As the artist and business owner behind AOA, I firmly believe that it is MY JOB to take away as many curse words as possible for any beginners as they start their first embroidery project. With that mantra in mind, here are the things that I have done with the AOA embroidery kits to make them as beginner-friendly as possible:
-
High quality, tight weave, non-stretchy cotton fabric that is perfect for stitching. There are so many fabrics out there that it's a bit overwhelming. I could teach a whole class about fabric options and what I like and don't like. We have taken the guess work out of it and have chosen a fabric that makes stitching a breeze. You don't have to worry about figuring out the pros and cons of all the different transfer methods or the supplies that go with them.
-
Professionally printed design.Same as the fabric, there are a LOT of different options when it comes to getting the design on to the fabric. And for a beginner, sometimes that transfer process can feeling daunting. So we have found a supplier that helps us professionally print our designs on to the fabric. I love it because each design is consistent, easy to see, and allows for intricate detailing. Let's save learning how to transfer for your 2nd or 3rd embroidery project (we have tutorials for that too whenever you are ready).
-
Each beginner design is made to be forgiving. My view is that you should be allowed to make mistakes and learn from them without "ruining" the whole project. Instead you do what I usually do when I mess up, just cover it up with another stitch and call it texture. These beginner designs allow for that sort of creative messing up. No one will ever know that it is slightly different from the original kit.
-
All fabric comes already hooped. Our callouses are so much better than yours - so we can get that embroidery hoop super tight with the fabric as taut as it can be. A tightly hooped fabric makes all the difference in how much you will enjoy stitching. A loose hooped fabric can cause puckering, your floss misbehaves, and curse words start brewing.
-
Beginner friendly needle. This one is pretty self-explanatory, but we want a needle that will be easy enough for a beginner to use. There are lot of options on the market, but you want an eye that is big enough for the floss to go through, no snagging as it goes through the fabric, and substantial enough that it is easy to grip. So I include the same brand and size of needle that I stitch with every day!
-
We ONLY use DMC Floss. DMC floss is the gold standard of embroidery floss. Imported from France, they have been making beautiful floss since 1898. I love their floss because it is very easy to work with (less tangles), the color is always consistent, and there is no bleeding (which often happens with cheaper floss). There is nothing worse than spending all this time stitching up something beautiful only to have it bleed into the fabric and ruin the entire project. No thank you! That is why I only use DMC floss.
-
Full Skeins of Floss. We include full DMC floss skeins in our embroidery kits. I do this for a few reasons. First, I want a beginner stitcher to have enough floss that they can do a few practice stitches before they get started on the actual design. Second, I never want anyone to feel the stress of worrying about running out of floss to finish the project. Third, if they love the colors, I want them to know the DMC floss codes so they can go get more for their next project.
-
Stitch Instructions in a format that works best for you. We offer written instructions, still closeup photo breakdowns each stitch, and LOTS of videos for those that need to see the stitches in action in order to learn. No silly diagrams that no one understands - instead you get thoughtful instructions that actually teach you how to embroider.
-
Each beginner kit can be completed in a leisurely weekend.We do this on purpose because we understand the importance of seeing the finish line, especially on your embroidery project.
-
Access to the ENTIRE AOA Resource Library. When you purchase an AOA embroidery kit, you just get access to resources for not just your design, you get access to the entire library. Sometimes you need to see a French Knot stitch at a few different angles in order for it to click. So we allow you to see all of the French Knot videos.
-
We are just 1 email away. If you get stuck on something, we want to hear from you. You are not alone! Simply snap a photo of your predicament and send us an email. I can usually diagnose the problem pretty quickly and help you either work through it or we can modify the stitch to something that is a bit easier. We are here to cheer you on from start to finish so that you are proud of your embroidery project!
Our main goal is teach you the foundational embroidery stitches and help you complete your first project. We want it to feel like coloring, just instead of crayons, you use embroidery floss. No curse words allowed. We are here to take the stress out of learning so that you can fast track to relaxing, meditative creativity of hand embroidery.
Here few of our most popular beginner embroidery kits:
