20 Online Creative Embroidery Courses to Get Started in 2024

Grab a needle and thread and learn creative embroidery techniques with these beginner courses, from upcycling to clothing design to cross stitch artwork

Embroidery is a rewarding and meditative technique that adds personal expression to textiles. Whether you’re mending a beloved sweater or adding decorative elements to a cushion cover, creative embroidery is easy to learn and offers endless possibilities.

That’s why we’re sharing fifteen beginner courses on how to embroider below. They’re taught by experts in portraiture, lettering, clothing customization, and nature illustration. Whatever your stitch goals, there’s a style to inspire you.

Courses to embroider portraits and people

1. Embroidered Portraits with Punch Needle, a course by Camille Labarre

Punch needle is a type of embroidery often used for homeware, with pixel-like stitches that allow you to “paint” with thread. Camille Labarre (@camillelabarre) is a punch needle fan and freelance fabricator who makes miniature sets for Amazon, Gucci, and more.

In her Punch Needle Portrait course, Camille shows you how to use the technique to create eye-catching portraits—from color theory and tools, to finishing and framing.

2. Realistic Embroidered Portraiture: Tell Stories with Color, a course by Nneka Jones

Mixed-media artist Nneka Jones (@artyouhungry) is known for her experimental embroidery, inspired by her Caribbean heritage and based around important stories of social injustice. Her work has featured on the cover of TIME and in the Tampa Museum of Art.

In this course on Realistic Embroidered Portraits, Nneka teaches you how to apply a painterly approach to color and stitching. You’ll embroider a monochromatic artwork with a meaningful message, using a digital color map of a photograph.

3. Punch Needle Embroidery: From Pictures to Portraits, a course by Sara Luna

Artist and illustrator Sara Luna (@saralunart) uses striking color scales that make her embroidery stand out. Her work has been exhibited in the US, and she’s been featured in Create! Magazine and Carper Contemporary.

In her Punch Needle course, Sara shares techniques and approaches to create a dynamic portrait. To help you focus fully on dramatic light and shadow, for your project you’ll embroider a greyscale portrait on an embroidery hoop.

Courses to embroider lettering and fonts

4. Basic Techniques for Embroidering Letters, a course by Juliana Mota Giopato

Embroiderer and designer Juliana Mota (@juliana_mota) teaches workshops on lettering, and in this course on Basic Lettering Techniques, she shares how to construct words using thread.

Throughout the course you’ll practice twelve stitches, learn about color theory, and finally create a decorative artwork that integrates text and imagery.

5. Colorful Hand Embroidery 101: Learn to Stitch from Scratch, a course by Kristen Gula

The magic of embroidery has brought fiber artist Kristen Gula (@gulushthreads) through tough times, and led her to become a thriving artist, instructor, and author of 200 Embroidered Flowers.

In this course on Colorful Hand Embroidery, you’ll learn how to set up your hoop, experiment with stitches, then set the fiber artist in you free, by creating a vibrant statement piece with a joyful calligraphic message.

6. Embroidered Letters: Thread as a Graphic Tool, a course by Elidé Rangel Soto

For Elidé Rangel (@florula), a needle and thread present the same possibilities as a pencil. Her hand-made design style has attracted brands like Wendy's Casita and Vista Alegre.

In this course on Embroidered Letters, you’ll combine embroidery and typography for an interdisciplinary craft. Learn the main characteristics of basic typographies including roman and sans serif fonts, and “write” a word using embroidery.

Courses for fashion embroidery: customizing and upcycling

7. Upcycling with Embroidery, a course by Kseniia Guseva

Kseniia Guseva (@faimyxstitch) unites architecture and embroidery, including in a long-running series of city-based stitched artworks. She also uses upcycling techniques to customize items from her closet.

In her Upcycling with Embroidery course, you’ll learn how to embroider an architectural design onto a piece of clothing, whether to mend a hole or simply to decorate a beloved item! You’ll also learn how to care for embroidered clothes.

8. Hand Embroidery for Clothing: Stitch a Collage Design, a course by Damaja

Embroidery can turn worn-out clothing into a wearable fashion statement. Embroidery artist and designer Stefanija Pejchinovska, known by her artist name Damaja (@damaja), designs one-off ethical clothing styles with sustainable brands and local artists.

In this course on Hand Embroidery, you’ll learn to embroider onto stretchy garments. Learn about stitch types, color gradients, texture, and how to breathe new life into an old T-shirt.

9. Fashion Embroidery: Embellishing with Beads, a course by Jodie Ruffle

Embroidery and embellishment designer Jodie (@jodieruffle) specializes in intricate embroideries that transform forgotten pieces of clothing. Her collection has been exhibited at London Fashion Week.

In her Fashion Embroidery course, you’ll learn how to decorate garments with a combination of flat and 3D techniques. Create an open 3D embellishment, an edging embellishment with beads, sequins, and fringing techniques, and even a detachable patch.

10. Contemporary Embroidery With Traditional Mexican Needlework, a course by Gimena Romero

Gimena Romero (@gimenaromero) is an artist and writer who has received multiple awards and mentions internationally. For a primer on Mexican embroidery, she’s the expert to turn to: join her on a journey through traditional crafts and history.

