hand embroidery tutorial

"I own and use embroidered and hand-worked pillowcases made by family hands I've never known. I often think of these women and wonder about their lives."

Mary Lee | Middle School Teacher and Author

"Embroidering is such a lovely, Zen process and I credit it with helping me develop a keener and calmer focus."

Robin McCarthy | Embroidery Artist

"I’ve always had a fascination with the needle, the magic power of the needle. The needle is used to repair the damage. It’s a claim to forgiveness. It is never aggressive, it’s not a pin."

Louise Bourgeois | French-American Artist

"When I'm not writing or tweaking my computer, I do embroidery. When I'm not plunging into the past, tweaking, or embroidering, I'm reading books about history, computers, or embroidery."

Lynn Abbey | Computer Programmer and Author

"I heard someone say that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to get into heaven. I decided to sculpt camels in a needle."

Willard Wigan | British Sculptor

"I am fascinated by the idea that a simple thread becomes a piece of art completely, and how many artists use it."

Charlotte Vannier | Artist and Designer

"I sit for hours upon hours in solitude and stitch – and I LOVE it! Stitching is meditation to me, as I work sometimes I say a little mantra 'every stitch is a prayer for healing'."

Erin Endicott | Embroidery Artist

"My art is a reflective image of who I am, it communicates my emotions and ideas for the world to see and this makes me feel the happiest."

Nora Aboutaieb | Moroccan Embroidery Artist

"As far as we could tell, the face of the revolution was a sea of embroidering women, patiently waiting the resignation of their repressive governor."

Diana Denham | Author of Teaching Rebellion

"From the manner in which a woman draws her thread at every stitch of her needlework, any other woman can surmise her thoughts."

Honore de Balzac | French Novelist and Playwright

"She was passionate about embroidery because it let her express her creativity. It was liberating. It allowed her to exist outside of time."

Laura Esquivel | Author and Politician

"I have a grandmother’s life… I spend most of my day embroidering, drinking some coffee or a cup of tea all while watching TV and fighting with my cat for the cotton… I also go to the cinema a lot."

Julie Sarloutte | Embroidery Artist

"Hand embroidery has many different names… my personal favorite is needle painting, literally painting with the needle."

Victoria Matthewson | Embroidery Artist

"Threads, patterns, and needle sizes have come such a long way since your grandmother's times. Creatively, there is just so much to get into, so much to play with. It's an amazing way to turn inward and get off your phone."

Krysten Ritter | American Actress

"The best way to learn is to just start. It´s not about beauty, followers, or being good; it´s about doing, creating. Embroider whatever you like, use the colors that make you happy."

Sheena Liam | Embroidery Artist