Hand embroidery is a fun and accessible hobby because there are only a few basic tools and materials you need to start. Everything is relatively easy to find, and the materials are inexpensive compared to other art mediums.

Choosing supplies that are good quality and suitable for hand embroidery will make it much easier to learn. Using the wrong materials will only hinder your learning process. This page is full of hand supplies I recommend to make the learning process smoother.

This article goes over the basic embroidery supplies you’ll need. However, there are links to other articles that go into greater detail about each supply or material.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

Want to grab everything at once instead of piecing together what you need? Check out this embroidery starter kit that features a collection of my favorite embroidery supplies!

Basic Supplies

If you’re just getting started, these are some of the basic embroidery supplies you’ll want to purchase.

Embroidery Hoops

Embroidery hoops are a must-have because they help to keep the fabric tight while you stitch on it. This helps to prevent the fabric from puckering, improves the quality and look of the finished embroidery, and aids in preventing hand fatigue.

Hoops come in a variety of different materials including metal, plastic, bamboo, and wood. There are a wide variety of types and sizes available online and at most craft stores.

While there are many different options, they all perform the same function for the most part. The type you end up using depends mostly on your personal preference.

When choosing what size hoop to use, keep in mind the size of the embroidery design you want to stitch. Some common sizes to start with are hoops between 4-7 inches. These are large enough to fit an embroidery design in but not so big that the they’re hard to hold and stitch with.

Here’s an in-depth look at all of the different types of embroidery hoops and how to use them.

Needles

It can be overwhelming picking out the correct needle to use for embroidery. In fact, there have been countless times that I have gotten home from the craft store only to find that I purchased the wrong kind.

There are a ton of different types of needles in the sewing section of any craft store. Each type of needle is made for specific types of needle crafts. The eye, degree of sharpness, length, and thickness are all unique to each different type of needle.

The most common needles you can use for hand embroidery are crewel and chenille needles. It’s helpful to have an assortment of sizes to use for different amounts of thread.

Read more about types of embroidery needles and their uses as well as some of the best needles to choose from.

Transferring Tools

When you start a new embroidery project, you’ll want some way to transfer embroidery designs to the fabric. You can do this with fabric markers, heat erasable pens, transfer paper, or even with certain embroidery stabilizers.

Stabilizers for hand embroidery aren’t a requirement, but they will most definitely help you. Stabilizers help to support the fabric if you’re working on fragile or stretchy material and others, like stick and stitch, serve the dual purpose of transferring a design.

Learn about all of the different types of embroidery stabilizers and how to use them.

Embroidery Thread

There are many different types of embroidery threads to choose from including pearl cotton, stranded cotton, variegated thread, etc. Embroidery thread can come in a variety of different materials including, but not limited to cotton, wool, rayon, and acrylic.

For beginners, it’s most helpful to start out with 6-strand cotton floss and perle cotton floss. This is because natural fibers are easier to use and work with than their synthetic counterparts.

I mostly use DMC brand embroidery floss because of it’s large variety of colors, but there are many other kinds of high quality brands available.

DMC is a bit more expensive than other craft store brands of thread. Learn about more affordable options in this embroidery thread comparison review.

Scissors

A good pair of sharp embroidery scissors and some fabric scissors is a must.

It may seem a little overboard, but I like to have two different pairs of scissors available. (i.e. not all-purpose, junk drawer scissors!) I exclusively use my fabric scissors for cutting fabric and my embroidery scissors for cutting thread. Using them for other purposes tends to wear them out and make them dull faster.

Take a look at this roundup post of 9 aesthetically pleasing embroidery scissors available on Etsy.

Embroidery Fabric

The easiest fabrics to work with for hand embroidery are natural fabrics such as linen and cotton. This is because they are relatively durable, don’t have any stretch, and the weave of the fabric is even. Embroidering with these fabrics will make it easier to pull a needle and thread through and you won’t have the headache of puckered or damaged fabric when you’re finished.

There are, of course, other options for fabric. Learn more about how to find the best fabric for embroidery.

Embroidery Accessories

These accessories are not necessary, but they are helpful to have.

It is extremely important to have good lighting when you’re embroidering. You can use a natural light bulb in a lamp nearby your stitching area or there are plenty of magnifying lamps that would work well.

It’s also really helpful to have a stand to hold the hoop. Your hands and eyes will thank you later!

Check out this embroidery hoop stand comparison and review. to see some of the different options out there.