Slow Stitching. Favorite Supplies and a Little Help to Get Started
I honestly had no idea what slow stitching was until I started to see it pop up on social media. Some use machine sewing, but most people enjoy the slow intentional art of hand stitching. Some mend clothing with beautiful stitching using darning stitches that add beauty and new life to old garments.
I've worked with fabric since I was a child. My mother introduced me to the sewing machine at a very young age, and everything else that involved fabric or yarn. I have made wedding quilts and baby quilts for all of my kids and now 20 grandchildren, but I must admit, that I liked designing the quilts more that piecing them together on the machine.
Textile art satisfies all of my artistic needs and gives me something to do to keep my hands busy when traveling or just enjoying the evening with family...mostly Mike. When the day is ending, we'll turn on the tv for an hour. He ties flies for fishing and I stitch. I am hoping my hands hold out as arthritis is creeping in, but until I can't hold a paint brush or needle any longer...I can't keep my hands or mind still.
The first thing I did was to buy a basic embroidery book. I am not an accomplished embroiderer, but knowing a few go to stitches has helped and this book also gives a good run down on supplies and how to back your fabric for stability. It really had everything I needed to get started.
Supplies:
Basic quilting supplies to cut and square your fabric.
Adhesive spray to keep your fabrics in place while you stitch. Nothing is worse than stitching around pins. There are a couple of good brands...I like Dritz as well, just make sure the can says that it can be used for quilting...odorless, colorless...acid free. JoAnn's usually has Dritz.
Odif 505 adhesive sprayDritz Adhesive Spray
An assortment of threads:
My favorite thread by far is Valdani Perle Cotton size 8! You can find it on Etsy, but I have loved the Hattie and Della company.
It is the most expensive of course, but it is about the thickness of 3 strands of floss and doesn't separate. Size 12 is smaller. I have a few size 5's and they are just too thick for my liking. Especially if I have delicate fabrics. I used to only use DMC floss, but using it now drives me crazy. But is you already have a stash...use it and add as you do more stitching. Another brand I love is Cottage Garden Threads. Most of the Cottage Garden threads are variegated, but they are fun to use. Mostly I use solids. DMC and Eleganza also make Perle Cotton and I have some of there threads as well. They are also very good and at a better cost than the Valdani. I've also bought some crewel wool and there is silk and crochet cotton you can experiment with as well.
Needles:
The only needles I use now are Bohin. I got attached to them when I was doing some wool ornaments last year and they are worth finding. For Slow stitching, I use embroidery needles size 7 (a little hard to thread, but smaller than Chenilles, when you have delicate fabric...or Chenille size 24 (my go too). The chenille has a wide eye to thread easily but is sharper than a wool felt needle. I also love the Bohin needle grabber which saves my sore hands when I am working with a dense fabric. My favorite supplier is Seed Stitch Studio. Kelsey is very helpful if you have questions.
Alice’s Favorite Slow Stitching Supplies
Transfer tools:
Bohin makes a chalk pencil that you can get in white and then buy dark chalk for it as well. I wouldn't use any markers or pen, even if they say it will fade or disappear with heat or water. I rarely use it though. A good quilting store will carry these.
Fabrics, Buttons and Lace:
As far as fabric goes, if you have a stash of quilting fabric, use it. You don't have to go out and buy a bunch of fabric to begin. I like to use vintage fabric as well as beautiful hand dyed linens, wool and my own quilting stash.
Linen is my go to fabric for the base of almost all projects. I source most of it from second hand shops or antique stores. 
Antique stores are great for hand stitched old quilts to cut up (I won't cut up one unless it is so worn out that it can't be used on a bed...if I can give it new life, then I'll cut it up, but someone worked really hard to make it, so only if it's on it's last legs). Old laces, buttons, textured yarn, doilies...all good finds at antique/thrift stores. But shop around. Find a store that has a big stash...they are always more reasonable. I wash everything that is thrifted.
Hand dyed/printed linens are my favorite material to use in my pieces. You can find vendors on Etsy.
African Mud Cloth is gorgeous, but most times heavy. It creates great texture though.
Kantha fabric (Indian sari's quilted together) is lovely...but fragile...because they are repurposed and thin. Use an embroidery needle with these. Both sides are completely different so they are fun to have. Etsy carries these as well.
Wool is another favorite to use. It's soft and easy to use and looks lovely mixed with other fabrics.
Stabilizer:
The most important part of your stitching will be to stabilize your base fabric. (usually linen for me) It will make your piece much easier to handle. I use Pellon 987 Fusible Fleece. You can use a cotton setting on your iron with steam. Don't go any hotter or it leaves the Pellon with a different texture. Remember the bumpy side goes against the fabric or your iron will not speak to you anymore! I just buy mine on amazon...in a package. But you can buy it by the yard at a fabric store.
Well, that's my favorites list! I'll post a little tutorial on how to get started next. Happy gathering!