Gifts to Hand Embroider

Hand Embroidery is not only a fun creative pursuit, but it is an extremely useful skill to learn as well. Once you’re hooked on hand embroidery, you’ll want to embroider a little something on everything! Lucky for you, there are a myriad of gifts that you can hand embroider for others and your own household, which means you won’t ever run out of embroidery projects to work on.

Handmade Gifts

If you’re someone who likes to create, you know that giving a loved one something you made with your own two hands makes you feel all warm and fuzzy, especially if the recipient appreciates homemade gifts. If you regularly make your own gifts, you might be looking for some fresh ideas for gifts that you can hand embroider.

Hand embroidery is a great way to personalize a homemade gift, or if you’re short on time, you can even embroider on something store-bought. There are many useful and decorative items that are perfect for hand embroidery. Whether you’re advanced or a beginner, if you know one hand embroidery stitch or dozens, you can turn something plain into a unique and thoughtful gift. You’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that nothing else is quite the same as your handmade work of art.

Some of these project ideas are best to start early as they may take you a while to complete, but many are quick gifts that you can whip up in an evening or two. Most of these ideas can be used anytime of year and are also perfect for Christmas gifts.

Here are just some suggestions for gifts that I’ve hand embroidered over the years:

For The Maker:

• Needle Keeper/Book
• Pin Cushion
• Pencil/paintbrush roll
• Sketchbook cover
• Project Bag

For The Eternal Student:

• Bookmark
• Book bag
• Journal or book cover
• Laptop or e reader case

For Kids:

• Hairbow
• Barrette
• Badge
• Bandanna
• Bracelet
• Stuffed Animal
• Patch
• Clothing
• Backpack
• Purse
• Pencil case

For Babies:

• Blanket
• Baby Bonnet
• Rag doll
• Bib
• Soother strap
• Memory bag
• Name garland
• Birth announcement/stats

For the Sentimental:

• Mini embroidery hoop necklace/pendant
• Keychain
• Christmas Ornament
• Hankie/Pocket square
• Patch
• Bible Case

For the Cook:

• Tea Towel
• Trivet
• Apron
• Bread Bag
• Bowl or Jar Cover

For the Hostess:

• Wall banner/Party Garland
• Potpourri Sachet
• Decorative wall hanging hoop
• Table Runner
• Pillowcase
• Christmas stocking
• Memory quilt
• Towel

For Men:

• T-shirt/sweatshirt
• Baseball Hat
• Dopp Kit
• Keychain
• Pocket Square/Hankie
• Tie
• Fireside/Camping Wool blanket

For the Bride:

• Hankie
• Embroidered Invitation Keepsake
• Bouquet wrap
• Ring pillow
• Patch to be sewn into dress

What to Embroider?

Now, WHAT to embroider?

This is the fun part! But, it can also be hard to come up with “the perfect thing” to embroider for someone. If you know this person really well, you probably already have a design in mind. If not, it can be a little trickier. Depending on who you’re making the gift for, it can be really hard!

Generally, I find kids pretty easy to make gifts for. You can always ask their parents for ideas too! If I’m not very familiar with the person I’m making the gift for, I’ll ask myself some clarifying questions. What is their favorite color? What kind of clothing do they wear? How do they decorate their home? What kind of music do they listen to? Do they have a favorite flower? Tree? Animal? Thinking of how this person lives their daily life will help you settle on a design too. Are they traditional? Modern? Crafty? Musical? Sportsy? Snoop around their social media a little too if you have to, and you’ll be sure to find something that inspires you.

One reason I love embroidery so much is that the sky’s the limit as far a creativity goes. You can literally embroider anything you can think of. Natural motifs are beautifully translated into hand embroidery and you don’t have to be a pro for it to look good.

Some Examples of Natural Motifs Are:

• Flowers
• Foliage
• Trees
• Herbs
• Wildflowers
• Houseplants
• Garden Vegetables

Animal Motif

Some other popular designs are animals. These can be a little trickier especially if you want your design to be super realistic, but give it a try! Sketch out your design a few times before you draw it on your fabric. Chances are, if you can draw an animal, you can also stitch one!

Inanimate Object

Another cute option is to embroider an item that means something to the recipient… maybe a sassy pair of sunglasses or shoes. Does the person receiving your gift, have an obsession with sushi? Or bread, or pickles? It could be anything! And apparently, if you add eyes and a smile to any inanimate object, it instantly becomes adorable… (anyone remember shopkins??) Using hand embroidery you can become someone’s favorite person, just by giving them a gift with their favorite bowling pin (or whatever!) on it.

Words

I love, love, love, embroidering words. I don’t know why. I love stitching different kinds of fonts and I love the texture that words create on my projects. Try stitching a word or a favorite quote and see if you don’t fall in love with it too!

When All Else Fails

When you just can’t get your brain to decide on a design, and you’re working against the clock, the best go to, no fail option is Initials. Full names. Monograms. Any of these will do. Choose a color that you know the person that you’re making the gift for will love, and stitch out their name. They will love it. It will be one of a kind, and completely personal. If you have time, you could design a unique monogram using their initials. Or, as I often do, just stitch their first initial and add some flourishes around it for pizazz.

How to Embroider Your Design

Now, HOW to embroider your design???

 A popular option is to purchase an embroidery pattern and go from there, however, patterns don’t really work when you want to personalize something with a name or a specific image that is special to the recipient of your gift. My favorite way is to just wing it. I think the proper term is “freehand embroidery”.

I rarely draw out my design before I begin stitching and I’ve never ever used a pattern. If that sounds crazy to you or you’re not feeling experienced enough to try free-handing your design, I suggest using a disappearing ink pen that is made for embroidery. There are a few different kinds. Some will disappear with a damp cloth, some with heat, and some just fade over time. I’ve used them all. It’s really just a matter of preference. The good thing about using a disappearing pen is that you can create your own, one of a kind, personal design, and also have some guidance when it’s time to stich. Also, it can be tricky to use a pattern to embroider onto something odd shaped like a baseball hat, or tricky fabric like felt. With a disappearing pen you can create your design literally anywhere. There are even erasable white embroidery pens out there for dark fabrics.

Stitches

Now, you do not need to know a ton of embroidery stitches to create a beautiful embroider.! Even though I know and have used many, many embroidery stitches, I still mostly stick to about six of my favorite stitches that I use all the time. If you are only familiar with a few stiches, don’t let that keep you from starting. I often embroider projects using only one or two stitches.

Here are my top 10 beginner stitches I recommend that you learn first. If you aren’t familiar with these, a quick google, you tube or pinterest search will reveal many stitch guides and tutorials.

1. Backstitch
2. Split stitch
3. Stem stitch
4. Chain stitch
5. French Knot
6. Lazy Daisy
7. Fern Stitch
8. Feather stitch
9. Cross stitch
10. Satin stitch

My favorite stitch to use for letters and wording is the split stitch. It adds so much texture to a project, and the stitch curves beautifully for scripted fonts. For natural motifs, my favorites are the fern stitch for greenery/stems and a mix of the cross stitch and French knots for simple and dainty, floral details.

So there you have it. My all time favorite hand embroidered gifts to make. Have you ever hand embroidered a gift for someone or for yourself? What did you make, and what are your favorite stitches to use? I’d love to hear from you.

lindi joe