Want to learn how to embroider?

If you want to learn how to embroider you have come to the right place! My name is Carol Leather I have been doing embroidery by hand since I was a child and would love to share that experience with you by means of many free embroidery lessons on this site.

I was lucky to have two grandmothers who loved to create beautiful items with a needle (or hook) and thread, and they both passed that skill onto me. But not everyone is blessed with a family member that they can sit beside and learn from. Of course we have an advantage over our forebears, the internet!

Although this needlework site is getting bigger by the week, it has an advantage over any book. I am here to help you if you get stuck! You can reach me by using the contact form or by calling me on 044 1832 293581 and talking in person. In fact, if you live close enough, I will even come out and teach you and a group of likeminded friends.

The site is divided up into sections that you can explore, such as Colcha embroidery and Redwork embroidery, giving you the chance to find the embroidery style that is just right for you. Whether you find you like the precision of counted thread needlework techniques like Hardanger or prefer the freedom of free style embroidery (also know as surface embroidery) and embellishing crazy quilts you will find something here for you.

So what is embroidery?

The simple definition is the decoration of fabrics with stitches worked with thread and a needle. Adding embellishments such as beads and buttons can expand your skills even further.

Embroidered items can be used in our day to day life, such as needlepoint cushions, or framed and displayed just for the joy of looking at them. They can be worked with only one stitch, such as cross stitch, or incorporate many different basic embroidery stitches. They can be stitched in glorious bright coloured threads or in either red , black or white only. They can be chunky and raised from the fabric surface or worked in tiny, delicate stitches that rearrange the actual fabric threads.

If I have whetted your appetite for learning how to embroider you may want to start by taking a look at the embroidery supplies page to see what you might need. Then pick a style from the navigation bar on the left of each page and try some of the free embroidery lessons.

When I am teaching needlework in person I am often told that I seem to be able to remember what it was like to learn something new and explain the basics really well. Hopefully you will find my written hand embroidery instructions just as easy to follow. But remember I am always here if you need extra help. I am happy to explain things further and in different ways until you understand how to embroider a particular stitch or technique. Just ask!

The most important thing is to have fun learning how to embroider. It is a wonderful way to relax from the busy lifestyle we all live nowadays. And you could be creating an heirloom to pass down to your children and children's children. I know that I treasure pieces stitched by my grandmothers and even my father.

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