How to Begin Embroidery as a Hobby: A Beginner’s Guide

Embroidery is a relaxing, creative hobby that’s surprisingly easy to get started with. It allows you to create custom designs on fabric using simple stitches and can be done almost anywhere. Here’s a straightforward guide to help you start your embroidery journey.

What You Need to Start Embroidery

Before you begin, you’ll need a few essential supplies:

1. Embroidery Hoop: A wooden or plastic hoop helps keep the fabric stretched, making it easier to stitch. Start with a small or medium-sized hoop, then go for larger once you feel comfortable.
2. Embroidery Needles: These are different from regular sewing needles because they have a larger eye to accommodate thicker embroidery floss. Size 5 or 7 is a good place to start for beginners.
3. Embroidery Floss: This is the colourful thread used for stitching. It comes in a variety of colours and is typically made of cotton. Each strand of floss has six threads that you can separate, depending on how thick or thin you want your stitches to be.
4. Fabric: Light cotton or linen fabrics are ideal for beginners. These fabrics are easy to work with, and their weave helps guide your stitches. Avoid stretchy or slippery fabrics when starting out.
5. Embroidery Scissors: Small, sharp scissors help cut your floss cleanly and precisely.
6. Water-Soluble Pen or Transfer Paper: These tools are useful for drawing your pattern onto the fabric. Transfer paper allows you to trace designs easily, while water-soluble pens let you mark directly and wash it off later.

Choosing Your First Project

As a beginner, it’s important to start simple. Stick to small designs with basic shapes—floral patterns, monograms, or geometric shapes are great options. Avoid overly complex or detailed images that require advanced stitch techniques.

There are many free patterns available online, or you can create your own by drawing directly onto the fabric using a water-soluble pen.

Basic Stitches to Learn

You only need to know a few basic stitches to start embroidery. Familiarise yourself with each of these on YouTube:

1. Backstitch: This is one of the most fundamental stitches, perfect for outlining shapes and creating straight or curved lines. Bring the needle up through the fabric at your starting point. Move forward one stitch length, and insert the needle back down into the fabric. For the next stitch, come up a stitch length ahead, then bring the needle back down into the end of the previous stitch. Repeat this process, creating a continuous line of connected stitches.
2. Running Stitch: A simple, dotted-line stitch also often used to create borders or basic outlines. You bring the needle up through the fabric, leave a small gap, and pull it back down. Repeat this process in a straight line or pattern.
3. Satin Stitch: Ideal for filling in areas with solid colour. To create this stitch, bring the needle up at one edge of the shape, and bring it back down at the opposite edge, repeating this in close lines until the shape is filled.
4. French Knot: This decorative knot adds texture to your work. Wrap the floss around the needle a couple of times, and then push the needle back through the fabric near where it came up. Pull gently to create a small, tight knot on the fabric surface.

Setting Up Your Embroidery

Once you’ve gathered your materials and picked a pattern, it’s time to set up:

1. Prepare the Hoop: Unscrew the embroidery hoop and place the fabric over the inner ring. Then, place the outer ring over the fabric and tighten it. Gently pull the fabric until it’s taut, like a drum.
2. Thread the Needle: Cut a manageable length of floss—about 18 inches is ideal for beginners. Separate the floss strands, using 2-4 depending on how thick you want your stitches. Thread the needle and tie a small knot at the end of the floss to prevent it from slipping through the fabric.
3. Transfer Your Design: If you’re using a printed pattern, transfer it to the fabric using tracing paper, or draw directly onto the fabric with a water-soluble pen. Make sure the design fits within the size of your hoop.

Start Stitching

With your hoop ready and needle threaded, it’s time to start stitching. Begin with simple stitches like the backstitch or running stitch. Remember to pull the floss gently to avoid puckering the fabric, and use even tension throughout the process.

Troubleshooting Common Beginner Mistakes

• Tangled Floss: To prevent tangling, don’t use floss that’s too long.
• Puckered Fabric: If your fabric is no longer laying flat, but instead gathering around the stitches, it’s likely because the floss is pulled too tight. 
• Misaligned Stitches: Don’t worry if your stitches aren’t perfectly spaced at first. With practice, your control and precision will improve. Use light pencil marks or dots to guide the length of each stitch if needed.

Embroidery is all about patience and practice. Start small, experiment with colours, and gradually try more complex designs.