In this Contemporary Embroidery course you’ll create a folkloric and magical design inspired by tradition, using bold color.

Courses to embroider botanical illustrations

11. Introduction to Contemporary Cross Stitch, a course by Ignacia Jullian

Cross-stitch is a fun embroidery type with a pixelated and expressive effect. Visual artist and self-taught embroiderer Ignacia (@ignaciajullianb) has developed a signature style and collaborated with brands like Levi's.

In this Contemporary Cross Stitch course, she shares the traditional rules so that you can break them later, making a vividly colorful patch ready to transfer onto any garment.

12. Realistic Embroidery Techniques, a course by Emillie Ferris

Emillie Ferris (@emillieferris) is a self-taught artist using traditional embroidery methods to create contemporary embroidery patterns, kits, pins, and original hoop art.

In her course on Realistic Nature Embroidery, learn the techniques of long and short stitch, and apply them to the creation of an embroidered Monarch butterfly in a hoop.

13. Miniature Needlework: Make Embroidered Jewelry, a course by Yulia Sherbak

Yulia Sherbak (@mossandfeather) is an embroidery artist from Cleveland, Ohio, and owner of Etsy shop Moss and Feather. She combines her passion for needlework, animals, and nature to create necklaces, earrings, and more with miniature embroidery.

In this course on Miniature Needlework for Jewelry, you’ll learn to create tiny works of art, like a hedgehog or bee, to hang on a pendant chain.

14. Introduction to Botanical Embroidery, a course by Coricrafts

Layla Ortiz (@coricrafts), is a specialist in botanical embroidery and combines her work as a scientist in Mexico with her passion for embroidery.

In this Botanical Embroidery course, you’ll learn how to apply satin stitch to embroider plants, as well as other botanical elements, then add people, contours, and other details to craft a unique natural scene.

15. Stumpwork Embroidery: Create 3D Ornaments, a course by Shan Xu

Shan Xu (@shanxuhandmade) incorporates traditional Chinese silk techniques into stumpwork embroidery to produce 3D accessories. She has taken on various commissioned work and has her own Etsy shop.

Stumpwork is also known as raised embroidery, and in Shan’s Stumpwork Embroidery course you can learn how to wire your designs and turn art into accessories. You’ll make a brooch from a flower design, and also get top tips for earrings or appliqués.

16. Embroidery: Clothing Repair, a course by Ofelia & Antelmo

Gabriela Martínez (@ofeliayantelmo) is a designer and textile artist. She is the creator of her own textile project called Ofelia & Antelmo. In it, she explores hand embroidery and presents it in different textile formats such as canvases or garments.

In her embroidery course, you will learn how to repair torn, stained or damaged garments using patches and hand embroidery. The final project will consist of repairing a worn and torn denim jacket.

17. Embroidered Pet Portraits: The Thread Painting Technique, a course by Michelle Staub

Michelle Staub is a hand embroidery artist that specializes in realistic pet portraits. Her main goal is to capture the pet's essence and spirit. She uses the thread painting technique to create her artwork.

In her Embroidered Pet Portraits course, you'll learn how to hand embroider a realistic pet portrait using thread painting. You'll start with basic embroidery stitches, select a reference photo, transfer the design, and choose thread colors. Start creating captivating portraits of pets with your new stitching skills!

18. Freestyle Embroidery on Tulle for Beginners, a course by Ignacia Jullian

Ignacia Jullian (@ignaciajullianb) is an artist and embroiderer. She is self-taught, her creative process is very free and is inspired by nature. Tulle is one of her favorite materials due to its versatility.

In this Freestyle Embroidery course, you will learn the Freestyle embroidery technique and create your own design with thread and needle to integrate it into the support of your choice, such as sneakers, jackets or plaid. You will practice with exercises to achieve precise and expressive stitches.

19. Basic Techniques for Embroidering Letters, a course by Juliana Mota Giopato

Juliana Mota (@juliana_mota) is an embroiderer, designer, and teacher who enjoys incorporating illustration into her work. Embroidery allows her to explore a variety of textures and create a unique aesthetic. She believes that adding elements of writing to embroidery creates a personal and enchanting touch.

In the Basic Techniques for Embroidering Letters course, Juliana will teach you how to create creative embroidery with lettering. You will learn different stitching techniques, how to choose colors and fonts, and creating stylized letters. The final project will involve creating a collage and transferring the design onto fabric for embroidery.

20. Needle Painting for Beginners, a course by Valentina Castillo

Valentina Castillo(@insanitynice) is a graphic designer and embroiderer. She started as a self-taught artist and perfected her skills at the Royal School of Middle World in London. Her main inspiration is animals, and her goal is to preserve memories and honor pets through her embroidery.

In this Needle Painting course, you will learn how to create embroidered portraits of animals using the needle painting technique. The course covers everything from choosing a color palette or making sketches from photographs to applying light, shadows and fur through embroidery.

More resources for your creative embroidery journey

1. Learn what embroidery is and what other types exist.

2. Follow these ten great embroidery artists on Instagram for endless inspiration.

3. Learn how to embroider a patch by hand in this free tutorial.

4. Discover nine ways to upcycle your clothes!