Embroidery is the easiest needlecraft to begin. You need a hoop, a needle, a few skeins of thread and a piece of cotton, and you can be stitching within the hour.
There is no machine to learn and no pattern to decode. If you can thread a needle, you can make something beautiful this weekend. Here is exactly what to buy, and nothing you do not need.
Watch first: embroidery in five minutes
DMC has been making embroidery thread since 1746. This short introduction shows the tools and what you can make with them.
Video: DMC
Your first shopping list
A hoop
It holds the fabric drum-tight so your stitches sit flat and even. A wooden hoop around 15 cm is the easiest size to hold.
Stranded cotton
Also called embroidery floss. Each skein has six strands you can separate, so one thread gives you fine lines and bold ones.
Embroidery needles
They have a sharp point and a long eye, which makes threading several strands at once much easier.
Plain cotton fabric
A smooth, medium-weight cotton in a light colour is the friendliest surface to learn on. An old pillowcase works too.
Start here
DMC Wood Embroidery Hoop
From KES 1,350
A smooth beechwood hoop with a brass screw that keeps your fabric taut while you work. When the piece is finished, the hoop doubles as its frame, ready to hang on the wall.
See the DMC hoop
497 colours in stock
DMC Embroidery Floss
KES 130 a skein
The thread most patterns in the world are written for. It has a soft sheen, it does not fade in the wash, and every colour has a number, so you can always buy the exact shade again.
Choose your coloursWhat it costs to start
A hoop and six skeins of DMC floss come to about KES 2,130. Add a pack of embroidery needles and you have everything for your first few projects.
Three stitches to learn first
With these three you can stitch almost any beginner pattern. Each link opens a short DMC video.
Back stitch
For outlines and lettering. Watch the video
Satin stitch
For filling shapes with smooth colour. Watch the video
French knot
For dots, flower centres and texture. Watch the video
Prefer to learn with someone beside you? Have a look at our embroidery and cross stitch classes.
Start your first hoop this weekend
Everything on this list is on our shelves at Sarit Centre, 1st floor. Tell us what you want to stitch and we will help you pick the colours.
Shop embroidery suppliesOr call us on +254 798 316860
In Stitches is the authorised DMC distributor in Kenya.
Prices correct at the time of writing.
