Embroidered Linear Portrait
A course by Koral Antolín MailloDesigner, embroiderer, and art director
A course by Koral Antolín Maillo, Designer, embroiderer, and art director
Combine embroidered stitches with a traditional and Kantan needle to create unique portraits
Do you want to learn how to make portraits in a way that is both different and full of personality? The designer and embroiderer Koral Antolín will show you how to synthesize the essence of someone to represent them in a unique and personal way, through a linear embroidered portrait. Koral is the founder of Fábrica de Imaginación, a multidisciplinary studio focused on art direction, and the creator of Studio fi, a brand of hand-embroidered products, whose work has been published in specialized magazines such as Interiores, Mollie Makes, and Elle Casa.
In this course, learn how to make a portrait and embroider it on a textile garment. Learn how to draw and simplify a linear portrait step by step and then embroider it with a traditional and Kantan needle. In addition, see how to enrich the embroidery with different textures, which you will achieve by combining several stitches and applying beads and sequins.
What will you learn in this online course?
22 lessons & 16 downloads
What will we do in the course?
2 minutes, 18 seconds
Materials
6 minutes, 42 seconds
Pictorial drawing vs. line drawing
8 minutes, 34 seconds
Portrait Adjustments
12 minutes, 30 seconds
Line drawing: referent and simplification
15 minutes, 18 seconds
Points with the traditional needle 1
11 minutes, 54 seconds
What's included in this course?
Meet Koral Antolín, who tells you about herself, her art direction project (Imagination Factory), and about her embroidery brand (Studio fi). She shows you her main influences: artists, photographers, and textile artists.
Before starting the practical side, she talks to you about the materials needed to start drawing and embroidering your linear portrait.
See the differences between a painting and a line drawing. Get into drawing the portrait and Koral will show you two ways to do it: based on the proportions or starting from a photograph that you will transfer to the fabric.
Move on to the embroidery phase! Learn the basics such as chain stitch, festoon, and filling with flat stitch, to raised stitches such as French stitch. Make a sample book out of these stitches.
Koral shares with you how to embroider your project with a traditional needle, but also how to embroider with the Kantan needle, a tool that will allow you to achieve results in a faster and more effective way.
See how to transfer the drawing to the fabric. Start by embroidering the lines of the face and hair (with a traditional needle or Kantan), then embroider the nose, eyes, and mouth. Finally, learn how to integrate the textures and raised stitches into the background by combining stitches, beads, and sequins so that they can function as a frame.
Once you have your garment, Koral gives you some tips on how to take care of it and ideas for other applications.
What is this course's project?
Embroider a linear portrait on a garment from the photograph you choose. You can use the traditional needle or the Kantan needle, and learn how to enrich your embroidery by adding texture and a raised effect through a combination of stitches, beads, and sequins.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for creative people, illustrators, and lovers of handmade things who want to learn how to embroider a linear portrait with a traditional needle or learn a new technique using the Kantan needle.
Requirements and materials
No previous knowledge of drawing or embroidery is required, but patience and willingness to learn are. If you already have some experience, this course will also help you to add new techniques to your repertoire.
Regarding materials, for the drawing part of the portrait, you will need a photograph, tracing paper, pencils, a pencil sharpener, and an eraser. For the embroidery part, you will use threads, needles, and a frame. Although it is not mandatory, a Kantan needle is recommended, since there will be specific lessons where you will learn how to use it and thus you will be able to get the most out of the course.
Reviews
- 2 months ago
Buen curso buena explicación
- 2 months ago
Me encantó este curso es muy completo y te enseña super bien a usar la aguja Kantan. gracias!
- 5 months ago
Excelente curso, Lo recomiendo!
- 6 months ago
Buen curso, lo estoy disfrutando muchísimo. Mill gracias
- 9 months ago
Me ha encantado. Me parece muy inspirador.
She is the founder and creative mind of the studio Fábrica de Imaginación and has her own brand of embroidery products, Studio fi.
Her work has been published in specialized magazines such as Interiores, Molly Makes, Elle Casa, Mr. Wonderful, Labores, AD, and Sewing box.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- Presentation
- Influences
- What will we do in the course?
- U2
Materials and Line Drawing
- Materials
- Pictorial drawing vs. line drawing
- Portrait Adjustments
- Line drawing: referent and simplification
- U3
Kantan traditional embroidery and needle
- Points with the traditional needle 1
- Points with the traditional needle 2
- The Kantan needle
- The Kantan technique 1
- The Kantan 2 technique
- Advanced points with the Kantan needle 1
- Advanced points with the Kantan 2 needle
- U4
Let's Embroider!
- Transfer your portrait to fabric
- The first stitches 1
- The first stitches 2
- Textures with more advanced points 1
- Textures with more advanced points 2
- Beads and sequins 1
- Beads and sequins 2
- Other apps
- FP
Final project
- Embroidered Linear Portrait
What to expect from a Domestika course
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Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
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Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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FAQs
Kantan needle embroidery is a traditional Japanese technique that lets you create decorative stitches—especially chain stitch—quickly and precisely, perfect for creative projects and adding unique textures to garments and accessories.
The course is designed for people with intermediate embroidery or drawing skills but is also accessible to beginners who want to deepen their creative techniques and learn to use the Kantan needle.
You’ll need fabric, an embroidery hoop, mouliné threads, both traditional and Kantan needles, tracing paper, a pencil, scissors, and optionally sequins or beads. The course provides detailed recommendations for each technique.
You’ll learn hand embroidery techniques using both traditional and Kantan needles, how to transfer designs, create embroidered portraits, use various stitches and finishes, plus tips on photographing and presenting your work.
Use tracing paper, water-soluble pencils, or special markers to outline your design on the fabric. The course walks you through the most practical methods for different fabrics and levels of detail.
The Kantan needle allows for faster, more even continuous stitches like chain stitch, while the traditional needle gives you greater control over basic stitches and fine details.
You’ll practice chain stitch, buttonhole stitch, backstitch, satin stitch, French knots, and techniques for applying sequins and beads using both traditional and Kantan needles.