How Long Does it Take to Learn Embroidery?

Embroidery takes time and patience to learn, but experts agree that it only takes around 1 to 2 hours to master beginner stitches and follow a simple pattern. Some common beginner stitches include the running stitch, back stitch, chain stitch, satin stitch, and French knots. Intricate designs require more complicated stitching, therefore more time will be spent regardless of your skill level. However, as with any skill, the more you practice, the better and faster you'll become in your embroidery.

Basic hand embroidery doesn't require an abundance of supplies, mainly a water-soluble marker, a needle, thread, fabric, scissors, and a hoop. Many beginners start by creating a sampler, a piece of fabric (usually cotton or linen) in a hoop that shows various stitches and demonstrates your embroidery skills. Creating a sampler is a great way to practice your stitches and can be used as a reference for your other embroidery projects, but can also be an attractive piece of art to display. 

There are many factors that determine how long it will take to complete an embroidery project, for instance, your level of expertise, the size of your project, and the complexity of the design. A small piece might take you three to five hours on average, while a larger project like embroidering an adult-size jacket could take up to 10 to 15 hours. Keep reading to learn about how you can learn embroidery and some resources to help speed the process along.

What is Embroidery?

Embroidery is the process of using a needle and thread to create designs on fabric. These designs can be simple such as monogramming a towel, or intricate and detailed, like embroidering a portrait on fabric. Many different fabric items can be embroidered, some of the more common ones being towels, pillowcases, jackets, t-shirts, baby clothes, blankets, bags, canvas shoes, hats, and handkerchiefs. You can also embroider beautiful artwork to display in your home. 

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Embroidery has a long history, with some of the earliest surviving embroidered pieces found in the burial mounds of Scythians, a nomadic group of people originating from Southern Siberia around 900 BCE. During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, embroidery was a popular hobby for women in the wealthier classes who had leisure time to craft. Although some women, including Queen Charlotte and English Quaker poet and abolitionist Mary Knowles, could replicate great artworks with a needle and thread, embroidery was deemed a lower art form than others such as painting. This was partly because it was considered "women's work" and thus deemed inferior by the patriarchy. 

The Feminist Art Movement beginning in the 1960s sought to redefine what makes quality art, blurring the lines between lowbrow and highbrow art forms so that all art (including what is considered crafts like quilting, knitting, and embroidery) is seen as valuable. Feminist artists like Judy Chicago and Miriam Schapiro included needlework in their mixed media artwork to produce subversive artwork that represented women's experiences and history.

Benefits of Learning Embroidery?

There are several benefits of learning embroidery. Many embroiderers agree that it relieves stress and is an effective form of meditation. The act of stitching is considered a mindfulness activity, a form of meditation that involves focusing on the task at hand, in other words, being lost in the moment. Practicing embroidery is an effective way to center your mind and let the stress melt away. 

In addition to being an effective stress reliever, embroidery is a practical skill that allows you to create a wide variety of projects for yourself and others. Embroidered pieces make beautiful artwork that can be hung in your home and can be used to embellish your plain clothing or household items. Embroidery projects also make great unique gifts for numerous occasions like baby/wedding showers, birthdays, Christmas, Easter, and housewarmings, among others. Your friends and family members will be impressed by your one-of-a-kind handmade pieces, knowing that you've put in hours of work to create something unique and special just for them.

If you're looking to make some extra money, embroidery is a great side hustle or part-time job. You can sell your unique pieces on websites like Etsy and Amazon Handmade. Embroidered hooped artwork, custom embroidery like portraits, and embroidered t-shirts and jackets are a few popular handmade embroidery items on Etsy. You can also sell your own designs and patterns as well as embroidery kits to other embroiderers that usually include a hoop, needle, thread, fabric, and pattern. 

Learning embroidery will plug you into a larger community of fiber artists and needleworkers. You can look for local embroidery clubs through Facebook Groups or your local library. These clubs usually involve members gathering together to share tips and socialize as they work on their embroidery projects. Another great way to find embroidery groups in your area is by reaching out to your local chapter of the Embroiderers' Guild of America (EGA), a national embroidery organization that offers educational resources, events, and networking opportunities to its members.

Average Time It Takes to Learn Embroidery

Many embroiderers will tell you that hand embroidery is not meant to be fast-paced and that if you are concerned with producing pieces at a faster rate, you may want to consider machine embroidery instead. When going into learning hand embroidery, it's helpful to remember that the act of stitching itself has intrinsic value (reducing stress, a form of meditation) so as not to rush your work. That being said, it is helpful to know approximately how much time you will have to spend learning embroidery so that you can plan accordingly. 

Learning how to do the basic stitches may only take you a couple of hours, but mastering your stitches (making even, uniform, and clean-looking stitches) can take a few weeks to months. You can learn embroidery by taking in-person or online classes that range from a couple of hours to learn the basics and create a sampler, to multiple-day workshops that delve into more detailed work. 

Like any skill, practice makes perfect, so the more your embroiderer the better quality of work you'll produce. While you can learn about the basic stitches, tools, and techniques used in embroidery in a few hours, completing a project can take a significant amount of time depending on your skill set, the size of the project, and other factors. A small design on average could take around five hours while a larger project can take 15 hours or longer to complete. 

Other Factors

Just as the length of time it takes to complete a project is variable, the duration it takes to learn embroidery depends on several different factors. It's helpful to keep in mind that hand embroidery is slow-going in general, but learning how to do it isn't very difficult. Moreover, depending on the various factors listed below, the time it takes to master embroidery will differ for everyone.

