I’ve been wanting to dive into embroidery and make it as easy as possible. After researching different techniques, I found one that’s perfect for hand embroidery for beginners—and I’m obsessed!

The secret? Sticky stabilizer. It’s a special paper you can print on, peel off the backing, and stick to your fabric. Then you simply stitch over the design. When you’re done, rinse it under water, and the stabilizer dissolves—leaving just your beautiful stitches behind.

I love this method because:
✅ You can see the design clearly while stitching
✅ It feels like coloring with thread
✅ You can reuse your design over and over

If you’ve ever wanted to customize clothes, make decorative hoops, or create embroidered gifts, this is the easiest way to start. Below, I’ll walk you through the steps, share the best stitches for beginners, and give you my top supply recommendations. I’ll be embroidering a thrifted dress.

Hand Embroidery for Beginners: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide

SUPPLIES You’ll Need for Hand Embroidery

Here’s what I recommend having on hand:

Embroidery hoop (6-inch or 8-inch is great for beginners)
Sticky stabilizer (like Sulky Sticky Fabri-Solvy)
Embroidery floss (DMC is my favorite)
Embroidery needles (with a large eye)
Scissors (travel-friendly if you plan to take it on the go)
Printer or Cricut machine (for transferring designs)
Pen (black Cricut pen or water-soluble pen)
Adapter (for the water-soluble pen if you’re using the Cricut Joy or Cricut Xtra)

free download

Want the pattern to stitch the spice village as well? I have them available as a free download!

To download, just put your name and email in the form below. You’ll get an email right away with how to download. Plus you’ll be subscribed to my newsletter! If you’re already subscribed, go here to download.

How to Do Hand Embroidery for Beginners

Follow these steps for an easy, frustration-free start:

Step 1: Pick Your Design

To begin, choose something simple to start with. For my project, I took photos of my Lenox Spice Village and converted them into line art.

Use an app like Fotor or even ChatGPT (upload your image and ask it to turn it into a simple line drawing).
Save your design so you can reuse it later.

Step 2: Print Your Design

Next, print your design directly onto sticky stabilizer with an inkjet printer. If you don’t have a printer, here’s another trick:

Upload the image to Cricut Design Space and use a pen to draw it onto the stabilizer.

I tested two pens:
- Standard black Cricut pen: great for clear lines but may bleed slightly when rinsed.
- Cricut water-soluble pen: washes out perfectly but harder to see while stitching.

Step 3: Stick and Hoop

For the next step, peel off the backing and stick the stabilizer to your fabric. Smooth it down so there are no bubbles. Then, if you want, place the fabric in your embroidery hoop. I personally just stitched my dress without a hoop, but it can help make the fabric easier to stitch.

For stretchy fabrics:

Add a second piece of stabilizer to the back of your fabric inside the hoop for extra support.
Don’t pull too tightly when placing it in the hoop—if the fabric stretches, your stitches will look distorted when you remove it.

Step 4: Start Stitching

If you’re new to embroidery, I recommend the book Little Stitches for easy-to-follow instructions. For my designs, I used these stitches:

Backstitch for outlines
French knots for tiny details like flowers or doorknobs
Lazy daisy stitch for leaves and petals
Scatter stitch to fill in areas

Tip: Use 2-3 strands of embroidery floss for most designs. For larger patterns with bold details, use the full 6 strands.

Step 5: Rinse Away the Stabilizer

When you finish stitching, rinse the fabric under warm water until the stabilizer dissolves completely.

Do not wring the fabric, as it can stretch the stitches.
Lay it flat or hang to dry.

That’s it! Your design is done, and your fabric is ready to use or wear.

after

I stitched an entire thrifted denim dress with spice houses, and each one feels like a little work of art. My favorite? A big cookie jar pattern in bold stitches!

Why This Method is Perfect for Beginners

In conclusion, using sticky stabilizer takes all the stress out of transferring patterns. You can literally print any design and go. No tracing, no guessing—it’s like embroidery made simple. That’s why I think this is the best way to start hand embroidery for beginners.

Bonus Tips

Practice on Cotton Napkins: Before diving into clothes, try embroidering on cotton napkins. They’re easy to stitch on and make adorable keepsakes!
Travel-Friendly Craft: Hand embroidery is perfect for car rides, flights, or while watching TV. Pack a small hoop, floss, needles, and a mini pair of scissors for an on-the-go kit.
Customization Ideas: Add names, monograms, or fun phrases (I stitched “Spice Up Your Life” on a collar and loved it!).
Creative Projects: Embroider on thrifted clothing, tote bags, or even pillowcases for a personal touch.