10 Beginner Embroidery Tips Everyone Should Know

I remember when I first started embroidering. My journey consisted of a lot of trial and error, with a few triumphs along the way. Learning something new felt so exciting! But I also felt discouraged when things didn’t turn out quite as I expected.

Learning embroidery can feel like a rollercoaster; you take one step forward and then two steps back. So today, I’ll be sharing some beginner embroidery tips and encouraging advice from fellow embroiderers to help you.

When I first started writing this post, I had a few practical tips to share, but I also decided to reach out to my audience on Instagram to see what they had to say to someone just starting. And wow, I wasn’t expecting some of their answers! I’ve featured them at the end of this post, and I think you’ll find their words extremely helpful and encouraging.

This post is a part of a series of posts about hand embroidery. For even more beginner embroidery tips, check out how to embroider for beginners.

This post is a part of a series of posts about hand embroidery. For even more beginner embroidery tips, check out how to embroider for beginners.

1. Stick With Natural Fabrics

Natural, medium-weight fabrics like linen, quilting cotton, and muslin are the easiest to work with. Avoid fabric blends containing synthetic materials and anything that contains elastic. When you’re stitching, you’ll feel a world of difference, and your embroidery will turn out better overall.

If you’re unsure where to shop, head to this post, where I share all my favorite places to buy fabric.

2. Invest In High Quality Supplies

Embroidery is a relatively cheap hobby to pick up. There are many generic supplies, but I recommend skipping over some of the cheaper options and spending just a few more dollars on embroidery hoops and floss. They will last longer and make for a better crafting experience.

Choosing Quality Embroidery Hoops

The plastic and wood hoops available at the craft store are usually okay to work with, but if you can spend a little bit more money, I’d recommend getting a nicer embroidery hoop. Here’s a list of some of the best ones: I use beechwood hoops most regularly.

If you purchase a wood or bamboo hoop at the craft store, ensure the inner and outer rings seal together tightly. If there are gaps between the rings, they won’t grip a piece of fabric evenly, which will cause all sorts of problems.

Embroidery Floss Brands That Are Worth Buying

The second material that I wouldn’t skimp on is floss. Nice embroidery floss is smooth in texture, has a sheen, and is more durable than some generic brands. DMC is the brand I use because of its wide range of color selections, but there are plenty of other high-quality floss brands to choose from, too.

3. Find A Transfer Method That Works For You

There are about a dozen different ways to transfer patterns to fabric. I used to recommend particular methods, but I have found that certain techniques don’t work well for everyone. For example, I love using Stick n’ Stitch, but some people find it annoying and hard to stitch through.

Ultimately, the design should be easy to follow and the marks should stay visible on the fabric while you’re handling it.

I recommend experimenting with several techniques to see which works best for you!

4. Master A Few Stitches

I love embroidery because you can use as little or as many stitches as you want in a design. Pick a few of your favorite stitches and focus on learning and mastering them. Once you feel comfortable with those, branch out and discover new ones.

Here are the beginner friendly stitches I recommend you start with.

5. Use The Right Needle Size

I used to pick up a needle and use it as long as I could thread it. While it’s certainly possible to embroider like this, it’s better to choose a needle size in relation to the number of strands of floss you are using. When you use the correct size needle, you may be surprised to see your work improve, making stitching a whole lot easier!

This post explains everything you need to know about needle sizes.

6. Learn From Other Artists

Check if some of your favorite embroidery artists share tutorials or sell kits and patterns. While you may want to dive into creating your own designs, learning how to work a design from a pattern is helpful because it will usually walk you through each step. You’ll learn much about what makes up an embroidery design and become more familiar with how different stitches can be used.

7. Use Embroidery Books To Learn

The internet is a fantastic place to learn embroidery, but nothing beats having a physical book with everything in it.

The book I recommend to everyone is the Royal School of Needlework Book of Embroidery. It has all the embroidery stitch references and guides to specific techniques you could ever need.

Another great place to look for books is thrift shops. I come across so many vintage embroidery books there that are full of useful information.

8. Take Breaks

If you’re getting frustrated, take a break! Sometimes, when you’re learning a new skill, it can be discouraging when it doesn’t turn out the way you want it to. It never hurts to put a project down and come back to it with fresh eyes.

9. Find What Style And Techniques Work Best For You

If you are drawn to a particular style or enjoy a technique that comes easily to you, I say run with it!

When I first started embroidering, I felt pressure to design my embroidery patterns in a style similar to that of other artists I looked up to. I loved the look of more modern, minimalist art, but it never felt natural to me to draw and stitch. After struggling for a while, I realized that I should embrace more of what felt easy to me: thread painting.

10. Encouraging Advice From Fellow Embroidery Artists

Don’t worry about making every stitch perfect, just enjoy the process.

Rosewood

No work deadlines! Even better if you stretch out the project over many days.

Ella M.

Don’t give up when you get frustrated!! Just keep trying!

Hip Threads Embroidery

Honestly don’t worry too much about the names and techniques of stitches. Just play around and see how things feel. Embroidery is very intuitive; you’ll learn best from trying it out!

Rachel J.

It doesn’t matter if you don’t follow the “rules” or prescribed stitching methods. Do what works and enjoy.

Ephemera Embroidery