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 embroider. Now, she creates original embroidery designs and enjoys the process of stitching.

How did you find yourself on an artist’s path? Always there? Lightbulb moment? Dragged kicking and screaming? Evolving?

I’ve always felt at home in the artistic world ever since I was little. Growing up in an artsy community on the Oregon Coast, I spent much of my time dancing and taking art classes of all kinds from pottery to felting.

I was really lucky as well to have parents who exposed me to the arts beyond my hometown wherever we traveled, including the great museums of Europe.

Despite the comfort I felt being involved in the arts, I was often reminded that doing art full time would be demanding and difficult and I would need to have a skill elsewhere to make a living.

That is still true today, but with the rise of social media throughout my lifetime, I’ve seen it completely lay the foundation for artists to make their passions a full-time job, which is incredible. 

Why embroidery? How did you get started?

If you had told me five years ago that embroidery would be a huge part of my life today, I wouldn’t have believed you! I have spent most of my life drawing, and eventually focused on intricate patterns such as mandalas that I then uploaded to print on demand websites. 

In 2019 or so, I randomly picked up some embroidery supplies at a yard sale, thinking it might be a fun medium to try. I dabbled with embroidery here and there, but it wasn’t until 2020 when the pandemic hit the U.S. and I lost my job that I used the extra time to really dive into the process.

I quickly realized that my line drawings would translate well into embroidery patterns and the rest is history! I started an Etsy shop and have almost literally stitched every day since April, 2020.

How did the pandemic impact your art?

It basically changed the trajectory completely! I was solely focused on drawing before the pandemic, but after learning more embroidery skills when I lost my job, I wanted to see if that was a medium I’d like to practice long term.

Where do you find inspiration for your designs?

I find inspiration everywhere really. My travels, nature, books, etc. For example, a trip to Scotland inspired my thistle pattern, my Norwegian heritage inspired the Viking ship, and the Bridgerton series inspired the royal carriage.

Sometimes, something as simple as food I’m eating will inspire a piece, such as my ice cream hoop. Since ideas flow much more quickly than stitching, I keep a list of ideas on my phone.

Tell us more about your new book, Unofficial Bridgerton Embroidery. What can readers expect?

Unofficial Bridgerton Embroidery is my first book and I’m so excited to share it with the world!

Readers can expect to use this book for both beginner and intermediate patterns. There are 20 designs to choose from and vary from floral patterns to tea sets to the Bridgerton house.

Even if you haven’t read the Bridgerton books or watched the Netflix series, anyone who loves the Regency era, garden parties, or colorful blooms can find something in this book. I’ve also included photo examples of all the stitch types I use and there is a QR code if you’d rather watch video tutorials.

All of these patterns are in-the-hoop designs, so I’ve also included ideas on how to display your finished pieces. The book is available for preorder now and will be officially released on August 12, 2025! Even if you don’t want to embroider, the book will make a great holiday gift for a crafty person in your life.

Describe your creative space.

My creative space is really wherever I take my current project!

What’s nice about embroidery is that it’s easy to carry with you. I’ve embroidered in the car, on a plane, at people’s houses, and various rooms in my own house.

The place I embroider the most is at my desk in my office or on the couch at night with my dog cuddled up next to me. 

What’s your favorite storage tip for your threads and yarns?

Using cardboard bobbins for my embroidery floss is the best way to keep my colors organized. I keep them in flat plastic storage containers which you can often see in my videos. All of my excess skeins of floss are organized by color groups in gallon Ziploc bags. 

Do you use a sketchbook, journal, or technology to plan or keep track of ideas? How does that help your work develop?

I write most of my pattern ideas in a note on my phone, but you can also find random little sketches on pieces of paper here and there in my office.

Once I come up with an idea, I find I need to at least write it down in my phone so I can have one ongoing list to refer back to. 

What plays in the background while you work? Silence? Music, audiobooks, podcasts, movies? If so, what kind?

I almost always have something on in the background while I stitch, but most of the time it’s a show or movie I’ve seen before. I’ve done quite a bit of stitching to Downton Abbey, Mad Men,The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and Ina Garten’s Back to Basics.

I’m one of those people who always needs to keep my hands busy, even if I’m watching something new. One podcast I’m particularly enjoying right now is Wiser Than Me by Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

How often do you start a new project? Do you work actively on more than one project at a time?

I used to be really good about working on one project at a time, but over the years with so many ideas and new opportunities, I often have multiple projects started.

For example, I have a crewelwork kit from the Royal School of Needlework that is halfway finished along with a hoop I’m doing for fun that is also about halfway done. Once a project is finished, I’ll pretty much start a new project the next day so that I’m using every ounce of free time for more creation. 

Which part of the design process is your favorite? Which part is a challenge for you?

I love choosing floss colors, but my favorite part is the stitching itself. It’s very satisfying to see your design come to life little by little as every stitch is done.

Starting a hoop is probably the most challenging because after prepping the hoop, I need to transfer the design to the fabric which can often be time-consuming and redundant (since I already drew the design and need to draw it all over again on the hoop).

Filming my process for social media makes the boring or redundant steps a little more palatable. 

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?

Trust the process! While I was taking an online class with the Royal School of Needlework, our tutor Helen Richman, often reminded us to “trust the process” which has stayed in my brain since.

We were learning padded silk shading, which was brand new to me and quite difficult. While you’re doing long and short stitch it can feel like the beginning stages look chaotic and messy, but if you keep at it, it will slowly come together. 

Do you prefer the kind of project that is challenging and requires attention, or the kind where you get in your meditative zone and enjoy the process?

I definitely enjoy the type of project that I can just zone out and not overthink too much. However, I want to learn so many different techniques, I do enjoy the challenge when I’m in the right frame of mind to focus on something new. 

What do you do to keep yourself motivated and interested in your work? 

I love embroidery so much that I basically never find the need to keep myself interested. I also have so many ideas for new designs that my biggest challenge these days is finding the time to embroider in between being a mom, working, and the tasks of daily life.

Where can people see your work?

You can find me on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest @hlesliedesign. You can also find some of my tutorial videos on YouTube and two beginner embroidery classes on Skillshare. My website has all the links to my Etsy shop, my book, social media platforms, and more: https://hlesliedesign.wixsite.com/hleslie

Interview posted April 2025