How to Start Embroidery: A Beginner’s Guide for Book Lovers
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Time to read 3 min
Here at Tapestry & Tomes, we love a good book—and we love discovering a new hobby—so, naturally, we put the two together!
Ever since I was a kid reading books under the covers with a flashlight because Mom said it was lights out, I’ve found so much joy, magic, and adventure in stories. But there is a reason classic literature keeps me coming back again and again.
When you’re a child, stories come to life and almost become a part of you. Then you grow up, life gets busy, and suddenly that childhood magic can feel a little harder to find. You’re left chasing the feeling you had when you first discovered a story that completely transported you—and that’s exactly where I found myself.
So, here’s what we did: we created a simple way to bring the beautiful imagery, memorable characters, and magical worlds of classic books to life through embroidery. And now you can do it too!
Literary embroidery is easy to learn, relaxing to work on, and perfect for beginners. You don’t need to be an experienced artist or know dozens of complicated embroidery stitches to create something beautiful. If you can thread a needle, you can get started!
Start with a Complete Literary Embroidery Kit
We sell beginner-friendly embroidery kits that include everything you need to start stitching your favorite classic stories.
Each kit takes away the guesswork by giving you the embroidery supplies, literary-inspired designs, and beginner instructions you need, all in one place.
If you would rather collect your own embroidery supplies, here is everything you’ll need to get started.
Beginner Embroidery Supplies
Everything you need to get started is listed below. Most of these are available at your local craft store or online.
Needles
- #24 needle: Best for thicker thread counts (4–6 strands)
- #26 needle: Best for finer thread counts (1–3 strands)
Thread
- Embroidery floss: We recommend DMC floss for its color range and quality
- Needle threader: A small but worthwhile tool, especially when working with finer strands
Hoop
- 4-inch embroidery hoop: All of our patches are 3.75 inches or smaller, so a 4-inch hoop is all you need
Sticker Paper
- Water-soluble embroidery sticker paper: Print your designs onto wash-away stabilizer paper, stitch, and rinse clean
Scissors
- Small embroidery scissors: A sharp, fine-tipped pair makes clean cuts close to the fabric much easier
What to Stitch On
Our patches work on almost any fabric. Here are some favorites to get you started:
- Apron
- Pillowcase
- Sweatshirt
- Canvas tote
- Denim jacket
- Book sleeve
- Blanket
Easy Embroidery Stitches for Beginners
There are countless embroidery stitches to learn and so many beautiful, intricate designs you can eventually create. For our literary embroidery kits, we tend to stick with tried-and-true beginner stitches that are simple to learn but still create a beautiful finished piece.
Some of our favorite basic embroidery stitches include:
- Straight stitch
- Backstitch
- Satin stitch
- Split stitch
- French knot
- Lazy daisy stitch
You can follow our suggested stitches or use whichever embroidery techniques feel most comfortable to you. We always encourage you to get creative as you bring the characters, symbols, and worlds of classic literature to life!
You can find step-by-step instructions for our most-used beginner embroidery stitches in the Tapestry & Tomes Stitch Guide:
Choose Your Literary Embroidery Adventure
Now that you’ve seen just how easy it is to create a straight stitch, backstitch, or satin stitch, you’re ready to choose the literary adventure you want to join!
Whether you love gothic classics, romantic novels, cozy mysteries, or unforgettable adventures, you can find a classic book-inspired embroidery design that feels like you.
Explore our literary embroidery collection, choose a story you love, and start stitching today. It’s a relaxing, creative way to reconnect with your favorite books—and bring a little of that childhood magic back into your everyday life.
