4 days ago4 min read

Hand Embroidery For Quilters + Video Tutorial

Picture Credit: ANNIE ST. CYR with Moda Fabrics

Hand embroidery has become one of my favorite ways to enhance quilts and other sewing projects. It adds a personal and heartfelt touch, making it perfect for creating meaningful, one-of-a-kind gifts. One of the best things about hand embroidery is how easy it is to start! With just a few supplies—most of which you likely already have in your sewing space—you can begin right away. Plus, it only takes basic knowledge of a few stitches to create something beautiful. At Quilt Market, I partnered with Moda to film a beginner-friendly tutorial showing how to incorporate hand embroidery into your quilting projects. Keep reading for all the details!

How I Discovered Hand Embroidery:

Before diving in, I’d love to share the story of how I first got into hand embroidery—it’s one of my favorite memories. In spring 2020, my son’s third-grade teacher was expecting her first baby. It was a tough time due to COVID-19, with schools and social events shut down, and she missed out on many of the joys of preparing for her baby’s arrival. As a mom, I understood how special this time should be, and I wanted to bring her some happiness.

With a few weeks left of virtual learning, I came up with the perfect idea: a baby quilt made by her class! With the parents’ permission (and plenty of gloves, sanitizer, and masks—remember those days?), I taught 20 third-graders to sew. Each child assembled a quilt block for the baby’s quilt. Thank goodness for triangle paper! They each made 4 HSTs. Side note: many of the boys turned out to be amazing at sewing—more boys should try quilting! We used the Perfect 10 Quilt Book by Its Sew Emma and made the "Mint Chocolate Chip Quilt" We made nine blocks instead of 16. We used the layer cake, Bloomington by Lella Boutique.

Because I do not have consent from the parents, the faces of the children have been concealed. My son is the only one not concealed.

To make the quilt even more special, I decided to add a hand-embroidered label in a star block on the back. The label read: “Made with love and little pieces of our hearts - 3rd Grade Class of 2022.” I traced the phrase onto the fabric and stitched it by hand, not knowing exactly what I was doing. That’s what made it so special—it was perfectly imperfect! During their final Zoom call, the teacher opened her gift with 20 excited kids watching. Her emotional reaction was priceless. That quilt—and the process of creating it—was my introduction to hand embroidery, and I’ve been hooked ever since.

What I’ve Done Since:

Since that first project, I’ve used hand embroidery to create quilt labels, pin cushions, tote bags, and even special phrases and designs on my quilts. It’s such a versatile and meaningful skill. If you’d like to try it, I’d love to help you get started! Check out some of the ways I incorporated hand embroidery into my projects below:

Pin cushions, Clip bowl, and "Take One" Sign

Flower Shop BOM Quilt

Flower Shop BOM Quilt

Flower Stand BOM Quilt

Cozy Cottage BOM Quilt - Coming 2025!

Check out the video tutorial below for tips, tricks, and essential supplies.

Beginner Hand Embroidery Tutorial:

At Fall Quilt Market, I filmed a step-by-step video tutorial on hand embroidery with Moda. Watch it below to learn how to incorporate hand embroidery into your quilting projects:

I want to give a HUGE shoutout to my friends at Aurifil for gifting me with some AuriFloss to use in this video. To check out Aurifil Floss Click Here!

Free Hand Embroidery Practice PDF:

To help you practice, I’ve created a FREE downloadable PDF guide with hand embroidery exercises and templates. The PDF includes designs in three sizes—6”, 7”, and 8”—so you can choose the one that works best for your project. You’ll practice straight backstitches, curved stitches, seed stitches, quilt stitches, cross stitches, and more. If your a beginner, I recommend using the larger 8” size to practice. Using a permanent pin, write the stitch name and floss count so you can go back and reference the stitches at a future date. I used the 6" template for my sample.

Also included are six of the word "SEW" so you can follow along with the tutorial.

DOWNLOAD FREE PDF

Important Notes:

• To access the PDF, sign up for my email newsletter. You’ll receive the download link via email (check your spam/junk/promotions folders if it doesn’t appear).

• Need help? Contact: customerservice@mysewquiltylife.com.

Handy Tips for Hand Embroidery:

Use two layers of fabric or linen for stitching.
Start with 6 strands of floss and larger designs until you feel more comfortable to tackle a smaller design.
Hoops are helpful, but avoid overstretching your fabric.
For needles, use embroidery sizes 3–9 are great. Size 3 needles have larger eyes for more threads (3-6), while size 9 needles are best for less threads (1-3).
Use thread conditioner if your thread keeps knotting.
Use consistent stitch lengths when stitching.
Use a needle minder to keep needles safe.

Check out the video for more tips!

Looking for a cute needle minder? I have some available in my shop!, click here!

Adorable Anchors Needle Minder - Blue. Also comes in pink.

Quick Gift Idea: Quilty Pin Cushions with Embroidery:

Need a quick, thoughtful gift for a quilt retreat or sewing group? Use your fabric scraps to create small pin cushions and personalize them with hand-embroidered names or fun quilting phrases. These make excellent gifts and could even spark a pin cushion exchange with your quilting friends. The possibilities are endless!