Prior Experience

If you've done any type of sewing before, you will find learning embroidery to be easier than a complete needlework novice would. Knowing how to create various stitches and/or follow a pattern is a definite plus when it comes to learning embroidery. Even basic sewing knowledge such as how to thread a needle and tie knots is useful prior experience to have. But don't fret if you lack prior sewing knowledge, many embroidery classes are geared towards beginners with no experience. 

Personal Learning Speed

Whether you're a quick learner or if it takes you longer to retain knowledge can impact the speed at which you learn embroidery. Depending on your individual pace of learning, some people may find it easier to learn than others. But learning fast isn't necessarily better. A study discussed in Harvard Ed. Magazine found that how fast someone learns has no effect on their ability and concluded that assuming a person is smarter because they are a "fast learner" is a false narrative. When it comes to embroidery, if you rush through learning you may find that your work doesn't meet the quality you are aiming for. 

Your Purpose for Learning Embroidery 

The reason why you are learning embroidery can also affect how long it will take you to master the craft. If you are taking up embroidery as a fun hobby or way to relieve stress, it may suit you to learn at a leisurely pace, practicing when you have free time. But if you are planning to turn your embroidery into a side hustle or business, a more regimented learning schedule may be needed.

To compete with other embroiderers selling their work on websites like Etsy, you will need to produce high-quality work which requires a lot of practice. Some of the best-selling custom embroidered pieces are very detailed and technically precise, requiring expertise and skills that will take longer to master.

Machine Vs. Hand Embroidery 

Embroidering with a machine produces pieces significantly faster than embroidering by hand; it is also relatively easier to learn since the machine does most of the work for you. Machine embroidery produces commercial-looking projects with very precise and uniform stitching. This can be great for creating several embroidered items in a short amount of time which is particularly useful for selling. Some people, however, prefer the look of hand embroidery (including the imperfect stitches) for its unique, softer quality; as with most things made by hand, it will take longer to learn but the benefits may be worth it. 

Types of Projects

When first starting out, learning how to do basic embroidery stitches will be a breeze for many people. But using those stitches to create intricate designs takes much longer to master. The more complicated and detailed the design, the more challenging the stitches will be. 

Also, different types of embroidery are more difficult to learn than others. Cross stitch, a counted thread embroidery that consists of creating X-shaped stitches on fabric with an open weave, is one of the easiest forms of embroidery to learn; while stumpwork embroidery, creating raised stitches with a three-dimensional quality, takes more time to become proficient in. 

Method of Learning

How you learn embroidery is another factor that can determine how fast you'll learn. If you take an in-person or online class you will have the benefit of learning from an expert instructor who will guide you closely as you learn the proper stitches and techniques. Many people find that to gain in-depth knowledge of a subject or skill, taking a class is more effective than learning on your own. 

However, there are a plethora of videos on YouTube that will teach you how to embroider as well as books with diagrams that can be bought or borrowed. Self-paced learning may take longer but is another way to learn the basics. 

What to Know Before Learning Embroidery 

Learning embroidery may not be as difficult as you think. With patience and practice, you can become an expert embroiderer and produce beautiful textile artwork. Starting with the basics will give you the foundational knowledge you need to produce precise stitching. Once you've mastered the essential stitches and simple designs, you can move on to more advanced embroidery. 

It's helpful to have basic sewing knowledge before beginning to learn embroidery. You might not have known what it was called but there's a good chance you've done a running stitch, one of the most basic and common sewing stitches, at some point in your life (remember that Home Economics class you took in school?) That being said, there are embroidery classes for beginners that will teach you everything you need to know, even if you've never threaded a needle. 

Embroidery is a relatively inexpensive craft. On Amazon, you can buy 140 skeins of different colored embroidery floss for about $12 and 6 pieces of Aida cloth for around $6; a pack of 6 bamboo embroidery hoops will cost you around $18, while a 50-pack of needles is only about $6. For all your supplies it's crucial to have a storage bag or container to keep everything organized. Amazon sells embroidery floss containers with compartments for around $10 and storage bags will cost you around $20. 

Can I Learn Embroidery for Free / on My Own?

Self-paced learning is a great way to learn the basics of embroidery. You can watch free videos on YouTube or check out books from the library that have pictures and diagrams. However, most people find that taking an in-person or virtual embroidery class will give them the comprehensive knowledge they need to advance their skills. 

In classes conducted in-person or live online, you will be able to ask questions in real-time and receive immediate feedback. This is particularly helpful when you get stuck or find yourself getting frustrated with a stitch that isn't turning out the way it should. The expert instructor can guide you and provide you with the assistance you need.

Key Takeaways

Now that you've learned more about how long it takes to learn embroidery, let's review the main points.

• Embroidery is the process of using a needle and thread to stitch designs on fabric.
• Learning embroidery takes time and patience but is not as difficult as you might think.
• You can likely learn how to do the basic beginner stitches in just a couple of hours. 
• Learning how to do more complicated stitches and intricate designs can take weeks or months to master. 
• Completing a project can take anywhere from three to five hours for a small piece to several weeks for a larger, more detailed pattern. 
• How long it takes you to learn embroidery depends on various factors including your sewing experience, your personal learning speed, why you are learning embroidery, whether you are learning machine or hand embroidery, and the type of projects you will be working on.
• Knowing how to do a basic stitch like the running stitch is helpful prior knowledge to have for learning embroidery, but no prior experience is necessary for beginner classes.
• Embroidery supplies are generally inexpensive and can be purchased online or at numerous craft supply stores. 
• You can learn the basics of how to embroider by watching videos or reading books but taking a formal embroidery class will give you more comprehensive knowledge and can speed up the learning process. 
• You can contact CourseHorse to find options for online or in-person training, including private group sessions.