Which Hobby Embroidery for beginners Best courses
The 5 best embroidery courses for beginners
Five Domestika courses that take you from your first stitch to a finished piece, compared on what you make, how long it takes and who each one suits.
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The short list
| # | Course | Best for | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Embroidery and Fabric Painting for Beginners | Best overall | English audio |
| 2 | Basic Embroidery Techniques: Stitches, Compositions, and Color Ranges | Best for learning many stitches | English audio |
| 3 | Introduction to Japanese Sashiko Stitching | Best for mending clothes | English audio |
| 4 | Upcycling with Embroidery | Best for clothes and sneakers | English audio |
| 5 | Introduction to Blackwork Embroidery | Best for calm, geometric work | English audio |
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- 1 Best overall
Embroidery and Fabric Painting for Beginners
99% positive of 97 reviews (as of Oct 2026)
The gentlest start we found. You learn a handful of basic stitches and pair them with fabric paint, so a small amount of stitching already looks finished. The final project is a floral design on a denim shirt.
Skip it if: you want pure hand embroidery on a hoop with no painting at all.
View on Domestika - 2 Best for learning many stitches
Basic Embroidery Techniques: Stitches, Compositions, and Color Ranges
100% positive of 1,708 reviews (as of Oct 2026)
The classic stitch course, taken by more than 35,000 students. It covers flat and raised stitches, how to choose thread and how to build a color palette, then you design and stitch your own shirt collar.
Skip it if: you have never held a needle and want one tiny project first. The course FAQ pitches it a little above total beginner.
View on Domestika - 3 Best for mending clothes
Introduction to Japanese Sashiko Stitching
99% positive of 698 reviews (as of Oct 2026)
Sashiko is the simplest stitch there is, used in beautiful patterns. You use it to mend and decorate a garment you already own. The teacher's FAQ says no hand sewing experience is needed.
Skip it if: you want colorful flowers and pictures rather than geometric patterns.
View on Domestika - 4 Best for clothes and sneakers
Upcycling with Embroidery
100% positive of 226 reviews (as of Oct 2026)
Basic hand embroidery aimed at refreshing clothes and sneakers you already have. The final project is an architectural design stitched onto a garment you no longer wear.
Skip it if: you would rather make framed hoop art than wearable pieces.
View on Domestika - 5 Best for calm, geometric work
Introduction to Blackwork Embroidery
98% positive of 657 reviews (as of Oct 2026)
Blackwork is counted, one-color geometric stitching. It is very relaxing once you have the rhythm. You make a pattern sampler and then one finished piece.
Skip it if: counting threads sounds stressful. The FAQ suggests some basic stitching helps.
View on Domestika
How we picked
- We only list courses a complete embroidery beginner can follow without another class first.
- Every course has English audio or English subtitles.
- We read the full course page: lessons, final project, reviews and the teacher's own FAQ. Where the FAQ says intermediate, we tell you.
- Review numbers come from Domestika and were checked on October 30, 2026. They change over time.
- Order is our judgment of fit for a first course, not who pays more. Every course here pays us the same commission.
New to embroidery? Read the embroidery starter plan first: what to buy, your first project and the mistakes to skip.
Questions beginners ask
Can I learn embroidery online as a total beginner?
Yes. Hand embroidery needs a needle, a hoop, fabric and floss, and video is ideal for seeing how a stitch moves. Start with a course that has a small final project so you finish something in your first week.
Which embroidery course should I take first?
Embroidery and Fabric Painting for Beginners if you want a quick, pretty result. Basic Embroidery Techniques if you want a solid base of many stitches.
Do I need a sewing machine for embroidery?
No. Every course on this list is hand embroidery. A machine is only needed for machine embroidery, which is a different craft.
How much does it cost to start embroidery?
About $15 to $25 for a hoop, needles, floss and fabric, plus the course. Our embroidery starter plan lists exactly what to buy.