What you need to start hand embroidery

A short, cheap list: hoop, needles, stranded cotton, fabric, small scissors and a way to mark your design.

• A hoop, 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 inches), with a screw at the top so you can tighten it. Hoops keep the fabric taut while you stitch.
• Embroidery (crewel) needles, sizes 5 to 9. They have a sharp point and a long eye for several strands.
• Stranded cotton in a few colours. Split it into two or three strands for a first project.
• Fabric: a light to medium cotton or linen with a firm, close weave. Cut it larger than the hoop so it can be gripped all round.
• Small sharp embroidery scissors.
• A water-soluble or erasable fabric pen, or carbon or iron-on transfer paper, to put the design on the fabric.

Pinny's tip
Cut your fabric at least 5 cm bigger than the hoop on every side so it grips well.

Sources

All checked 1 November 2026. We read these; we did not test the products ourselves.

1. Floss Field: How to start embroidery
2. Simply Sewing: Embroidery for beginners
3. Wikipedia: Embroidery hoops and frames
4. DMC: Step by step embroidery stitch guide