5 great stitches to start with embroidery

ByRuth Cartwright

I have long been a lover of embroidery and I enjoy teaching others the joy of creating beautiful patterns and art work with stitch. It’s a great way to unwind and relax. If you are keen to try this great hobby these are my recommendations for 5 great stitched to start with embroidery.

Start with the basics

My recommendation would be to start with the Running stitch as most people have used this one at some time in their life. It is the easiest to master and can be used in all manner of creative ways.

how to do running stitch

Pick one stitch and master it

Once you’ve learnt a few stitches I think you should really focus on mastering one stitch.

My favourites are back stitch and chain stitch. In this feathers piece I have used solely back stitch on one and chain stitch on the other. I love the simplicity and elegant beauty of it.

How to do back stitch embroidery

Back stitch is probably my most used hand embroidery stitch, it’s strong, decorative and easy to master. Never tried it before? Here is how to do back stitch embroidery.

How to do chain stitch

I love to do freestyle embroidery as well as cross stitch. Last week I love about how I mastered French Knots, which are great for adding texture. Another of my favourite stitches for texture and lettering is chain stitch. Here’s a simple tutorial for how to do chain stitch embroidery.

Add extra flourishes and texture to your stitched work with French Knots. Check out how to do French knots here.

How to do French knots

I love French knots and I like to use them with my cross stitch to add extra details and textures. But they are also a great stand alone embroidery stitch and one that is actually easy to master. Check out my how to do French knots tutorial or watch the video, and soon you’ll love them too!

Or if you fancy just sticking to one stitch. Opt for cross stitch and read my Beginners guide to cross stitch

Since then I have stitched hundreds of patterns and designed many more. So how did I get started? If your keen to have a go here is my beginners guide to cross stitch.

Use the right tools

The right tools make all the difference when learning a new craft. The good thing about embroidery is you don’t need very many. My recommendations would be:

A good pair of sharp embroidery scissors.

A set of embroidery needles.

A selection of quality embroidery threads, I always use DMC.

Invest in a great reference book

Looking on the internet is fantastic for inspiration, but sometimes having a great reference book in front of you is way more valuable. For one thing they don’t have a timeout when your focusing on your craft. This book (the stitch Bible) is so good, I featured it in my top 7 go to craft books.

Make a sampler

I love a sampler and have many in my craft room. Not only are they a great way to practice the stitches you learn, but are a great visual reference too.

sampler embroidery hoop, 7 ways to master embroidery
I love the textural quality of this sampler. Sewn on Linen with beautiful satin threads not only is it a joy to look at, I love to run my fingers over the rows of stitches.

Read some tutorials

The internet is a wealth of information and inspiration and I would recommend reading some tutorials to help you master this craft. Why not have a look at my Back stitch tutorial to start you off?

Enjoy it!

To master embroidery or any craft for that matter you have to enjoy it. Find images you want to create, stitches you enjoy sewing and things you want to decorate with thread. It is ultimately a very personal craft and you can take it wherever you want to.

Liked my 5 great stitches to start with embroidery?

You’ll love

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Combine your love of shoes and stitching with this cute ‘love shoes’ embroidery template for free. Display it in a hoop or make it in to a shoe bag. I’ve got the instructions for both projects below!

15 aesthetic embroidery designs (free)

Embroidery is no longer a grandma pastime. It’s time to embrace the tactile and explore a world of stiches. If you are keen to get on the trend, you need to check out these 15 free aesthetic embroidery designs

25 beautiful embroidery uses

Embroidery has always been a beautiful way to embellish things. But it’s recently had a resurgence in popularity and now it can be seen on a wider variety of things than ever before. Check out these 25 beautiful embroidery uses and be inspired.

Ruth Cartwright is an experienced teacher of crafts with a career of over 16 years in high schools. She is a keen diy'er and can turn her hand to most creative pursuits. She loves to design and create all manner of projects and enjoys renovating her country home.

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37 Comments

  1. Sue McCarthy says:

    I’m not very creative, prefer to follow a pattern. I can do cross stitch but have never tried other embroidery. I also dressmake.

  2. Curtains.

  3. Margaret GALLAGHER says:

    Kids clothes – love making them as unique as they are to me

  4. Fiona jk42 says:

    I have been wanting to try sashiko embroidery next time I repair a pair of jeans.

  5. I used to do a lot of cross stitch but I’ve not done any for several years. Somewhere I still have a kit for a dream catcher design so I’d start with that.

  6. Alison Johnson says:

    I do cross-stitch all the time although I would love to be able to do embroidery. With cross-stitch I mainly do animals or flowers.

  7. cheryl hadfield says:

    kids clothes, great way to make things unique

  8. Amy Bondoc says:

    cushion covers, something e and my daughter love to make together we have quiet a large collection but i must say shes better at it than i am!

  9. Sally Collingwood says:

    A cross stitch

  10. Nikki Hayes says:

    Absolutely no idea, I’m entering for my mother who loves her embroidery. She did me a fantastic purple chinese dragon to fit in with my living room colour scheme :o)

  11. Margaret Wacey says:

    I cross stitch but have not attempted embroidery yet. I would love to be able to add some personal touches to my home with it.

  12. Alice Gilkes says:

    Definitely a cross stitch. 🙂

  13. Carole Nott says:

    Love to practise cross stitch – very rewarding to finish a neat job

  14. Ruth Harwood says:

    would love to make a lovely picture of my cats together from a photo with cross stitch or embroidery of another kind! I think it would look amazing!

  15. I’m going to try some miniature cushion covers for my doll house. 🙂

  16. Ursula Hunt says:

    I would embroider napkins

  17. Andrea Fletcher says:

    I would like to embroider some cushions, have not done any for years.

  18. Geri Gregg says:

    I would embroider my curtains or my partners and sons clothing

  19. Sandra Fortune says:

    I’d love to embroider a tablecloth and some matching napkins

    1. craftcartwright says:

      That would be lovely

  20. Kelly Morgan says:

    I would embroider a positive message that I could put on my wall

  21. JULIE WARD says:

    This would be for daughter in laws mum, she is the craft person

  22. Claire Elizabeth Noke says:

    I did a little Embroidery when I was younger and really enjoyed it. I think I’d have to start with something easy-ish though … maybe a flower? X

  23. Louise craney says:

    Cool

  24. Kim Styles says:

    I would embroider a cover for a little antique chair I am renovating

  25. Diane Carey says:

    I would do a cross stitch of something for my granddaughter’s room at my house – maybe the letter S for Scarlette

  26. Sheila Reeves says:

    I’d love to embroider a sampler, it’s been so long since I did anything like that

  27. lynn neal says:

    I would like to do some floral embroidery for a family heirloom!

  28. Rebecca Whatmore says:

    I’d love to try and embroider some guinea pigs!

  29. Sheri Darby says:

    I would love to try embroidering a table cloth

  30. Sylvia Paul says:

    It would be lovely to embroider a cushion cover x

  31. Troy Easton says:

    My Jacket.

  32. SARAH ROBERTS says:

    l would love to Embroider some nice placemats for my sideboards

  33. Rachael Sexey says:

    Some cushions 🐑

  34. Kim Neville says:

    I would try some cross stitch and make something for my daughter’s bedroom

  35. Emma Middleton says:

    A keepsake for my little boys 2nd birthday

  36. Natalie Crossan says:

    A handkerchief for my daughter with her name on it 🙂

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