Best Threads for Hand Embroidery: Floss and Thread Guide
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...
Embroidery
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 Basics
10 Easy Embroidery Stitches to Embellish Your Projects
Hand embroidery is so relaxing, and small projects can go anywhere with you. There are a gazillion stitches out there. (Sometimes we invent our own if we embrace little slips...
Best Tools for Hand Embroidery
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
Spotlight: Michelle Kingdom, Embroidery Artist
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...
Spotlight: Alexis Acevedo, Embroidery Artist
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...
Spotlight: Shirley Hudson, Designer
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
Beginner’s Guide to Sashiko Supplies
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...
How to Sashiko Stitch: A Step-by-Step Guide
Sometimes I want to get a project done really fast, but lately I have picked up a hand stitching project when I want to unwind. The slow, meditative process of...
How to Make Sashiko Ornaments
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
Spotlight: Susie Johns, Artist, Writer and Editor
Susie Johns started her career in publishing. She writes about two books a year, with projects and instructions for a variety of art and craft techniques. How did you find…
Spotlight: Hilary Leslie, Embroidery Artist
Hilary Leslie has spent most of her life drawing and illustrating. She picked up some embroidery supplies at a yard sale thinking it might be interesting to learn how to…
How to Whipstitch, Beginners Hand Sewing Tutorial
The whipstitch is a hand-sewing stitch that is used for English Paper piecing and to join fabrics for appliqué and closing openings, like sewing the opening to a stuffed animal.…
Spotlight: Julie Reuben, Fiber Artist
Julie Reuben came to quilting from bead embroidery and now creates QuiltCon award winning quilts. Look closely at the detailed hand stitching in her work. And she always has a…
Spotlight: Kieren Dutcher, Teaching Artist and Illustrator
Kieren Dutcher grew up in a creative home and was encouraged to be a maker. From an early age, she learned how to sew, knit, and embroider from her mom…
Spotlight: Melissa Galbraith, Fiber Artist
Melissa Galbraith grew up in a creative home and began stitching at a young age. She turned her hobby into a small business and now teaches people how to embroider,…
Spotlight: Marie Danger Kare, Maker and Writer
Marie Danger Kare creates mixed-media collage using found papers, photographs, and textiles which she hand-embroiders using yarns she hand-spins on supported spindles. She also makes her own recycled paper and…
DIY Sugar Cookie Felt Christmas Tree Ornaments
These sugar cookies are calorie-free and fun to make! Use your Christmas cookie cutters to trace the shape onto white felt and use beads and other embellishments instead of sugar…