Simple Embroidery

Simple Embroidery: My Unexpected Love Affair With Thread and Needle

You know what surprised me the most? How calming it is to stab something repeatedly. Kidding! But honestly, embroidery became my pandemic sanity-saver when I accidentally ordered a beginner kit instead of yoga pants online. Two years later? I’m hooked. Let me show you why simple embroidery might just become your next obsession too.

What Exactly Is Simple Embroidery?

Think of it as drawing with thread. Unlike its fancy cousin cross-stitch, simple embroidery is freestyle—just you, fabric, and endless possibilities. I started with wobbly flowers that looked more like radioactive blobs, but hey, we all begin somewhere.

Why Simple Embroidery Beats Complicated Crafts

• Cheap therapy: My $8 hoop works better than my $120 therapy session
• Mistakes? Feature, not flaws (my cat-shaped cloud proves it)
• Portable – I’ve stitched in parking lots, airports, even during boring Zoom calls

My Embroidery Toolkit: Shockingly Basic

When I first Googled supplies, the lists overwhelmed me. Truth be told? Here’s what you actually need:

• Embroidery hoop (the plastic ones don’t judge when you throw them)
• Cotton fabric – my first project was on an old denim jacket
• Needles with big eyes (because threading is half the battle)
• DMC floss – the Cadillac of threads that won’t fray on you

Pro tip from my disastrous Week 1: Skip the fancy scissors. Kitchen shears work in a pinch.

5 Stitches Even I Could Master

YouTube made me believe I needed 20 stitches. Nope. These five carried me through my first year:

1. The Lazy Daisy (My Spirit Stitch)

Just a loop and a tiny anchor stitch. I’ve made entire gardens with this one.

2. Backstitch – The Reliable Friend

Perfect for outlines and writing snarky phrases on pillows.

3. French Knots: The Drama Queens

Took me 47 tries to get these right. Now I add them to everything like embroidery glitter.

Where I Find Inspiration (Besides My Mistakes)

Nature’s my go-to – leaves are basically free patterns. But when creativity stalls:

• Childhood doodles (yes, my 8-year-old self was onto something)
• Architecture – window grids make great geometric designs
• Other artists’ work (with credit always!)

Funny story: My "abstract mountain" design was actually a coffee stain I outlined in panic.

Why Embroidery Feels Like Magic

There’s something alchemical about transforming a single strand into texture. Running my fingers over raised satin stitches? Pure tactile joy. And the meditative rhythm of needle up, needle down quieted my anxiety better than any app.

My Biggest Embroidery Lessons (The Hard Way)

• Wash your hands first (learned after transferring pizza grease to white linen)
• Knots happen – literally and metaphorically
• Perfectionism kills joy – my crooked stitches have more personality anyway

Ready to Try Simple Embroidery?

Grab a $5 kit and just start. My first piece lives in my wallet as a reminder: creativity thrives in trying, not perfection. Who knows? You might discover – like I did – that there’s profound satisfaction in pulling beauty through cloth, one stubborn stitch at a time.

P.S. If you do start embroidering, message me! I’ll happily celebrate your "radioactive blob flower" phase.