, or flat or half-dome gemstones. Traditional shisha mirrors are called mica mirrors, and they are usually imperfectly shaped, a little bubbly, chipped, and very irregular. They’re good to use, if you want to produce authentic-looking shisha. They’re also quite thin, so they don’t add a lot of weight to the embroidery. Read more