11 Best Embroidery Books
Find the best embroidery books, ranked by expert sources and readers, with stitch references, modern projects, seasonal motifs, and guides to shaded needlework.
Our take
The right embroidery book depends on whether you want to learn a stitch, complete a project, or develop a particular style. A stitch dictionary works well beside a hoop when you need to compare outlines and fillings. A project book gives those stitches a purpose and helps you make decisions about fabric, thread, color, and placement.
For a general reference, choose Embroidery or The Embroidery Stitch Bible. Hoop Dreams and Thread Folk suit readers drawn to contemporary projects and decorated everyday objects. If seasonal plants and animals are your main interest, A Year of Embroidery and Animal Embroidery Workbook offer distinct sources of motifs.
Needle painting calls for more attention to stitch direction and color blending. Start with Needle Painting Embroidery before attempting the detailed natural subjects in Paint with Thread. For a wider view of traditional techniques, explore The Royal School of Needlework Book of Embroidery. Choose one approachable project alongside a reference, and let the skills that project needs guide your practice.
11 books · 8 sources · Last updated
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How to choose from this list
Skip to the full rankingIf you need a stitch reference: Embroidery → The Embroidery Stitch Bible
If you want modern projects: Hoop Dreams → Thread Folk
If you want seasonal and animal motifs: A Year of Embroidery → Animal Embroidery Workbook
If you want realistic shading: Needle Painting Embroidery → Paint with Thread
If you want a broader range of techniques: The Royal School of Needlework Book of Embroidery
If you need left-handed instructions: The Left-Handed Embroiderer's Companion
The 11 books, ranked
Ranked by how many expert sources name each book. Ties go to the book more people recommend.
The Embroidery Stitch Bible
For stitchers who want to choose stitches by their appearance and construction. Barnden combines photographs with diagrams across a wide repertoire, though a dictionary supports experimentation better than it supplies a complete course or project collection.
What it's about
Betty Barnden presents an illustrated reference to more than two hundred embroidery stitches. Photographs, diagrams, and instructions show how the stitches are constructed and grouped, helping readers compare effects and select techniques for lines, fillings, borders, and decorative details.
The Royal School of Needlework Book of Embroidery
For stitchers who want to move beyond basic surface embroidery into several established techniques. The combination of instruction and projects provides a substantial reference, though the range makes selective study more practical than a quick cover-to-cover course.
What it's about
The Royal School of Needlework introduces a range of embroidery techniques through instructions, stitch guidance, and projects. Subjects include crewelwork, canvaswork, silk shading, goldwork, blackwork, stumpwork, whitework, and bead embroidery, showing different ways to build texture, pattern, and detail.
For stitchers who enjoy small seasonal motifs and a consistent decorative style. Higuchi’s monthly organization supplies a gentle source of project ideas, though it is better for inspiration than for exploring many different embroidery traditions.
What it's about
Yumiko Higuchi organizes embroidery motifs around the changing seasons and months of the year. Photographs, diagrams, and step-by-step instructions accompany designs featuring plants, animals, and festive imagery, suitable for stitched artwork or small functional projects.
For beginners who want a visual stitch reference to keep beside their work. The broad selection helps compare possible textures and outlines, though learning every stitch is less useful than practicing a few within projects.
What it's about
This illustrated embroidery reference explains more than 200 stitches with step-by-step instructions and suggestions for their use. It includes guidance on choosing threads, needles, and fabrics, helping beginners and experienced stitchers select techniques for their projects.
Paint with Thread
For stitchers who want realistic botanical and wildlife subjects with carefully blended shading. Ferris teaches through detailed seasonal projects, though the intricate work requires patience and is less suitable for a quick first hoop.
What it's about
Emillie Ferris teaches needle painting through nature-inspired embroidery arranged around the seasons. Detailed projects, photographs, thread guidance, and instructions explain how long and short stitches can create blended color, fine texture, and lifelike flowers, insects, and other natural subjects.
For beginners attracted to contemporary motifs and embroidery beyond framed hoops. Morgan connects basic stitches with usable projects and templates, though readers seeking traditional specialist techniques will need a broader technical reference.
What it's about
Cristin Morgan introduces hand embroidery through basic stitches and twenty contemporary projects. Instructions and templates develop designs for hoops, clothing, accessories, and home decor, with additional motifs encouraging readers to adapt patterns and create personalized pieces.
For stitchers ready to learn shaded embroidery through manageable floral and bird projects. Burr develops long-and-short-stitch blending in stages, though convincing color transitions require patient practice beyond simply following the pattern.
What it's about
Trish Burr teaches needle painting through fifteen projects arranged from novice to intermediate levels. Materials guidance, practice motifs, photographs, and detailed instructions explain long and short stitch techniques for blending colors and creating shaded floral and bird designs.
The Embroiderer's Handbook
For stitchers who prefer close photographic guidance when learning unfamiliar techniques. Bauer’s step-by-step reference makes stitch construction easier to inspect, though the handbook format offers less of a planned project sequence than a beginner course.
What it's about
Margie Bauer provides an illustrated reference to embroidery stitches and techniques. Step-by-step photographs show the stages of each stitch, with examples, practical advice on materials and equipment, and troubleshooting guidance for more complex work.
The Left-Handed Embroiderer's Companion
For left-handed stitchers tired of mentally reversing right-handed diagrams. Stanton supplies instructions specifically for the working hand, though the stitch-dictionary format offers less design inspiration than a book organized around finished projects.
What it's about
Yvette Stanton provides a stitch reference designed for left-handed embroiderers. Step-by-step photographs, diagrams, and written instructions demonstrate a broad range of embroidery stitches, allowing readers to learn their construction without reversing illustrations intended for right-handed work.
Animal Embroidery Workbook
Step-by-Step Techniques & Patterns for 30 Cute Critters & More
For animal lovers who want guided patterns that combine creatures with floral detail. Long’s progression makes it easier to build confidence through projects, though the decorative style is more stylized than realistic needle painting.
What it's about
Jessica Long presents embroidery patterns for thirty animals embellished with floral details. Introductory guidance covers supplies, transferring designs, hoop setup, and stitches, while step-by-step projects range from simpler designs for beginners to more detailed work for experienced stitchers.
For beginners and modern makers who want approachable projects for clothing, accessories, and home decor. Moore’s artist collaborations broaden the visual ideas, though the project emphasis gives specialist embroidery traditions relatively little depth.
What it's about
Libby Moore teaches embroidery through basic stitches, material selection, and fifteen modern projects. Patterns and step-by-step instructions show ways to embellish clothes, shoes, bags, and pillows, alongside collaborations that translate other artists' designs into stitched work.
Sources
- 1
15 Most Popular Embroidery Books on Needle n Thread
needlenthread.com
- 2
The best hand embroidery reference books
textileartist.org
- 3
Embroidery Books
goodreads.com
- 4
Best book for beginners?
reddit.com
- 5
The Best Embroidery Books For Beginners
crewelghoul.com
- 6
10 Best Embroidery Books
teachyoutosew.com
- 7
Anyone have any Embroidery books they recommend?
reddit.com
- 8
Hand Embroidery Books
bookshop.org
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