Trying to figure out embroidery fabric is something that makes my head spin. As someone who is self-taught (and still learning), it has been difficult to find straight answers on what the best embroidery fabric is. I don’t know if I can tell you what the best embroidery fabric is, but I can tell you what I like to use. Here are the fabrics I have tried, in order of my favorite to my least favorite. If you find this post useful, make sure to take a look at my How to Embroider for Beginners series.
(This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you click a link and purchase something that I have recommended.)
Linen/Cotton Blend
I really love using a linen/cotton blend the most. The one I use is called Essex Linen and you can purchase it in all kinds of colors from Fat Quarter Shop. It’s a little bit tougher to stitch through than my 100% linen, but I like that I don’t have to worry about my threads showing in the back as much. I love the color choices, and I love how soft it is. This is definitely my favorite fabric to embroider on right now.
100% Linen
My first embroidery project ever was on 100% linen, and it continues to be one of my favorite fabrics to embroider on. There are different thread counts for linen, but I just like to keep things simple and get mine from my local fabric store. Maybe there’s something out there that is better quality, but I have made plenty of projects with it and had no problems. It is a bit thinner and can tend to bunch a little if you pull too tight, so just be aware of that.
Flour Sack Towels
Flour sack towels are made from a fabric that is traditionally stitched on. My mom still has some towels that my great grandmother made back in the day. The blank towels are sold near the embroidery floss at the fabric store, and I love to stitch on them. I really like how smoothly my needle goes through and how soft the fabric is. I’ve never stitched an actual towel. I just like to cut up the fabric and use piece of it to stitch on. I don’t even know what kind of fabric the towels are made of, but if anyone knows where to buy it by the yard, please let me know. The only downside to this is you only get one color, white. I suppose you could start dying them, but I definitely don’t have time for that.
100% Cotton
If you want to stitch on a patterned fabric, 100% cotton is a good option. When I say 100% cotton think about the biggest section of fabric in the store that quilters usually use. Try to get a heavier feeling cotton if you can. It’s not my favorite thing to stitch on since I feel like my stitches pucker more easily, but it can yield some pretty results. If you do use regular cotton, I recommend using some kind of interfacing to hold your fabric steady.
Other
Don’t be afraid to try different things. You can also embroider on jeans, t-shirts (with some iron-on stabilizer), and even canvas shoes! I have successfully embroidered on canvas bags, although my fingers did hurt a little after. If you aren’t sure if it will work, you can always do some test stitches to try it out. Have fun with it!
Aida Cloth
I actually don’t like to embroider on Aida cloth at all. I include this on this list because I have been asked about it before. Aida cloth is meant for counted cross-stitch patterns, not the kind of hand embroidery that I usually do. If you are cross-stitching, then you can certainly use it. It has a grid of holes that are perfect for cross-stitching. Sometimes you can add other stitches to your cross-stitch pattern, but only use Aida cloth if cross-stitch is the main stitch you are using. (Cross stitch pattern from Climbing Goat Designs.)
Final Tips
One last little bit of advice for those who are new to fabric shopping. If you aren’t sure what a fabric is made of, look at the top of the bolt, and it should be printed there. You can purchase as little or as much as you want. I usually in buy in quarter, half, or whole yards. And if you’d like to skip the fabric shopping altogether, check out my post on the Best Embroidery Kits for Beginners. What do you find is the best embroidery fabric? I’d love to try something new!
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Melissa Burns says
Jessica,
I just want to tell you how much I am enjoying your blog posts and you tube channel. My 15 year old daughter and I decided to take up embroidery during this lovely quarantine. We are obsessed! Every time I need to see a stitch done in a clear easy to understand way, I go to your channel. If I have a question, I come to your blog. Thank you, you have been an inspiration and really made everything so easy and approachable.
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts says
Oh, thank you so much! I love that you are making the most of the time with your 15 year old.
Mina says
Back in school, we were taught that the back should look as good as the front so there were no tails! After 60 years I have relaxed and sometimes use a “second” layer of lightweight muslin to ensure there is no show through.
