Create Whimsy

Inspring makers and sharing their stories

Embroidery

Category: <span>Embroidery</span>

Embroidery, whether by hand or machine, is gaining popularity as a fiber arts technique that anyone can do. Some folks prefer to follow a pattern for tried and true embroidery designs. Others will take their embroidery stitches in brand new directions to create original art. And stitches can look very different depending on your choice of embroidery thread – color, weight, twist and fiber all add unique elements that make your work unique.

Beginners will find patterns and tutorials to learn everything from French Knots to Lazy Daisies. Experienced stitchers will find inspiration and resources while exploring the creations of working embroidery artists. So, let’s start stitching!

Embroidery TutorialsHand EmbroideryMachine EmbroiderySashiko

Embroidery Basics

Changing up the stitches is certainly a big element in making your hand embroidery as creative as it can be, but what you choose to stitch with adds yet another...

I love to stitch, and I’ve found that I enjoy the experience much more when I have my favorite tools close at hand. Hand embroidery doesn’t require a lot of...

Embroidery Artists and Inspiration

With a strong sense of narrative, Michelle Kingdom embraces embroidery as an art form that has long been sidelined as "women's work". With lines of stitching, she creates textural drawings...

Alexis Acevedo was studying fashion design when the needlepoint bug that had bitten her in childhood came buzzing back with the infinite design possibilities of color and texture she could...

While her first embroidery project at age 10 presented challenges, Shirley Hudson is glad she persisted. She has made a career out of stitch, and her work designing patterns doesn't...

Sashiko Embroidery

Whether a student of historical Japanese Sashiko or a Modern Creative just looking for an easy, enjoyable slow stitching project, Sashiko might be “it”. All you need are simple sashiko...

Making Sashiko ornaments is a great way to see what the slow-stitch movement is all about. It's slow stitch, to be sure, but the projects are so small you can...

More Embroidery

Sashiko coasters finished

How to Make Sashiko Coasters

Learn how to make Sashiko Coasters with this step-by-step tutorial. You can use any Sashiko stitches to make these coasters - perfect for trying out different stitches that you might…
Sashiko Jujizashi 10 cross stitch finished

Jujizashi Sashiko Cross Stitch

Jujizashi Sashiko cross stitch is a very common sashiko stitch that is worked with horizontal and vertical running stitches. It is a Hitomezashi type of sashiko stitching and is worked…
Sashiko Persimmon Flower Stitch finished

Hitomezashi Sashiko

Hitomezashi sashiko is a one stitch method of stitching. It is sometimes called hitome-sashi sashiko stitching or "one stitch" sashiko. You stitch small straight lines on your fabric by starting…
Embellished brown bag

Spotlight: Ksenia Semirova, Embroidery Artist

Embroidery Artist Ksenia Semirova makes a statement with every stitch she takes. Ksenia melds a background in industrial design with a foundation in embroidery to create works of art with…
Counted cross stitch bee finished 2

How to do Counted Cross Stitch

Learn everything you'd want to know about how to do counted cross stitch in this article! We'll cover the supplies you need, how to get started and even provide a…
Leah Nikolaou Paper Embroidery- Bag

Spotlight: Leah Nikolaou, Textile Designer

A number of serendipitous a-ha moments inspired textile designer Leah Nikolaou to combine several techniques, creating her embroidered pressed flower art. She plans meticulously, including deciding which seeds to plant…
Woman in tub embroidery art

Spotlight: Bianca Springer; Fiber Artist

Fiber artist Bianca Springer has a vision: to create culturally relevant work that encourages others to make art a meaningful part of their own lives. She didn't see people who…