A Beginner’s Guide to Embroidery Tools - What you really need to get started

One of the reasons I first got into embroidery was because of how little you need to get started. I was packing for a trip to the south of France and wanted a portable, crafty project to take with me. Knowing the climate would be much warmer than North Hertfordshire, my usual stash of wool and crochet hooks just wouldn’t do.

Since then, my love for stitching has only grown, and so has my collection of sewing notions—but mostly for fun and aesthetic reasons, not necessity. At its core, hand embroidery is one of the simplest crafts to begin with. All you really need is fabric, thread, a needle, and a pair of scissors.

In this blog series, I’ll be sharing the essential tools you need to get started, along with some optional extras and a few of my personal favourites.

The Essentials

🪡 A Good Needle – Not too big, not too small, the right needle can make all the difference. For beginners, a size 5-9 embroidery needle is a great all-rounder. These sizes are fine enough to glide through most fabrics but sturdy enough to handle multiple strands of floss. If you’re stitching on heavier fabric or using thicker threads, you might want to experiment with larger sizes, but a good mid-range needle will suit most projects.  I provide a size 5 embroidery needle and a size 24 chenille needle in my kits as the larger eye of the chenille needle makes it much easier to thread.

🧵 Embroidery Thread – The classic six-strand cotton floss is perfect for most embroidery projects. It’s versatile, comes in a vast array of colours, and allows you to adjust the thickness of your stitches by using fewer or more strands. Brands like DMC and Anchor offer high-quality threads with a lovely sheen. Cheap threads are often matte in appearance and have a tendency to tangle more which only leads to frustration, making the sewing experience less enjoyable. Don’t skimp when buying your threads!

✂️ Sharp Scissors – A small pair of embroidery scissors makes cutting thread much easier and more precise. Unlike regular scissors, embroidery scissors have thin, sharp blades that allow you to snip close to the fabric without fraying or damaging it. Look for a pair with a comfortable grip and a pointed tip for accuracy. Plus, there are so many beautiful designs out there—adding a pretty pair to your toolkit makes the process even more enjoyable!

🖼 An Embroidery Hoop – A wooden hoop keeps your fabric taut, making stitching easier and more even. It also helps maintain the tension of your stitches, preventing puckering or distortion. Hoops come in different sizes, so choose one that comfortably fits your design with a bit of extra space around the edges. I personally love wooden hoops for their classic look and feel, but plastic options are also available if you prefer something lightweight.  When choosing a hoop you really do get what you pay for - cheaper hoops will loose tension quicker.

📜 Fabric – The foundation of your embroidery! Linen, cotton, or calico all work beautifully for embroidery because they’re sturdy enough to hold stitches without warping. Linen has a lovely natural texture, while cotton is smooth and easy to work with. Calico is a great budget-friendly option, especially for practice pieces. When choosing fabric, consider the weave—tighter weaves are better for detailed designs, while looser weaves are perfect for rustic or freeform stitching. All of my embroidery patterns are printed on 100% cotton which means they can be easily used in combination with other projects or such as patchwork or appliqué .

With these essentials in hand, you’re ready to embark on your embroidery journey! If you’re just startin out (or want to refresh your skills) then you may be interested in my Introduction to Embroidery kit.

Keep an eye out for Part 2, where I’ll be sharing some optional extras that can make your stitching sessions even more enjoyable.

Donna