Choosing The Best Fabric For Your Hand Embroidery Project

The fabric you choose for your hand embroidery project can make ALL the difference.  Choose the wrong fabric and you are left saying curse words.  Choose the right fabric and your project can become a therapeutic outlet that you keep coming back to again and again.

I feel like fabric is a big lesson for those just starting out.  For beginners, I recommend finding a non-stretchy, non-see-through cotton fabric (like Kona Cotton) to start out on.  I find that this type of cotton is more forgiving for the beginner just trying to learn the craft.  I use high-quality cotton in all my embroidery kits. To get started, take a look at these specific fabrics: cottonvill, cotton muslin, and Kona cotton.

Now, as you gain experience, absolutely try other fabrics.  My favorite go-to is always linen, with tweed being a close second. But I know other embroidery artists that hate linen.  I have also seen others use denim, thick canvas and even translucent mesh for their embroidery projects. But just thinking of stitching on denim makes my fingers hurt. I've even seen examples where people have stitched on old screen doors and a tennis racket!  The moral of this story... find the fabric that works best for you and don't be afraid of experimenting with different kinds.

Here are few places that I get my fabric at:

• Amazon - HERE is a link to a few of the fabrics that I have tried with success.
• Thrift stores - I especially like finding tweed, herringbone and other unique fabrics there.  Men's sports coats are a wealth of textured, fun fabric.
• Your local fabric store. Joann's, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, and even Walmart all have a fabric section where you can go and inspect/touch the fabric to see what you like (and don't like).

The following post contains affiliate links and I may make a small commission if you make a purchase using my links below. Again, thank you for supporting And Other Adventures Embroidery Co!