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Embroidery is a fascinating pastime that has roots deep in human history. The art form, which has been around for tens of thousands of years, continues to wow and inspire people to this very day. While it’s just a hobby for some, others have pushed the boundaries of their needle-and-thread creativity above and beyond anyone’s expectations.

The r/Embroidery online community is a great place to find inspiration and support for hobbyists all around the globe. Today, we’re featuring some of the community’s latest and most creative and coolest projects. Scroll down to check them out, and be sure to show some love for your favorite ones.

#1

I’m Used To Working On Pet Portraits With Just Their Faces Showing, But For This Wedding Ring Holder The Lady Wanted The Whole Picture, Including Their Bodies Because Of Their Cute Pose. I Decided To Tackle It, And After 49 Colors Of Thread And 67 Hours Of Stitching Here It Is! 🥹♥️

Creative embroidery of two cats surrounded by colorful threads, showcasing intricate stitching and design.

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S Bow
Community Member
3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is exquisitely done. I would treasure something like this.

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The r/Embroidery online community was created all the way back in February 2010. Over the past decade and a half, the group has grown by drawing in embroidery enthusiasts—amateur and veteran alike—from all corners of the world. Currently, the subreddit is home to a whopping 893k members.

Originally, the community was created as a place for embroiderers to share tips, techniques, resources, and ideas, whether they work by hand or use machines.

#5

Meet Stanley, My “I’m Bored, Let’s Try Something With All The Stitches!” Project. I’m Biased, But I Think He’s Pretty Majestic

Creative embroidery of a colorful peacock in a hoop, showcasing detailed and vibrant stitching.

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The moderators are very light on the rules, all of which are straightforward and common sense.

Broadly speaking, they expect all members to respect each other, give credit where it’s due if they’re sharing projects that aren’t theirs, and keep self-promotion to a minimum. If you want to promote yourself and your embroidery, you can do so either in the moderator-posted mega threads or share your work in other online communities.

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According to married artist couple Charles and Elin, embroidery is an ancient art form that traces its origins back to somewhere around the year 30,000 BC. Embroidery has been practiced across different cultures and classes throughout the ages. For the nobility, decorative embroidery was a pleasurable pastime.

Meanwhile, the members of the working class would use their needle-and-thread skills mainly for mending clothes, quilting, and marking things like sheets, napkins, and tablecloths with letters and numbers.

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#12

12-String Celtic Harp Across Three Hoops - I Call This Piece “Trinity”

Creative embroidery featuring violin and harp designs in wooden hoops.

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As per Carrie Brummer, fossilized clothing from around 30,000 BC (the Cro-Magnon era) shows decorative stitching in clothing, boots, and hats. Advanced Printwear notes that examples of embroidery have been unearthed by archeologists pretty much everywhere around the globe. Of course, different cultures had different attitudes to embroidery that changed over time.

#15

Gift For My Girlfriend Is Almost Done :)

Creative embroidery featuring a unicorn within a circular fence, surrounded by colorful flowers on a black background.

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Chewie
Community Member
3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Great job embroidering this tapestry! Looks just like original. I think this might be my favorite 😍

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However, it was only in the mid-1800s that embroidery took on a drastically different scale. The very first embroidery machines made in France automated part of the work and changed the process. In the late 20th century, cultural attitudes to embroidery changed, too, and it became an activity that even men of high social standing gladly took up in public.

Starting any new hobby can be tough, but a growth-oriented mentality can make the entire process more pleasant. People tend to enjoy doing the things they’re good at and shy away from stuff they’re not skilled at. It’s only natural.

So, it can be daunting to pick up a needle for the very first time. But if you focus on having fun and the process itself rather than the end result, you can avoid a lot of anxiety.

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#21

I Embroidered A Portrait Of The Most Soulful Lab

Creative embroidery of a black dog, showcasing detailed artistic needlework on a floral background.

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To get started with embroidery, all you really need is a basic kit that includes a hoop, some fabric, a needle, and thread. But more than all the physical equipment, the most important things are having a bit of patience, the willingness to experiment, and reframing ‘failure’ as a learning opportunity, instead of something to be ‘ashamed’ of.

Add a dash of research and a willingness to be part of the vast community of embroiderers, and you’ve got a good start.

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When you’re part of a community of like-minded hobbyists, it’s far easier to move past any failure, burnout, and roadblocks. Not only can you get emotional support when the going gets tough, but you can always rely on veterans to share some bits of advice that helped them deal with the challenges that you’re now facing.

#27

Another Emotional Tribute And Keepsake..💔

Creative embroidery piece featuring hanging stars and a heartfelt message in a hoop.

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No matter the art form, no matter the issues you’re facing, you’re never really alone. And that’s an inspiring thought in and of itself. If you genuinely enjoy the hobby and it fulfills you, with a bit of persistence (and a helping hand!), you’ll get back in the swing of things. It’s human to be disappointed in your results once in a while. But don’t let that demotivate you or push you away from doing something you love.

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Which of these embroidery projects impressed you the most, Pandas? Which of these did you love so much that you’d be happy to hang it up on the wall at home? Have you ever tried your hand at embroidery? If so, how did you enjoy it? Do you still find time for your hobby? On the flip side, maybe you’ve tried a similar hobby like crochet?

