Getting Started in Hand Embroidery

Looking for a simple craft to do? Hand embroidery is the perfect thing to do at home or on the go!

Embroidering can be a relatively cheap craft to get into. Did you catch that? Can be. Don’t get me wrong – you can spend a small fortune on patterns and supplies and books and oh-so-cute tiny embroidery scissors. Not that I have done that…

Embroidery Basics

Here are the basics:

  Needles. Of course. I use this variety pack from the craft store. I like having a few different sizes depending on how many strands of embroidery thread I am using. 

Embroidery thread. I would start with the basic DMC six-strand embroidery floss. It is usually less than $.40/skein so you can start a new project with only a few dollars worth of thread. Plus it comes in a rainbow of beautiful colors. (And if you want to organize your embroidery thread on cards like mine, check out this post). There are also some specialty metallic and satin threads. I have not ventured into this yet – they are a bit trickier to work with, and my aesthetic just has not called for metallic thread. Maybe when I start my Lady Gaga tribute piece. (uhm, kidding!)

Hoops. There are plastic and wood and square and circle and oval hoops. All kinds. I like the simple wooden ones. They are simple, plain, and best of all – cheap!

Material. I am still searching for my favorite fabric to embroider on. Books and other sites recommend an even weave fabric with a high thread count and I agree. Linen is great for this and is a commonly embroidered fabric. I will keep you updated on what specific kinds of fabrics I am loving as I come across them. I have tried to embroider on cheap, thin patterned fabric and it really didn’t work. It didn’t support my stitches and if I were to wash the finished work, it may leave holes where the needle went in and out of the fabric. (This is why a high thread count is recommended.)

Embroidery scissors. This is not an absolute must if you aren’t ready to spend the money on a good quality pair, but I would recommend them. If you decide to wait on an expensive pair, you can find cheaper versions that will get the job done just fine.  A good, sharp pair of tiny scissors can help you with pulling out stitches or clipping tiny threads. Plus they are cute and I have always wanted a pair so I pretty much needed them. (by the way, I want these).

Patterns. There are iron on patterns, books, pdf’s, and well, anything that inspires you can become a pattern. The source of your design will determine how you transfer that pattern, so it is something to keep in mind. For instance, I am not a huge fan of iron on patterns, although I am a huge fan of the designs. So, what do I do? I trace the pattern onto tracing paper and the use a light source to trace it onto the fabric. Confused? Let’s keep going.

Water soluble marker. Here is my favorite way to transfer patterns: a window. Yep. I tape my pattern to the window, tape my fabric over it, and use this marker to trace. When I am done embroidering, I use a Q-tip to dab water on the marker lines and they disappear.

So that’s it – the very basics of getting started in embroidery. If you are looking for a good book to get you started, I would recommend Doodle Stitching – the Motif Collection or Embroidered Effects. Both of these books cover the basics, stitches, and have lots of cute patterns.

Embroidery Tutorials: 

• Learn how to chain stitch
• How to Stem Stitch
• How to Stitch a Lazy Daisy
• Learn how to blanket stitch
• Stitched Heart Bookmarks
• Handprint Keepsake
• Spring Embroidery Project
• How to Embroider Letters