Hand Embroidery Inspiration: Where to Find and How to Keep It

Hand embroidery is more than just a craft—it is an art form that connects creativity, patience, and mindfulness. The peaceful process of stitching has a unique way of bringing joy and relaxation to experienced stitchers and newbies of the craft.
To begin a new embroidery project, we need essential tools, materials, and a source of inspiration. Hand embroidery inspiration can come from various sources – from natural sceneries and plants to urban environments, technology, poetry, or space travel. Anything that inspires you can inspire your stitches.
Here are some hand embroidery inspiration sources that could ignite your imagination and help you start your next project.

Where to find hand embroidery inspiration

Landscapes and sceneries

The magnificence of the planet we live on inspired many artists – from painters to poets, from composers to clothes designers. Hand embroidery artists are no exception. Here are some examples:

Fauna and flora for hand embroidery inspiration

The natural world provides an endless array of motifs for embroidery. Elements such as flowers and leaves, insects and animals, and fish and birds nurture our imagination and inspire our stitching. For instance, botanical embroidery patterns are popular among stitchers seeking to bring the outdoors into their textile art.

Traditional & cultural motifs

Exploring folk embroidery styles from different cultures can inspire, add depth and meaning to your work. Each tradition offers unique patterns and techniques. Incorporating these motifs can pay homage to their origins while enriching your designs with global artistry. Here are some patterns inspired by traditional motives:

Literature, poetry, and music

Classical and modern writers and composers inspired other artists for centuries. Books were transformed into movies, poems were laid into paintings, and opera has inspired fashion. Hand embroidery often draws inspiration from literature and music. Here are some examples:

Modern art & abstract designs

Consider integrating modern art elements into your embroidery. Geometric patterns, minimalist motifs, and freehand stitching can result in abstract designs that are both striking and unique. Or you can try one of these patterns inspired by contemporary art:

Everyday life & personal stories

Drawing inspiration from personal experiences can make your embroidery deeply meaningful. Stitching memories, favorite quotes, portraits, or cherished objects transforms your work into a narrative art form. This approach preserves personal stories and creates heirloom pieces that can be treasured for generations.

If you want to stitch your memory into the fabric but are not sure how to create a pattern for it, check out a tutorial, “How To Turn Your Photo Into an Embroidery Design“, published on the Embroiderers’ Guild of America blog or request a custom pattern creation service of an experienced embroidery designer.

Pop culture for hand embroidery inspiration

Popular culture takes up a big part of our daily lives. Anime, video games, movies, comic books, and popular TV shows can entertain and inspire us to create something extraordinary and unexpected.

Urban spaces and science

Some seek creative impulse in nature and calm sceneries, while others – get inspired by modern technology, science, and urban environments. From cozy angles of the ancient cities to cold skyscrapers – the places lived by people can make you feel creative and inspired too.

Here are some examples:

Social movements and ideals we live by

Hand embroidery can be inspired by nature or a fictional character. But it can also be inspired by higher ideals like equity, democracy, or freedom, and it can be used as a medium to express your political stand or social ideals. In 2003, the term craftivism was coined. Shannon Downey – aka @badasscrossstitch – defines craftivism as “an independent or collective art practice meant to build power and agency in direct support of actions aimed at creating social or political change.”

To learn more about craftivism, check out the Activism Handbook for Artists. Or try one of these patterns that will help you express your opinion.

Space travel for hand embroidery inspiration

Infinite space around us and space travel romance inspire artists all over the globe. From fiction writers and movie makers to painters and embroiderers, all draw inspiration from the unknown and infinite space. Here are some embroidery designs inspired by space:

Colors, patterns, and structure

Often, the most minor details ignite the most significant creative ideas. Soap bubbles and dandelion parachutes, dew drops and texture of your sweater, fabric print, or glass marble – anything can serve as an inspiration for your next hand embroidery design:

Seasons, celebrations, and festivities

Important annual celebrations like Christmas, Easter, Hanukah, or Diwali, as well as events like carnival, Valentine’s Day, or Midsummer, inspire and give us an impulse to create something festive to celebrate and rejoice in.

Embroidery stitches and techniques

Some hand embroidery stitches are a source of embroidery inspiration by themselves:

Satin Stitch – Smooth, Filled-In Designs

The Satin Stitch is known for its smooth and polished appearance. This stitch is perfect for filling in shapes with solid blocks of color, creating a sleek, almost painted effect on fabric.

French Knots – Adding Texture and Detail

The French Knot is a small, raised stitch that adds intricate detail and texture to embroidery. These tiny knots invite you to stitch voluminous and textured patterns in designs.

Chain Stitch – Beautiful Outlines

Chain Stitch is commonly used for outlining designs with smooth, flowing curves. But it also works as a filling stitch that invites vintage and nostalgic imagery.

Fashion & mending

Sometimes, an object we plan to embroider will inspire the pattern and the style. Embellishing or mending clothing items like jackets, jeans, sweaters, or dresses with embroidered designs is a creative journey. The garment will often dictate the colors and the stitches to use for embroidering.

Finding embroidery inspiration online & offline

Creativity can strike from anywhere, but sometimes, we need some help to spark new ideas. Whether you’re looking for fresh embroidery patterns, unique color palettes, or new stitching techniques, inspiration is all around you—both in the digital world and real life. Here are some ideas on where to find embroidery inspiration online and offline.

Exploring Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube

The internet is a goldmine for embroidery inspiration, and social media platforms like Pinterest and Instagram are filled with creative ideas from artists worldwide.

• Pinterest: Search for “hand embroidery ideas” or “modern embroidery inspiration” and create a mood board of inspiring images. In my Embroidery Inspiration board I save original embroidered pieces and other images that inspire me to create.
• Instagram: Follow hashtags like #handembroidery, #modernembroidery, #stitchingart, and #embroiderylove to discover beautiful works by embroidery artists.
• YouTube is a great place to watch videos on hand embroidery processes and learn new techniques and stitches.

Visiting art museums, nature trails, and textile markets

If you want to take a break from screens and find inspiration in the real world, consider visiting places rich in art, history, and natural beauty.

• Art museums & galleries: Many historical and contemporary artworks feature textile art, intricate patterns, and color schemes that can be translated into embroidery.
• Nature trails & botanical gardens: Flowers, trees, and landscapes provide endless embroidery motifs. Take photos or sketch your surroundings to transform them into stitchable patterns.
• Textile markets & fabric stores: Exploring embroidered textiles from different cultures can introduce you to new techniques and traditional designs. Look for vintage embroidery pieces, lace, or woven fabrics for inspiration.

Some of the images from the travels I saved to my inspiration folder:

Keeping a creative sketchbook for hand embroidery ideas

A sketchbook is one of the best ways to organize and refine your embroidery inspiration. You don’t need to be an expert at drawing—just use it as a space to jot down rough ideas, sketch embroidery patterns, and experiment with color palettes.

Ways to use a creative sketchbook:

• Doodle stitch patterns you want to try.
• Create color swatches by testing thread combinations.
• Add fabric samples or reference photos for future projects.
• Write notes on stitches or techniques you want to experiment with.

Over to you

Hand embroidery inspiration is everywhere—you just need to keep an open eye. Whether you’re scrolling through social media, learning from other artists, exploring the beauty of nature, or sketching your own ideas, there are endless ways to stay creatively inspired. Take the time to gather ideas, experiment, and, most importantly, enjoy the process of embroidery.