Top Embroidery Tips
I Wish I Knew This Before I Started Embroidering
I am a self-taught embroiderer, and I fell in love with embroidery from the very first stitch.
I started in 2020 with a few beginner kits I found online. At the time, I had no idea what I was doing — I learned by reading books, watching countless YouTube tutorials, and mostly through trial and error. There were tangled threads, uneven stitches, and a few pieces that didn’t survive their first wash. But every mistake taught me something valuable.
Over the years, I’ve learned small but important lessons that would have saved me time, frustration, and even a few ruined projects. These are the tips I truly wish I had known when I first picked up a needle — and I hope they help you enjoy your embroidery journey a little more.
My Top Embroidery Tips for Beginners
1. Always use an embroidery hoop — and keep the fabric tight
Your fabric should be stretched tightly in the hoop, almost like a drum. If you tap it with your fingers, it should make a soft, drum-like sound. A tight fabric gives you better control, helps your stitches sit neatly, and makes your finished piece look clean and professional.
2. Invest in good-quality threads (your future self will thank you)
I know good threads are more expensive, and I started with the cheapest ones too. But I learned the hard way that poor-quality threads can bleed colour when washed, fade over time, or even weaken and snap. Some of my early projects were damaged after washing — and hours of work were lost. Quality threads protect your time, effort, and finished pieces.
3. Separate your strands — even if it feels slow
Most embroidery floss is made of six strands. Using all six at once can make stitches bulky and uneven. Separating the strands and using fewer (usually 1–3) gives your work a softer, more refined look. It takes a little longer, but the difference is worth it.
4. Don’t pull your stitches too tight
Tight stitches can distort the fabric and make your design look puckered. Embroidery should be gentle — let the thread rest on the fabric instead of pulling it through with force. Relaxed stitches create smoother lines and a more polished finish.
5. Wash and care for your embroidery properly
Hand-wash your finished pieces in cool water with mild soap, especially if you’re unsure about thread quality. Never wring them out — gently press out excess water and let them air dry flat. Care matters just as much as stitching.
6. Hoop your finished projects — don’t leave them unfinished
Once your embroidery is complete, take the extra step to fully finish it. Hoop your piece properly, add a backing, and make it ready to be displayed or gifted.
I learned this the hard way. I had over 50 completed embroidery projects piled up in a box. They didn’t take up much space, so at the time it felt fine — but none of them were actually ready to be shown or gifted. When I prepared for my first craft market, I suddenly had to finish all of them at once. It took hundreds of hours and became a huge task that could have been avoided by finishing each piece as I went.
Finishing your embroidery is part of the process — and your work deserves to be seen, not hidden in a box.
7. Use the right needle for your fabric and thread
Not all needles are the same. A needle that’s too thick can leave holes in the fabric, while one that’s too thin makes threading frustrating and causes tangles. Matching the needle size to your fabric and number of strands makes stitching smoother and more enjoyable.
8. Shorter thread is better than longer thread
Long threads tangle, knot, and fray more easily. Cutting shorter lengths may feel inefficient, but it actually saves time and keeps your stitches looking cleaner.
9. Pay attention to the back of your embroidery
The back doesn’t need to be perfect, but messy threads can show through light fabrics and make finishing harder. A tidy back makes hooping and backing much easier later.
10. Light matters more than you think
Good lighting makes a huge difference. It helps you place stitches more accurately and reduces eye strain, especially during long stitching sessions. Natural daylight is ideal, but a small craft lamp can completely change your embroidery experience.
11. Don’t compare your work to others online
It’s easy to feel discouraged when scrolling through perfectly polished embroidery on social media. Remember, you’re usually seeing the finished result — not the mistakes, restarts, or learning process behind it. Focus on your own progress and enjoy how far you’ve come.
12. Enjoy the process — not just the finished piece
Embroidery is slow, mindful, and meant to be enjoyed. Some days your stitches will feel effortless, and other days they won’t — and that’s completely normal. Let embroidery be a place where you slow down, experiment, and create without pressure.
13. Store your threads neatly and in a way that works for you
Keeping your threads organised makes embroidery so much more enjoyable. There’s no single “right” way to store them — the best system is the one that keeps your threads in good condition and makes it easy to find the colours you need, whenever you need them.
There are many common storage solutions available. Personally, I like to wind my threads onto bobbins and store them in boxes sorted by colour. It keeps everything tidy, prevents tangling, and saves time when starting a new project.