Welcome to Embroidery Bingo 2023! Please see the details below about getting started, setting up your Bingo card, and playing along on social media (Instagram and Patreon). Jessica will begin calling a stitch a day beginning February 1st so be sure to get your Bingo cards prepared and uploaded ASAP. Do not begin filling in the stitches until they are announced!
Everyone is welcome to play on Instagram. There will also be an additional game running parallel on Patreon, with winners receiving a DMC threaded color card as a prize. February Stitching Club members will be getting a free embroidery pattern which features the stitches practiced during the game. Learn more about additional Stitching Club perks here: Patreon. Join either tier on February 1st to play Bingo, but only Stitching Club members will be receiving the PDF pattern.
If you are brand new to hand embroidery you may want to check out the beginner guide before you begin.
Before you start! Grab your supplies:
- An 8 inch embroidery hoop. If you don’t have this size you can resize the card grid to fit your hoop.
- Embroidery fabric. I recommend a quilting cotton such as Kona brand in a light color (for easy pattern tracing) but an old pillow case will work, too. This year I'm offering a small selection of printed fabric for sale here: link.
- Hand embroidery needles.
- Assorted embroidery thread. This is a good project for using up old thread scraps.
- Scissors for cutting out the template, and for trimming fabric and thread as needed.
- Pens for tracing the design. I used a permanent marker for my grid and a water soluble fabric pen for my stitch guidelines. It can help to have extra pen and paper to write notes or create a key for yourself, too.
- Clear tape for creating your unique Bingo card. See below for more information.
- A bright window, lamp or light box for tracing the grid and guidelines to your fabric. You may choose to use a different transfer method such as carbon paper, printable stabilizer, etc.
- The 2023 Bingo grid template and embroidery stitch guidelines (link). Hover your mouse towards the bottom of the screen to find the download button. Hover your mouse towards the right of the screen to click to page 2. Alternatively, you can find this document (separated into two files) via Dropbox: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/79seiaf6big313gbtp3px/h?dl=0&rlkey=j8v9zvm6kbvkbfv2ereaduepc
Set up your Bingo card:
- Hoop up your fabric. You may want to bind your hoop for extra tension. Be sure your fabric is drum tight.
- Trace (or use your transfer method of choice) the blank Bingo card grid template to your fabric. You may choose to combine this step with steps 3 & 4 below and trace the grid and stitch guidelines at the same time.
- Cut out the stitch templates and decide which 24 stitches you want to include on your card. Remember to keep the center square as a free space. You can stitch whatever you like in this center square and it counts towards a 5 in a row and a full black out win. Feel free to stitch this free square before we begin on February 1sst. Have fun with this square and use it to personalize your card.
- Trace the stitch templates to your Bingo card on your fabric. If preferred, you may want to create your own templates or just write the name of the stitch or corresponding stitch number (per the alphabetized, numbered list) in your squares. You can also create a card key using the small included grid or alternatively you can write your Bingo square number on your numbered stitch list. Basically, there are many ways to keep track of your unique Bingo card. It doesn’t matter which method you choose. Just be sure that Jessica will be able to understand which stitches you’ve assigned to which squares on your card. DO NOT CHANGE THESE AFTER FEBRUARY 1st.
- If you would like to add the remaining 4 stitches to your card for practice please do! These squares will not count towards any Bingo wins.
- Do not stitch in any squares yet except for your center free space!
Enter to play:
To create a fair game you must share your unique Bingo card with Jessica before February 1st. You can share a photo of your prepped fabric (with transferred stitch templates), a copy of your mini grid key, or a written description of your card (Example: "row 1: cretan, ribbed spider web, chain...")
Ways to share:
- Share a photo of your card on Instagram with the tag #embroiderybingo2023
- Email Jessica@JessicaLongEmbroidery.com
- Upload your card or key here to the Dropbox here: link
How to Play
- Once a day, beginning on February 1st, Jessica will announce a random stitch from the list of 28. The stitch will be demonstrated in a video posted on the @JessicaLongEmbroidery Instagram feed and Jessica Long Embroidery Patreon page (https://www.patreon.com/JessicaLongEmbroidery)
- If the embroidery stitch of the day is on anywhere on your 5x5 card, stitch it! If the stitch is challenging just do your best. This is an opportunity to try new stitches and have fun. You’ll get credit for the square regardless of your hand embroidery experience and technique. Feel free to comment and ask questions on the social media posts.
How to Win
The free space in the center counts towards a Bingo win. Stitch whatever you'd like in this space.
- First to get 5 in a row. If a stitch is called that gives you five stitched squares in a row, comment on that social media post with “BINGO!” You will then have 24 hours to finish stitching your row and share it with Jessica. If more than one person gets a Bingo from the same stitch they will all receive a prize as long as they complete their row of stitching within 24 hours.
- Blackout winner. After Day 24: If you have all squares on your card called, comment on the social media post with “BINGO!” You will then have 48 hours to finish stitching your card and share it with Jessica. If multiple people get blackouts on the same day they will all be considered winners once they complete stitching their cards.
- Stay tuned for more details regarding prizes. There will be at least two winners on Instagram and two winners on Patreon. Patreon members are playing to win a DMC threaded color card.
Questions? Email me at Jessica@JessicaLongEmbroidery.com