We can’t wait to hear from you. Let us know what you think in the comments! And for awesome new embroidery pics, be sure to follow r/Embroidery.

#31

12” Hand Embroidery Of My Parents’ House

Creative embroidery of a detailed house scene in a hoop with lush garden, showcasing skillful needlework.

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#32

Just Finished A 12” Hoop Of A New Zealand Harrier Hawk (Kāhu)

Creative embroidery of a detailed hawk on a hoop, showcasing intricate stitching and realistic design.

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#35

My Husband And I Have Been Married 10 Years Today So I Stitched Him This Anniversary Present. He’s My Very Favorite Person. 💚

Creative embroidery art of a couple and house in a rustic white frame, featuring intricate handmade details.

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#36

Made These Mini Monogram Embroideries For My Daughter's Classmates As Year End Gifts

Creative embroidered letters with floral designs on fabric in embroidery hoops.

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#39

My Two Loves, Pretty Frames And Insects. These Are A Few Of My Favorites I've Stitched Recently! 🐝🦋

Creative embroidery of a butterfly with teal and black wings next to sewing tools and fabric.

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#40

Had A Go At Turning One Of My Own Ink Drawings Into An Embroidery. Black Shuck, The 'Straunge And Terrible Wunder' Of East Anglia!

Creative embroidered wolf design in a hoop, showcasing detailed artistry and texture, inspired by a nearby illustration.

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#42

I Made A Mini Terrarium And I'm Obsessed With How Cute It Turned Out 🍄

Hand holding embroidery hoop with a 3D embroidered mushroom, showcasing creative embroidery techniques.

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#43

Some Detail Shots Of Recent Work

Embroidery art depicting an anatomical heart with intricate stitching and vibrant red threads.

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The Phantom Stranger
Community Member
3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Did you embroider this on a jacket, so you can wear your heart on your sleeve? (Sorry, I'll see myself out now )

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#44

My 4-Yr-Old Daughter Calls Shredded Cheddar “Cheese Sprinkles” And Grated Parmesan “Sprinkle Cheese” And It Can Get Confusing, So I Stitched This Handy Guide To Hang In Our Kitchen

Creative embroidery showing humorous cheese sprinkles comparison, labeled "Know The Difference."

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#49

Beep Beep! Can You Spot The Coyote?

Creative embroidery of a desert scene with cacti and rocks, displayed in a wooden frame.

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The Phantom Stranger
Community Member
3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Obviously, he's smashed flat against the stone mesa with his ACME rocket skates sputtering out.

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#54

Nothing Goes Together Like Embroidery And Iridescent Feathers 🪶 (Wip)

Nothing Goes Together Like Embroidery And Iridescent Feathers 🪶 (Wip)

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Jules
Community Member
3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Beautiful so far, would love to see how it came out at the end...

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#55

I'm In My Fish Era: Brooches In Progress (More Sardines!!)

I'm In My Fish Era: Brooches In Progress (More Sardines!!)

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#62

Sword In The Stone Beaded Embroidery With A Painted Background

Sword In The Stone Beaded Embroidery With A Painted Background

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Crazy catz
Community Member
Premium
3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This has to be one of the best ones, I love it

#64

Finally Finished This Pillow Project I’ve Been Working On!

Finally Finished This Pillow Project I’ve Been Working On!

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Beth Wheeler
Community Member
2 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My cousin would love to have this at her beach condo, she would go nuts over it. It's very similar to the quilt set in the guest room that I stay in when I go.

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#65

Jellyfish Dreaming

Jellyfish Dreaming

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#67

I Couldn’t Afford The West Elm Pillow So I Made A Cr*ppier Knockoff 🎃

I Couldn’t Afford The West Elm Pillow So I Made A Cr*ppier Knockoff 🎃

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#69

I Made All The Table Numbers For My Bil's Wedding. They Plan To Use Them For Baby Photos In The Future

I Made All The Table Numbers For My Bil's Wedding. They Plan To Use Them For Baby Photos In The Future

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Judy Reynolds
Community Member
2 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cute! I am glad they have a future after all the work you put into them!

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#74

One I’ve Been Working On For A Bit That I Finally Finished Today🪡🪩💥

One I’ve Been Working On For A Bit That I Finally Finished Today🪡🪩💥

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#75

All Finished My 12” Hobbit Hole!

All Finished My 12” Hobbit Hole!

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#76

Witch Hut For The Spooky Season 🧙‍♀️

Witch Hut For The Spooky Season 🧙‍♀️

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#77

First Attempt At A Heart Covered In Moss And Lichen - A Gift For A Cardiologist :)

First Attempt At A Heart Covered In Moss And Lichen - A Gift For A Cardiologist :)

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#78

Eggward (On Sparkly Fabric) 😂🤷🏼‍♀️

Eggward (On Sparkly Fabric) 😂🤷🏼‍♀️

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#79

A Little Chaos In A School Of Fish

A Little Chaos In A School Of Fish

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#80

Progress On UFO Jacket: Landscape Patch Is Done!

Progress On UFO Jacket: Landscape Patch Is Done!

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