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Gather materials

Learning hand embroidery does not have to be a difficult process. You can get started with just a few common embroidery supplies.

There are numerous online resources to help you along the way with tutorials, supplies, and inspiration, including:

See more info about these resources in the Resources topic.

Find a design

If you're new to hand embroidery, start small. Keep the project design simple and make sure it's big enough to maneuver around while stitching, but also not so big it takes you 30 hours to complete. (Estimating the time needed for a project is difficult, but will get easier the more you stitch.)

A simple line drawing design of about 3-5" is a good place to start. Choose something uncomplicated your first time, like this landscape embroidery.

cardinalandfitz small landscape embroidery

cardinalandfitz embroidery

Deciding what to stitch is always daunting for me! I have so many ideas and see so much inspiration online. I use Pinterest, as well as Instagram, to gather drawings, designs, or inspiration that speak to me.

I sometimes buy pre-made patterns from Sublime Stitching or Etsy instead of retrofitting or designing my own. I also have a small collection of embroidery or textile craft books that I also use as templates or inspiration, such as Yumiko Higuchi's "A Year of Embroidery".

You can use many things as embroidery patterns, including:

  • Tattoos
  • Drawings
  • Online graphics
  • Logos or labels
  • Photos
  • Hand drawings you create yourself
  • Lettering
  • Paintings
  • Pre-made embroidery patterns (like from Sublime Stitching or Yumiko Higuchi's book)
  • Stencils

In the Patterns folder, I've included several pre-made patterns you can choose to start your first embroidery project.

Don't let that stop you from being creative with your own design, though! Peruse Instagram (search hashtags like #linedrawing, #embroidery, or #beginnerembroidery), Google images (try searching for terms like animal line drawing, floral line drawing, or embroidery line drawing), or sign up for Sublime Stitching's newsletter to receive free patterns delivered to your email.

Designs that are very simple, like line drawings, are best to start with. Print your design, ensuring it is sized around 3-5" (or however big you want your stitching project to be) before printing.

Get supplies

You will need a few basic supplies to begin your embroidery journey. Some are optional or useful, but not mandatory, and have been noted as such.

Supplies you need include:

  • Embroidery hoop---Either a wooden or plastic hoop is fine. Ensure it has a tightening mechanism for keeping your fabric taut and is least 1" larger on all sides than the overall size of the design to be stitched (best for a beginner, though you can technically use a hoop smaller than your overall design). I use a plastic hoop as my working hoop and then mount it in a wooden one (that I sometimes stain or paint a different shade) when I'm finished stitching.
  • Embroidery needle---These are easy to find on Amazon, the Sublime Stitching website, or at your local craft stores. They come in a range of sizes in multi-packs, but are larger than sewing machine needles. They have a blunter end and a larger hole than a regular sewing needle.
  • Embroidery floss---Embroidery floss is (typically) cotton thread that is made up of six strands. You can separate the floss into individual strands, or use multiple strands, to achieve the right thickness and look of stitches. It is thicker, and different, than regular sewing thread.
  • Fabric---Cotton and linen are among the most used fabrics for hand embroidery. You can also use felt, denim, organza, tulle, card stock or postcards, or any other fabric that suits your needs. Be imaginative! When stitching, a heavier fabric will require a larger, stronger needle. And above all, make sure you wash the fabric before doing anything else with it.
  • Scissors--Smaller scissors are easier to finagle loose threads with. There are many scissors primarily used for sewing and embroidery that are small and deft enough for embroidery purposes.
  • Transfer pen (optional, but recommended)---I use a transfer pen and an iron as my primary way of transferring a pattern. It is super helpful to have a fine tip transfer pen when transferring with a iron, though you can also use a Pilot Frixion pen to draw on your fabric (marks disappear with a hot iron), or a blue transfer pen (marks disappear with cold water, or over time). We'll go into more details about transferring your pattern in the Prepare fabric and design section.
  • Needle minder (optional)---Needle minders are two-piece magnetic tools that make it easier to keep track of your needle when you are changing the floss, tying off your floss, or having a snack! You place one piece on top of your fabric, and one on the bottom. It creates a magnetic spot for you to put your needle when you are not actively stitching.
  • Sticky Fabri-Solvy (optional)---Sticky Fabri-Solvy is a really cool tool that I don't often utilize, but plan to more in the future. You can print, copy, or draw on the material, remove the sticky backing, and then stick to your fabric. You simply stitch right over the top of both layers and then dissolve the Sticky Fabri-Solvy in water (and watch it magically disappear)! This material may be most useful with delicate fabrics like thing cotton, silk, organza, or tulle, as it further stabilizes the fabric you're stitching.