Learn Embroidery
Key Summary
You can pick up a beginner embroidery kit for around £12, and it comes with everything you need
It's surprisingly similar to paint by numbers, just with thread instead of paint
Invest in decent quality thread and fabric from the start. It makes a big difference
The back of your work matters more than you think
It's one of those skills you can do in the background while watching TV or listening to a podcast
There's something really satisfying about making something you'll actually use
How It Started
This project started with an old pair of denim shorts.
I once owned a pair with red flowers embroidered into them and always loved the design so much that even when the shorts weren't wearable anymore, I still kept them. I struggled to throw them out.
It made me wonder whether it was something I could actually do myself.
I found an embroidery kit on Amazon for around £12. It came with a high-quality black tote bag, embroidery threads, needles, a hoop, and a few extra bits. The design was a colourful flower pattern, which I loved. After what felt like hours of scrolling, I found it.
What I wasn't expecting was that it came with no instructions.
As it turns out, that was fine. Embroidery is one of those things where you just figure out your own approach, and once I got started, I realised it was surprisingly similar to paint-by-numbers. You have an outline, and you fill it in with thread. That's genuinely all there is to it.
The Experience
The first thing I noticed was how therapeutic it is.
Embroidery is the kind of thing you can do in the background once you find your rhythm. I'd have the TV on or a podcast playing, and still be making something with my hands.
What I wasn't prepared for was how long it would take. My first tote bag took somewhere between 9 and 12 hours in total. I don't know if that's a novice thing or just how long embroidery takes, but it gave me a real appreciation for anyone who does it professionally. You don't really understand the time and energy involved until you're sitting there doing it yourself.
The process itself is more straightforward than it looks. You stretch the fabric across the hoop to keep it taut, thread your needle and follow the outline of the design. The hoop is more important than it sounds. Without it, the fabric moves around, and the stitches don't sit properly.
One thing I wish someone had told me earlier is to pay attention to the back of your work. The first time round, I wasn't thinking about it at all, and while it doesn't massively affect the finished piece, a tidy back means the threads are less likely to catch on things inside the bag. On my second one, I'm making a much more conscious effort with it, and it's already looking a lot neater.
After finishing the kit bags, I decided to try creating my own design using cheaper tote bags and some old thread from my mum's. It didn't go quite as planned, and I won't be making that mistake again. The thinner thread looked liney, and you could see the holes in the fabric. Decent equipment makes a real difference, even in a craft like embroidery where the tools feel minimal.
What I Took Away
When I finished my first tote bag, I was genuinely proud of myself. It fast became my favourite bag to use day to day, and I've had loads of compliments on it from people who had no idea I'd made it myself. Every time I look at it, I remember the work that went into it. There's one flower I'm not entirely happy with, but aside from that, I love it.
What surprised me most was how much I enjoyed the making of it, not just the finished result. There's something about creating something with your hands that feels different to anything else. You're not just consuming; you're actually making something, which feels surprisingly rare these days.
It's also the kind of skill that travels well. I find myself wishing I had it with me on long train journeys or during films where I don't need to be fully engaged. It fills time in a way that leaves you with something to show for it.
Creating your own patterns adds another level to it entirely. There's something really satisfying about designing something from scratch and seeing it come to life on the fabric. I'm still at the early stages of that, but it's something I want to get better at.
I'd recommend embroidery to anyone who likes making things with their hands but isn't sure they'd class themselves as 'arty'. At the start, I'd definitely recommend picking up a kit rather than buying everything separately; it's far cheaper and gives you a good starting point.
Learn Embroidery
Key Summary
You can pick up a beginner embroidery kit for around £12, and it comes with everything you need
It's surprisingly similar to paint by numbers, just with thread instead of paint
Invest in decent quality thread and fabric from the start. It makes a big difference
The back of your work matters more than you think
It's one of those skills you can do in the background while watching TV or listening to a podcast
There's something really satisfying about making something you'll actually use
How It Started
This project started with an old pair of denim shorts.
I once owned a pair with red flowers embroidered into them and always loved the design so much that even when the shorts weren't wearable anymore, I still kept them. I struggled to throw them out.
It made me wonder whether it was something I could actually do myself.
I found an embroidery kit on Amazon for around £12. It came with a high-quality black tote bag, embroidery threads, needles, a hoop, and a few extra bits. The design was a colourful flower pattern, which I loved. After what felt like hours of scrolling, I found it.
What I wasn't expecting was that it came with no instructions.
As it turns out, that was fine. Embroidery is one of those things where you just figure out your own approach, and once I got started, I realised it was surprisingly similar to paint-by-numbers. You have an outline, and you fill it in with thread. That's genuinely all there is to it.
The Experience
The first thing I noticed was how therapeutic it is.
Embroidery is the kind of thing you can do in the background once you find your rhythm. I'd have the TV on or a podcast playing, and still be making something with my hands.
What I wasn't prepared for was how long it would take. My first tote bag took somewhere between 9 and 12 hours in total. I don't know if that's a novice thing or just how long embroidery takes, but it gave me a real appreciation for anyone who does it professionally. You don't really understand the time and energy involved until you're sitting there doing it yourself.
The process itself is more straightforward than it looks. You stretch the fabric across the hoop to keep it taut, thread your needle and follow the outline of the design. The hoop is more important than it sounds. Without it, the fabric moves around, and the stitches don't sit properly.
One thing I wish someone had told me earlier is to pay attention to the back of your work. The first time round, I wasn't thinking about it at all, and while it doesn't massively affect the finished piece, a tidy back means the threads are less likely to catch on things inside the bag. On my second one, I'm making a much more conscious effort with it, and it's already looking a lot neater.
After finishing the kit bags, I decided to try creating my own design using cheaper tote bags and some old thread from my mum's. It didn't go quite as planned, and I won't be making that mistake again. The thinner thread looked liney, and you could see the holes in the fabric. Decent equipment makes a real difference, even in a craft like embroidery where the tools feel minimal.
What I Took Away
When I finished my first tote bag, I was genuinely proud of myself. It fast became my favourite bag to use day to day, and I've had loads of compliments on it from people who had no idea I'd made it myself. Every time I look at it, I remember the work that went into it. There's one flower I'm not entirely happy with, but aside from that, I love it.
What surprised me most was how much I enjoyed the making of it, not just the finished result. There's something about creating something with your hands that feels different to anything else. You're not just consuming; you're actually making something, which feels surprisingly rare these days.
It's also the kind of skill that travels well. I find myself wishing I had it with me on long train journeys or during films where I don't need to be fully engaged. It fills time in a way that leaves you with something to show for it.
Creating your own patterns adds another level to it entirely. There's something really satisfying about designing something from scratch and seeing it come to life on the fabric. I'm still at the early stages of that, but it's something I want to get better at.
I'd recommend embroidery to anyone who likes making things with their hands but isn't sure they'd class themselves as 'arty'. At the start, I'd definitely recommend picking up a kit rather than buying everything separately; it's far cheaper and gives you a good starting point.