Minimalist Female Portrait Embroidery Design, Instant Download

Two colours only in this portrait build, which is kinda the whole point. One thread handles the skin tones using narrow satin columns that follow the contours of the face, the second thread lays down the hair in a directional fill that runs at a slight angle to stop it looking flat. Im always a bit worried that two colours wont be enough for a face design but at density 515 the satin gives enough tonal shift that it reads as a proper portrait rather than just a silhouette.

Four sizes in this one, going from 4.51 inches wide at the small end up to 7.51 inches at the largest. Stitch range is 8,455 to 13,718, so even the top size is managable on machines that struggle with very heavy builds. Pop a soft backer underneath and take your time hooping the fabric taut. The satin on the face can look rippled if the fabric moves at all during stitching.

A customer who sews silk blouses sent me a message this past February asking about fabric prep. I told her to back the silk with a light tearaway plus a cutaway underneath it for stability, then lay water-soluble film across the face section. She came back a week later to say it stitched out perfectly. Honestly its the two-colour restraint that makes this design work well on delicate fabrics since theres less thread weight stacking up. Send the file through your embroidery software first to check the stitch order before you load it onto the machine.

Best on solid mid-tone fabrics where both thread colours contrast clearly. Pale blush linen works well with dark espresso thread. Works nicely centred on a tote bag front or on the chest area of a light-coloured shirt.