How Long Does It Take to Learn Embroidery?

If you've ever scrolled your Instagram feed or watched a TikTok of someone stitching a beautiful little flower on their clothes and thought, “Could I actually do that?!” - the answer is a huge YES, yes you can!!🥰 

But naturally, the next question you probably have is: "so how long does it take to learn embroidery?" Whether you're dreaming of hand-stitched hoop art on your walls, floral stitching on your clothes (or your kiddo's clothes!), or just a new creative hobby for yourself, you're in the right place.

Let’s break it down and bust the myth that embroidery is hard or time-consuming (cos' spoiler: it’s not!) 🪡

So… How Long Does It Really Take?

Most beginners can learn the basics of embroidery in just a few hours - seriously! You don’t need months of practice to start stitching something super cute.

If you dedicate a couple of evenings or a weekend afternoon, you can comfortably:

• Thread your needle (without a meltdown 🤣)
• Learn a handful of basic embroidery stitches
• Start stitching a simple embroidery design
• Finish your very first hoop 🥳

Of course, becoming really confident (and stitching like those Pinterest-perfect pieces you love) takes practice - anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months, to even a couple of years, depending on how often you stitch and what your goals are.

But here's the fun part: every step is satisfying and stitch-worthy! ✨

 

Factors That Affect Your Learning Time

Embroidery is incredibly beginner-friendly (which is one of the things I love most about it!!), but like any new skill, your experience can vary depending on a few key factors. Here's what really influences how quickly you'll learn to embroider; from threading a needle to stitching with confidence! 👇🏼

1. How Often You Stitch

Consistency is everything. If you can carve out 15–30 minutes a few times a week, you’ll build muscle memory quickly. Think of it like learning to play an instrument or doing yoga - "little and often" is much better than trying to cram it all in once a month.

Stitching regularly helps you:

• Remember embroidery techniques more easily
• Improve your hand-eye coordination
• Gain confidence in your stitches
• Finish your embroidery projects (and get that dopamine hit, too!)

Even finishing one single embroidery hoop a month adds up faster than you'd think! ✨

 

2. What You’re Learning With

The tools and resources you use can make or break your experience - especially in the beginning. A good beginner course or kit will guide you step-by-step, while random YouTube videos might leave you confused or frustrated.

Look for beginner embroidery patterns that include:

• A limited (but lovely!) colour palette
• Easy-to-transfer patterns
• Clear instructions and stitch diagrams
• Encouragement to embrace imperfection 🫠

Pssst... our Introduction to Embroidery Course and matching Embroidery Kit checks all those boxes - just saying 😉

But, it's also in the supplies you use!

For instance, using a high quality needle has such a huge impact on how easy it is to thread the needle. (My faves are these Gold Eye Embroidery Needles from Clover!)

And if you're curious about DIY-ing your own embroidery supplies, read this blog post for more!

 

3. Your Personal Learning Style

Are you a visual learner? Do you need repetition? Prefer learning by doing? Knowing how you absorb new things can speed things up significantly!

Try:

• Watching short, bitesize videos if you’re visual
• Practicing one stitch at a time if you 'learn by doing'
• Using printable pattern guides if you like to read + reference

Remember: there’s no “right” way - only your way! 👏🏼

 

4. How Comfortable You Are With Sewing or Other Handcrafts

If you’ve done any kind of hand sewing, or even basic mending of clothes, you may pick up embroidery more quickly. But if you’ve never held a needle in your life - don’t worry, I hadn't either before I learned how to embroider! Plus, many of our most successful students were total first-timers, and now they're thriving 🥹

Your hands will feel clumsy at first - but trust me friend, that’s normal! Give yourself grace and keep going. Within a week or two, you’ll be amazed at how natural it starts to feel. And before long? You'll be stitching in your sleep 🎉

 

5. The Type of Projects You Choose

Big, detailed designs with a million colour changes🫣?

Probably not the best place to start.

Small, achievable projects help you build embroidery skills faster and avoid burnout.

Beginner-friendly projects often include:

• Simple shapes (like flowers, leaves, letters)
• Fewer types of stitches
• Limited colours
• Clear lines and bold designs

Start small + simple, and practice makes improvement - that's our motto here at Mindful Mantra Embroidery! 🫶🏼🌸

 

6. The Support You Have

Learning something new is easier (and way more fun) with support. Whether that’s a helpful teacher, an online community, or fellow stitchers cheering you on, being part of something makes a huge difference.

So if you like the sound of stitching alongside like-minded friends, here's something you're gonna love:

Our online embroidery membership, Bloom Embroidery Academy.

It includes access to a supportive community of fellow stitchers at every stage of their embroidery journey. You can ask questions, share wins, and never feel like you're stitching alone 🫶🏼

 

Want to Learn Faster (and Skip the Overwhelm)?

The easiest way to go from “what is embroidery even?” to “look what I made!” is to follow a guided, beginner-focused course.

And the good news? I’ve got two lovely options to help you get started — it just depends on where you’re at:

🧵 Brand new to embroidery?

Start with my Introduction to Embroidery Course — a cosy, step-by-step journey that teaches you:

• All the basics (without the fluff)

• Essential stitches through a fun, confidence-building project

• How to transfer patterns, fix mistakes, and actually enjoy the learning process!

You'll go from never-stitched-before to confident-creator in just a few weeks - and you’ll LOVE what you make 🫶🏼

 

🪻 Ready for more support and creative growth?

Bloom Embroidery Academy is my all-in-one membership and community, filled with beautiful patterns, skill-building tutorials, and encouragement at every stage of your journey.

Whether you’re starting from scratch or blooming into your next creative chapter - there's something here for you! 🫶🏼🤎

Final Thoughts

Embroidery is one of the most joyful, creative skills you can pick up - and the learning curve is way shorter than you might think. Whether you’ve got an hour on the weekend or 10 minutes before bed, those little stitches will add up.

So if you’re wondering how long it takes to learn embroidery, the answer is: not long at all… especially if you’re learning with us 😉

✨ Start today with the Introduction to Embroidery Course and stitch your first design by this weekend. Let’s make something beautiful together!

(And if you do? Don't forget to share it with us on Instagram! Find us at @mindfulmantra_embroidery 🪡)