What kind of hand embroidery supplies do you really need to get started?
... Not as many as you may think ...
There really aren’t that many absolutely essential hand embroidery supplies that you have to have before you start your first embroidery project. A simple needle, thread, fabric, pattern and a simple hoop, and your on your way!
Hand embroidery is very old form of enjoyment, necessity and skill. Way back when, they didn’t have all the gadgets or gizmos that we do today, so the basic needs are very simple.
Basic Hand Embroidery Supplies
These are just the basic supplies you will need to start any hand embroidery project. Anything other than these are “extra”. (There’s a TON of fun and really cool gadgets that will make your life easier out there, though! Good luck sticking to just the basics!)
Needles
A good needle is the most important of the hand embroidery supplies you will need for any type of hand embroidery or cross stitch. You want to make sure that you get the needle type for the type of embroidery you are doing. Some needles are longer, have larger or smaller eyes, are sharper or have a more rounded point. Make sure you get the one that suits your needs.
Fabric
You will need fabric to embroider or cross stitch on. Aida cloth is the most popular type of fabric for cross stitching. Depending on your project you will want the right type, size and color to meet your needs.
Thread or Embroidery Floss
You will need to make sure you have thread or embroidery floss to do whatever project you are doing. Make sure you have all the right colors, and enough of them to complete your project. Nothing is more annoying than running out of floss before your project is finished! It can be hard to exactly match floss colors if they are not purchased at the same time. Sometimes the way they are stored can fade or change the color.
Scissors
A good pair of sharp scissors is also essential. The size, style or type in not important. Just make sure that the type you get matches what you are doing. Trying to get in close to snip short strings would not be possible with a pair of large fabric scissors! There are tons of different types and styles of scissors and cutting implements available. You can really get crazy with your scissors if you want. Anything other than a small, sharp pair of scissors can go into the “extra supplies” category.
Embroidery Hoop or Stand
This is also important. An embroidery hoop is not absolutely essential, but it does make life mcuh easier! If the fabric is not held tightly when you are stitching, your stitches can have different tensions, or twist and pull in different directions. This will cause your finished project to not look very neat.
Pattern
Once again, this is not essential, but can be important, and I really do recommend it. If you are not really creative, you can have a hard time embroidering something without a pattern. It’s also good to create a pattern for your original designs. That way you not only know what you’ve done, and have it documented on paper, but you can work what you are going to do, before hand. That will prevent mistakes and unnecessary unpicking later.
See? There really isn't that many hand embroidery supplies that are an absolute have to have to start your first project. (It's no where near the necessary machine embroidery supplies you need to get started!)
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Extra (and Fun!) Hand Embroidery Supplies
These are the hand embroidery supplies that just make your life easier. They’re not essential, and sometimes not even all that important, but gadgets are always fun!!
Embroidery Stand
I’m putting this one here, because an embroidery stand isn’t absolutely essential, and they are a little expensive. You can get by with a cheap hand held hoop, but an embroidery stand makes everything much easier. You have two free hands to embroider with! (I, personally, would consider this one of the essential hand embroidery supplies if you plan on doing a lot of embroidery. Your back will thank you!)
Gadgets
I’m a gadget gal! I love them! My kitchen is full of them, and so is my sewing and embroidery baskets! I just can’t get enough of the cool, fun little gadgets out there. They have a gadget for just about every step of hand embroidery or cross stitch created solely to make your life easier.
There’s needle threaders, magnetized needle holders, needle pullers, cute little containers, stitch guides and markers, little bead picker upers, pattern holders, snippers, and clippers and lights ... Oh, my!.... The list goes on and ON! (This is where you’ll empty your pocket book!! At least this is where most of my embroidery money goes!)
Lights
Lighting is really important when you are embroidering. You don’t want to strain your eyes trying to see in poor lighting. However, a chair side lamp or the overhead lights in your living room are usually adequate. There are all sorts of different styles of embroidery lighting that can actually clip onto your stands, your patterns, your neck or your head. These usually have simulated natural light so that your floss colors are more true. You can go nuts here, too.
Measuring Tape
While not essential, it can be important. You have to know how wide to cut your fabric, after all.
Needle Threaders
I, personally, think a needle threader is an essential, but I put it here because you can thread a needle with a little spit and precision. With my long nails, I struggle trying to thread really short tails. If you have a needle threader, you can put your needle where you want it, thread it, then pull the short tail through. This works great when you force too many stitches with a piece of thread, and don’t have enough left to tie off in the back. These are also great for people who have a hard time seeing the tiny eyes in some needles.
Organizers
This is a broad category. They have organizers for their organizers out there! You can organize anything and everything! Organize your floss (which I think is really important. It helps cut down on knots and waste), all of your little supplies like needles and such, and then put all of those organizers into another one to carry around! I like being over-organized. It makes things very easy to find, protects your supplies, and keeps everything nice and neat.
Thimbles
I don’t use one, personally, but I know some people do. They are great little finger protectors. If you tend to stab your finger quite often, you may want to invest in one of these. They are usually very inexpensive.
You can get most of your hand embroidery supplies from your local craft and embroidery stores. Some things, like my favorite embroidery stand, are only available on the internet. The internet is a great source for embroidery supplies. You can price check and price shop to your hearts content. You can find some really great deals if you take the time to look for them!
