In this post, I'll be answering this common question and giving you some tips for where to start as a brand new stitcher. (Plus, I've created some easy-to-use infographics on the topic, too!)
One of the most frequently asked questions I get from brand new stitchers -- and a question I had myself when I was first starting out -- is, "What sort of fabric should I be using for hand embroidery?" It's simple, really! The answer is: it depends!
There are no rules in hand embroidery, so use whatever fabric you like!
Yes, that really is the answer to this question -- every stitcher develops their own preferences over time:
Some stitchers choose to work with cotton, felt, or flannel.
Others might use linen, linen blends, and non-stretch denim.
There are stitchers who almost only ever stitch on stretchy fabrics (such as t-shirt material or sweaters), and those who prefer not to stitch on anything with any sort of stretch.
Some stitchers might prefer the consistency of using fabrics from the same brands again and again, while others might exclusively use whatever fabric they can thrift.
There are no right or wrong answers to this question. I know this can be frustrating when you're first starting out, but it's true!
My first several projects were stitched using fabric from an old fabric shower curtain liner (and occasionally from cheap fabric drop cloths I found at the hardware store). Later, I moved onto linen fabrics and non-stretch denim. These days, I most love stitching on cotton and flannel fabrics. My preferences have changed over time, which is also super normal!
What sort of fabric should a brand new stitcher use in their hand embroidery work?
For brand new stitchers, I usually recommend trying to find something in your house that you're able to "upcycle" in service of a new craft! Try finding something that doesn't have too much of a stretch to it, if at all possible.* The fabric from a cotton pillowcase can be an excellent place to start!
If you'd prefer to try embroidery with fresh fabric -- or perhaps you've got your heart set on a particular color that isn't available to you from your existing "supplies," i.e., old pillow cases and shower curtain liners -- you can find fabric online and wherever fabric is sold in stores.
If you can get your needle and thread from one side to the other, you can stitch on it! A few types of fabric you might try for your first few projects might include, for example:
cotton
linen and linen blends
non-stretch denim
flannel
Although I most often purchase fabric online, I do prefer to get newer-to-me fabrics in person whenever possible. This helps me to determine if I enjoy the "feel" of the fabric before dedicating hours to touching it while stitching!
If you are able to get to a fabric store safely,** try to grab a few small cuts of as many different types of fabrics for those first few projects as you can!
It takes patience and time to figure out what works best for you, and that's okay! I'm not sure if "practice makes perfect," but it certainly does make for preferences!
Infographics
Please note: the image descriptions for these slides can be found in the next section; if you choose to share these elsewhere, please include the image descriptions along with the slides themselves!
Infographic Image Descriptions
[Image description 1: On a white background, dark green text reads, “What kind of fabric should you use for embroidery? EmbroideryTutorials.com | @hopebroidery.” The text box’s white background has staggered pink and green borders with yellow starry icons at the edges, and the text box itself has been placed on top of an image of folded up fabric in shades of green, light blue, pink, and white. This general format is repeated throughout the rest of the slides.]
[Image description 2: Text reads, “It’s simple, really! The answer is: it depends! There are no rules in hand embroidery, so use whatever fabric you like! Yes, really!”]
[Image description 3: Text reads, “Every stitcher develops their own preferences over time. Some stitchers choose to work with cotton, felt, or flannel. Others might use linen, linen blends, and non-stretch denim. There are stitchers who almost only ever stitch on stretchy fabrics (such as t-shirt material or sweaters), and those who prefer not to stitch on anything with any sort of stretch. Some stitchers might prefer the consistency of using fabrics from the same brands again and again, while others might exclusively use whatever fabric they can thrift.”]
[Image description 4: Text reads, “There are no right or wrong answers to this question. I know this can be frustrating when you're first starting out, but it's true! My first several projects were stitched using fabric from an old fabric shower curtain liner (and occasionally from cheap fabric drop cloths I found at the hardware store). Later, I moved onto linen fabrics and non-stretch denim. These days, I most love stitching on cotton and flannel fabrics. My preferences have changed over time, which is also super normal!”]
