Quick answer: You can embroider almost any fabric item. Popular ideas include tote bags, T-shirts, denim jackets, hats, pillowcases, tea towels, handkerchiefs, baby clothes, hoop art for your walls, patches and personalized gifts like monogrammed towels. Beginners should start with hoop art or a cotton tote bag, since flat, woven cotton is the easiest fabric to stitch.
Not sure what to stitch next? This list of embroidery ideas covers easy beginner projects, clothing upgrades, home décor and gifts, plus design ideas to fill them with.
Easy Embroidery Projects for Beginners
- Hoop art: stitch a simple flower or word and frame it in the hoop.
- Tote bags: sturdy cotton canvas is easy to hoop and stitch.
- Tea towels: flat cotton or linen with lots of space.
- Bookmarks and patches: small, quick and great for practice.
- Handkerchiefs: add initials or tiny florals to a corner.
Clothing Ideas
- Florals on a denim jacket back or collar
- Small motifs on a T-shirt chest or sleeve
- Names or initials on a sweatshirt
- Patches to cover holes in jeans
- Tiny designs on socks, hats or canvas sneakers
Home Décor Ideas
- Pillowcases and throw pillow covers
- Table runners and napkins
- Wall hoops in a gallery arrangement
- Curtain hems and lampshades
Gift Ideas
- Monogrammed towels for weddings
- Baby blankets with a name and birth date
- Pet portraits in a hoop
- Personalized Christmas stockings
- Hats or tote bags with a friend's initials
Design Ideas to Stitch
- Botanicals: wildflowers, leaves, lavender, ferns
- Lettering: names, quotes, dates, single words
- Food: fruit, lemons, strawberries, coffee cups
- Animals: cats, bees, birds, butterflies
- Celestial: moons, stars and constellations
- Seasonal: pumpkins, snowflakes, Christmas trees
How to Choose What to Embroider
- Pick a fabric you can hoop easily (woven cotton or linen for beginners).
- Match the design size to the space and to your skill level.
- Use stitches you know, then add one new stitch per project.
- Think about washing: clothing needs colorfast thread and secure knots.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest thing to embroider?
Hoop art on cotton fabric. It's flat, stable and doesn't need to survive washing.
Can you embroider on any fabric?
Almost. Stretchy, thin or textured fabrics need stabilizer, and leather needs pre-punched holes.
What should I embroider first?
A small design with simple outlines, such as a flower, heart or short word, using backstitch and lazy daisy stitches.
What can I embroider to sell?
Personalized gifts, hoop art, patches and embroidered clothing are popular handmade items.
Get Started
Need help with technique? Read how to embroider on clothes and what to do with finished embroidery.
Looking for ready-made inspiration? Browse our personalized embroidered gifts.
