Realistic Portrait Embroidery

Start by getting to know Yamila, her background, her sources of inspiration, and how her journey into different techniques applies to her projects.

Explore the materials and mediums to carry out your final project. Yamila gives you some tips for selecting reference images to start drawing and putting together an inspirational mood board.

Trace the main features of your model (with pencil on paper or on an iPad). Learn to identify lights and shadows and see how to detail your portrait to achieve realism and expression.

Then, draw a pattern or “embroidery map” on a garment and define its colors before embroidering it. Discover what transfer printing is and how to combine it with illustration and embroidery.

Yamila shows you how to transfer your illustration to fabric using transfer printing and demonstrates a series of embroidery techniques that can be used to add life to your portrait.

Finally, see some new uses for the technique, as well as the different details and finishes that will make your pieces truly unique.