Embroidery supplies for cross-stitch and freehand stitching

Embroidery with the right floss, fabric and hoop

Embroidery combines calm and precision and ranges from a small monogram to a large embroidered picture on fabric, linen or felt. In this category you'll find supplies for classic cross-stitch as well as freehand embroidery, divided into Embroidery Supplies and Embroidery Floss.

What you need to get started

A few things are enough to start: embroidery fabric, an embroidery hoop, suitable needles and embroidery floss in the colors of your design. For cross-stitch, a counted fabric such as Aida works well, because you can easily count the squares of the chart on it. Tapestry needles with a blunt tip go with it, as they slip between the fabric threads instead of piercing them. For freehand embroidery on denser fabrics, use needles with a sharp point instead. The hoop keeps the fabric evenly taut so the stitches don't pull. If you don't want to put everything together yourself, a kit with a pattern is a good start.

• Embroidery needles, hoops and rings
• Patterns and accessories for cross-stitch and freehand embroidery
• Embroidery floss in many colors and materials
• Kits for beginners

Tip: Don't cut your embroidery thread longer than about 50 cm. Longer threads twist more easily and fray from being pulled through the fabric so often.