Thank you for sharing your lovely patterns and for bringing more people to this art.
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts says
Great idea! I have yet to try another piece of fabric on the back.
Michelle Crane says
Thank you for the advice! I taught myself how to embroider a couple months ago and this is very helpful!
Shelley K says
I started doing crewel work in the 70’s. A friend of mine managed to switch me to counted cross stitch – for a short time. Like you I foud it boring fairly quickly. I went back to basic embroidery in the early 80’s. My eyesight did not cooperate and the headaches were atrocious while attempting to embroider or do crewel work. However I was involved in other endeavors and thus let my stitching lay dormant. It did not stop me from buying material, floss and patterns in the hope the desire would return.
We moved from one state to another 1400 miles away. When moved we hired helping hands which helped themselves to all of my stitching supplies, finished and un-framed work, partially complete work, a HUGE plastc bin of linen, two huge plastic bins of floss plus all of the patterns I had collected, purchased and saved.
To make a long story short: I am appalled to see the price of really good linen ($50 yd), floss, patterns. Thank you for your info on the linen/cotton blend and your basic course on embroidery. The course was a great refresher and well worth the read! Your free patterns are also highly appreciated. Now living on social security my buying options are very limited. I also plan on teaching myself ribbon embroidery – some day…
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts says
I’m so glad you found it helpful! Ribbon embroidery looks so pretty!!! I’d love to try that someday too.
Cyndi says
Thank you so very much for your post, so informative as I am trying to learn embroidery as are others. Have not been particularly impressed with what supplies are found in the needlework sections. Will be well on my way with your advice.
Appleby says
I’ve never embroidered before, and I plan to master it this week (ha ha!) so I can make a pillow for each friend this Christmas. Do you wash and iron embroidery cloth before you embroider on it? Do you need to shrink it in hot water first? And dry it in high heat, before you embroider? Thank you for all your advice!
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts says
Haha! You can do it! I don’t wash my fabric, but that’s because I don’t really make things that need to be washed later. So if you think they will wash the pillows, then yes, I would wash before embroidering. If you don’t think they will, then I wouldn’t worry about it. Good luck!
Megan W says
Great tips! I’ll be giving a go at hand embroidery this summer. I love to teach myself new hobbies! These were certainly helpful as I had no clue where to start! I’ll definitely be checking out the post you mentioned in the beginning. Thank you!
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts says
I’m so glad my posts have been helpful! I love embroidery, and it makes me so happy to read that others are getting the same enjoyment.
Lauren says
Thank you for actually listing specific products with a link to buy them! This is awesome.
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts says
Glad I could help!
Amy Hernandez says
HI! When I was a young girl my mother taught me to embroider but I didn’t keep up with it. Now I would like to start it up again and this is so helpful to me. Thank you so much!
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts says
You’re welcome! I’m so glad that you are finding my site helpful. My mom taught me to cross-stitch. Gave me a great foundation to learn embroidery later. 🙂
Terri Youngs says
I like the flour cloth but I wont use it to actually make towels because after a plate or two, it is completely soaked and I have to hang it up to dry and get a fresh one.
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts says
Ooh, good to know! I’ve never actually used them as towels either. I’ve made toddler skirts and throw pillow covers out of them though. Haha!
Jyll says
How do you prevent the thread on the back from showing through on flour sack towels?
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts says
You have to keep your stitches really tidy. If you need to go from stitching in one spot to starting in another, tie off your thread and start a new one.
Pam says
I love this! Thank you very much!
Phyllis says
I am just now getting back into embroidery after many many years. Have been doing a lot of beading, punch needle, crocheting, and card embroidery. When you say your stitches on back don’t show as much with the linen/cotton blend how is that possible. I want to make placemats but don’t want my stitches to show on back.
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts says
I guess I meant more that you can’t see the thread tails on the back. 100% linen seems to have a looser weave, so if your project is light fabric and has a tail of dark thread on the back, I’ve had some show through. That can be solved by not tying knots, but I still like to use knots.