This article has been on my mind for a while because I have to confess something... I've been embroidering much longer than I've been sewing 😅! And for good reason, I started at the age of 5 with large cross-stitch canvases featuring Disney motifs, animals... I'm sure some of you will remember!

Then, I continued with cross-stitch on finer canvas and took courses throughout my adolescence: ribbon embroidery, needle painting, hardanger, drawn thread work... Then I entered the workforce and put away my embroidery materials... until last year, when the desire came back... probably from the combination of wanting to customize my sewing creations but also from a lovely meeting with a French embroiderer named Mélanie at the Artesane booth during CSF 2021. 

At the end of 2021, I was back at full throttle and eager to share my passion with you; that's how the first hoops, scissors, and since then skeins arrived in the shop... So, if starting embroidery tempts you, I invite you to discover the basic materials needed to start well without breaking the bank! 

First of all, as in sewing, I advise you to start with good tools. You'll see, you can easily put together a basic embroidery kit (sometimes drawing from your sewing kit, by the way). You understand, the goal of this article is not to burden you with the superfluous but to create a set of essentials to start embroidery under good conditions. If over time, other desires appear, you can happily complete your embroidery box. So let's go! 

1. Embroidery needles

Embroidery needles differ from hand sewing needles. Indeed, these are shorter. They also come in different sizes. Sizes range from 1 to 26. To help you, know that the higher the number, the finer the needle.  

For cross-stitch on aida fabric, it is preferable to choose short needles with a rounded tip. The most used needles start around size twenty. 

For tight weaves, it is preferable to choose sharp-pointed needles to pierce the fabric. The needle prepares the thread's passage by separating the fabric fibers. The hole formed by the needle's passage must be wide enough for the thread to pass through the fabric without catching or pulling... You will understand that the thicker the thread, the larger the needle must make the hole to allow the thread to pass. These needles are numbered from 1 to 10. Size 10 is the thinnest; size 1 the thickest. I like to use a mix of needles from 3 to 9 or from 5 to 10 depending on the fabric I embroider. 

2. The hoop

The embroidery hoop or frame allows you to stretch the fabric to facilitate embroidery work. Beginner hoops consist of two parts (most often made of wood like bamboo or beech) that fit into each other. The outer hoop is topped with a screw that allows, once the fabric is stretched and the other hoop fitted, to tighten the whole to keep the fabric taut between the two parts. 

There are several hoop diameters depending on the patterns to be embroidered but also on work preferences. I really like embroidering with hoops about 18cm which allow me to embroider "medium" sized patterns without having to move my hoop too often. For small patterns and beginners in embroidery, the 12.5cm hoop is a very good choice. 

3. The fabric

There are many types of embroidery fabrics from the most affordable to the most expensive! 

In itself, you can embroider on any type of material but obviously not all are as easy for beginners.

If you want to start cross-stitching, then go for 5.5 count aida fabric. It's the standard fabric that allows you to start easily. 

If you want to start classic embroidery, you can opt for percale fabric, but also poplin. For my trials and beginnings, I like to use calico fabric, ... yes, the one for my sewing fabrics. I find the texture of this fabric easy to use and it gives very nice results when starting out without breaking the budget. 

In the shop, you will find aida fabric (in coupon or by the meter), percale, and calico fabric. 

4. The thread

As in sewing, I highly recommend using good embroidery threads directly. They are much more pleasant to use. They glide well on the fabric, thread better, and above all do not fuzz or break like poor quality threads. 

The best way to start is to begin with stranded cotton threads. These consist of 6 strands and you can choose to embroider with 1, 2, ... up to 6 strands at once depending on the desired effect.

For my part, I have been using DMC threads since I started embroidery. They are good quality threads and come from a short supply chain as they are produced in France. 

To start, you can turn to embroidery thread kits/sets. They come in basic, pastel, floral colors... depending on the patterns you would like to embroider. I find these are good alternatives when you are not yet used to combining colors to create patterns; because the color palettes are designed to give beautiful combinations. 

When you become more experienced, you can move on to other types of threads depending on your desires, such as metallic thread, variegated, silk, wool, pearl... in short, there is plenty of fun to be had in embroidery. 

5. Storage boxes

Storage is necessary in sewing and embroidery. So when I buy a skein, I make sure to "wind" it on a small cardboard holder where I note the thread color number. That way, if I run out of thread during embroidery, I am sure to buy the tone I need. 

On the other hand, storing on cards prevents knots when I use embroidery threads in skeins. 

Finally, the cards are easily stored in storage boxes and are easy to transport. 

6. The scissors

I use a good pair of small embroidery scissors when making my works. Embroidery scissors are small, fine scissors with sharp blades. They allow cutting all the small threads so that the work is as "pretty" on the front as on the back; a sign that the embroiderer has taken care of their work. They also allow cutting the "length" of thread needed for embroidery. 

My first scissors (which I still have) are the classic ones with the stork pattern. Meanwhile, I received pretty silver engraved scissors as a gift from my mom and I bought a pair in Japan with a rabbit pattern. There are many versions. 

7. The needle threader

The needle threader can be very useful when you embroider with fine needles with a narrow eye or when your eyesight is declining. The threader is a small inexpensive purchase but very helpful! 

There is the classic silver version but you will find more and more decorated ones. 

8. The marker or a ready-made pattern

When embroidering, it is good to have a pattern to follow:

• or we buy a ready-made kit with a pre-printed pattern
• or we create a counted cross-stitch pattern
• either we draw it with the marker

When I started at 5 years old, I had patterns printed on heavy fabric; today, I really like embroidering patterns that I draw myself on the fabric. For this, I use water- or heat-erasable markers. For dark fabrics, I use solufix on which I draw my pattern and then stick it on the fabric to be able to embroider the pattern. 

9. The needle holder or pin cushion

To avoid losing/scattering your needles, think about using a holder. This can be a magnetic needle holder but also simply a ball/pin cushion where you will stick your needles. 

Along the same lines, I advise you to keep a small trash bin next to you during your embroidery sessions to throw all the little cut threads. Having a tidy workspace is key. 

10. The storage box

As I said in point 5, having skeins neatly arranged on cardboard gives a nice overview of the available color palette to create your patterns. 

Every time I start a creation, I get my storage box and put together my color palette. I advise you to put together your little box as well 😊. 

I also carry around a metal box in the colors of Côte d'Or (Belgium and chocolate oblige) where I store my scissors, my needle boxes but also my metallic threads on spools. 

Bonus: the embroidery course or a good book to learn

Obviously having the right equipment is one thing but having the right advice is another.

I can only strongly advise you to take some courses to start classic embroidery. Some will prefer to get started with the help of a book or a video. 

However, don't neglect the learning period because even if embroidery may seem simple, it's important to start well to then give free rein to your creativity! 

There you go, you now know what to include in a beginner's embroidery kit. 

And don't forget... in embroidery it's repetition that creates regularity (just like in knitting)... the hand learns.

So once again... get your needles ready!