Did you draw on your clothes as a kid? Did you ever wish embroidered jackets weren't so expensive? If your answer to one or both of those questions is yes, then the simple solution is to start adding hand embroidery to your clothes. It's a neat skill to have that can easily enhance boring clothing in a few minutes. Here are a few reasons why I like to embroider my clothes.
It makes your clothing unique to you!
It seems like an obvious reason, but ultimately a very important one. The jacket I have been slowly filling with my embroidery is truly one-of-a-kind. There are stories behind most of the art on my jacket, whether it be an important memory or a favorite song/band, I can easily add a new design to it so I can carry my stories with me and share them with others.
It's inexpensive!
If you've ever seen designer clothes with embroidery on them and thought, man I would buy that if it weren't $600+, then doing your own embroidery would be a good option. A pack of assorted embroidery floss, some needles, and an embroidery hoop are going to run you $20 at most. Obviously, the price of whatever garment you're interested in adding to will vary, but in the end, it won't be nearly as expensive as the embroidered work for sale from any big companies/designers.
If you can't find it in a store, why not make it yourself?
Photo by Hannah Ramusevic
Along with most embroidered clothing being expensive, I've always felt that all store-bought clothing looks the same as each brand tries to compete with one another with whatever design is "in" or "popular" at that point in time. Like I mentioned, my designs are all my own and all unique to my clothes. If you have a certain vision of what you want in your head, chances are good you aren't going to find the exact idea anywhere, even after searching for hours. With a needle and some thread though, you can easily just make it yourself. We live in a big DIY age and adding some embroidery to spice up your wardrobe fits right in with the trend.
You get to show off your talent!
I can guarantee that even if you don't think you are a "good artist" you will still be able to embroider something. You could even just make some lines, add a couple of flowers, and bam! A tiny flower garden on your shirt. There's always going to be someone who compliments your work thinking it is store-bought, but then you get to tell them you did it yourself! The reactions I get to my work always make my day a bit brighter.
It is easy to learn!
I taught myself embroidery by watching a few YouTube videos (here's a good one that shows a variety of basic stitches) and practicing stitches on a scrap piece of fabric. The skill is very intuitive and simple after you practice the basics a couple of times.
Unsure of a tattoo design? Embroidery isn't permanent!
Photo by Hannah Ramusevic
The thought of getting a tattoo can be daunting, and not wanting something on your body forever is understandable. Maybe you were thinking about getting a tattoo of a favorite book quote but were worried you would stop loving the quote once it was on you forever. If you embroider it on the sleeve of a jacket, then you won't have to worry about keeping it forever. If you outgrow the quote, simply cut the embroidered threads from your sleeve and it'll be like they were never there!
It is a good way to pass time for long car rides/if you're feeling bored!
Watching Netflix and feel like keeping your hands busy? Are you a passenger in a long car ride? Do you need a creative outlet? Then embroider something! The skill is easy to take with you anywhere and helps the time pass when you're in a boring situation.
As you can see, I love embroidery and believe it's an easy and rewarding skill to have. These are the reasons why I do it. Maybe some of them will be yours too.