[Image description 5: Text reads, “For brand new stitchers, I usually recommend trying to find something in your house that you're able to "upcycle" in service of a new craft! Try finding something that doesn't have too much of a stretch to it, if at all possible.* The fabric from a cotton pillowcase can be an excellent place to start!” At the bottom, next to an asterisk, text reads, "But you just said that lots of stitchers only stitch on stretchy fabrics..." I know I did and the thing is that you can absolutely stitch on stretchy fabric, even as a beginner. I just find stretchy fabric to be harder to work with myself, and I don't want newer stitchers leaving their first project thinking they're "bad" at embroidery (when in reality they were using a fabric that can be harder to work with in the first place). I trust your judgment, though, so go for that stretch if that's what you'd most love to try!”]
[Image description 6: Text reads, “If you'd prefer to try embroidery with fresh fabric -- or perhaps you've got your heart set on a particular color that isn't available to you from your existing "supplies," i.e., old pillow cases and shower curtain liners -- you can find fabric online and wherever fabric is sold in stores. If you can get your needle and thread from one side to the other, you can stitch on it -- try, for example: cotton, linen + linen blends, non-stretch denim, flannel.”]
[Image description 7: Text reads, “Although I most often purchase fabric online, I do prefer to get newer-to-me fabrics in person whenever possible. This helps me to determine if I enjoy the "feel" of the fabric before dedicating hours to touching it while stitching! If you are able to get to a fabric store safely,* try to grab a few small cuts of as many different types of fabrics for those first few projects as you can!” At the bottom, next to an asterisk, text reads, “We are still in a pandemic. According to the CDC, over 30,500 people have died of COVID in the US so far this year (and we are only just now in mid-March). The White House and CDC have systematically chosen capital and profits over public health; this means they've consistently downplayed the ongoing threat of COVID and Long COVID, continued to strip away what little resources were provided to us in the first place, and encouraged the us to "move on" by way of discouraging simple measures such as wearing high-quality masks when sharing air with others (let alone providing adequate masks to us, free of charge). My anger lies with the administration and the CDC, not with individuals who hold no actual institutional power; that said, please join me in continuing to wear the highest-quality mask available to you whenever possible, including at the craft store. And please keep in mind that the entirety of my thoughts (or knowledge!) of the ongoing pandemic is obviously well beyond the scope of an asterisk in an infographic slide show about fabric in hand embroidery -- I fit in as much as I could, considering!”]
[Image description 8: Text reads, “It takes patience and time to figure out what works best for you, and that's okay! I'm not sure if ‘practice makes perfect,’ but it certainly does make for preferences! For more beginner-friendly hand embroidery guides and tutorials, be sure to visit my blog or check out my book from your local library! Happy stitching! EmbroideryTutorials.com | @hopebroidery.”]
Notes
* "But you just said that lots of stitchers only stitch on stretchy fabrics..." I know I did and the thing is that you can absolutely stitch on stretchy fabric, even as a beginner. I just find stretchy fabric to be harder to work with myself, and I don't want newer stitchers leaving their first project thinking they're "bad" at embroidery (when in reality they were using a fabric that can be harder to work with in the first place). I trust your judgment, though, so go for that stretch if that's what you'd most love to try!
** We are still in a pandemic. According to the CDC, over 30,500 people have died of COVID in the US so far this year (and we are only just now in mid-March). The White House and CDC have systematically chosen capital and profits over public health; this means they've consistently downplayed the ongoing threat of COVID and Long COVID, continued to strip away what little resources were provided to us in the first place, and encouraged the us to "move on" by way of discouraging simple measures such as wearing high-quality masks when sharing air with others (let alone providing adequate masks to us, free of charge). My anger lies with the administration and the CDC, not with individuals who hold no actual institutional power; that said, please join me in continuing to wear the highest-quality mask available to you whenever possible, including at the craft store. And please keep in mind that the entirety of my thoughts (or knowledge!) of the ongoing pandemic is obviously well beyond the scope of an asterisk in an infographic slide show about fabric in hand embroidery -- I fit in as much as I could, considering!
