Tips & Inspiration

Written by the Stitchi Studio editorial team · Last updated on June 8, 2026

An honest observation: out of every 100 embroidery kits we sell, the vast majority go to women. And at the same time, from the men who do buy, we hear the same things repeatedly. 'My wife laughed at first, now she joins me.' 'I thought this wasn't for me — now it's my best evening activity.' 'Better than TV or my phone.'

This article is not a persuasion piece. We have no agenda to convince men to do something they don't want to do. However, we do want to dispel the most persistent misconception about cross-stitch — namely, that it's 'something for women.' Historically, embroidery was a male craft. It requires concentration and craftsmanship. And it's one of the few evening activities that clear your mind and produce something tangible at the same time.

A brief history: embroidery was men's work for centuries

In medieval Europe, embroidery (the decoration of royal cloaks, episcopal vestments, and banner tapestries) was a strictly regulated craft. In London, Bruges, and Florence, male master embroiderers formed guilds — women were explicitly excluded from the highest levels of the craft. It was demanding, delicate, prestigious work. The Bayeux Tapestry (actually an embroidered cloth 70 meters long depicting the Battle of Hastings in 1066) was likely made by both men and women, but leadership rested with male masters.

The shift only came with the industrial revolution and the Singer embroidery machine in 1890. Handwork then became economically less valuable and was relegated back to the home — as an activity for women and girls at school. A cultural separation of a few generations, not a fundamental truth about the hobby.

Important to know: there is nothing 'feminine' about embroidery. It's simply a craft that was temporarily taken over by women in our culture because men were busy with other things.

Why embroidery suits what many men look for in a hobby

Our experience (and that of the customers we know) shows that men who start with cross-stitch usually have similar motivations. Four recurring patterns:

1. A break from screens, without being passive

For men with intensive screen work during the day, embroidery is a welcome change: no pixels, no notifications, no scrolling temptation. But at the same time, no boredom, because something concrete is happening. Many men report that embroidery helps them through the evening better than a series or social media — they go to bed less exhausted, and the rhythm is enough to let go of work-related thoughts.

2. Craftsmanship without a messy workshop

Not all men who enjoy making things have space for a workbench, woodworking, or metalwork. An embroidery kit fits in a shoebox. You can pick it up and put it away without cleaning up sawdust. For men in an apartment or without a shed, that's appealing. And yet you get the same 'made something' satisfaction as with woodworking — just on a different scale.

3. Concrete progress

The comparison made repeatedly: embroidery is for your evening what a puzzle or a long book is. You see your work grow hour by hour, session by session. For men who are busy during the day with things that are rarely 'finished' (client projects, organizational work, long-term plans), it's refreshing to do something where the endpoint visibly approaches.

4. Something that lasts

An embroidered piece will still hang on the wall twenty years from now. Your hobby produces not consumption but production — in a time when we increasingly stream, scroll, and consume, that's a welcome contrast. Many men we speak to specifically choose a piece that has personal meaning: their favorite place, their dog, a building they associate with an important moment.

What are good first projects for men?

Here's where the embroidery industry has historically failed: most kits on the market focus on classic 'feminine' imagery — floral wreaths, sampler letters, cute animals. Nothing wrong with that, but for those who enter without that stylistic context, it's difficult to find kits that match other visual preferences.

Our suggestion for male beginners — based on what we see working:

Cities and architecture

Skylines, facades, bridges. A canal house, the New York skyline, a recognizable bridge. Visually strong, easy to start because the lines are clear. View the cities and streets collection.

Landscapes and nature

Mountains, coastlines, lighthouses, forests. Especially the work we've done around the Icelandic and Dutch coastlines appeals to men. See the landscapes collection.

Vehicles and machinery

Classic cars, motorcycles, airplanes, boats, locomotives. Niche, but for custom photo kits, we do this fairly regularly: a workboat, a classic car, an old tractor. Very personal because many men have a specific vehicle memory.

Your own photo of what you find important

The most chosen route at Stitchi Studio: simply your own photo. Dog, cat, house, ship, the view from your window, your favorite vacation spot. Our Custom Photo Embroidery Kit converts your photo into a pattern — so what the image is, is entirely up to you.

'But I can't embroider'

No one could embroider when they started. We have male customers who picked up a needle for the first time in their lives and had excellent results within two weeks. The technique is simple: two diagonal stitches forming an X. Count, cross, count, cross. Much easier than learning a musical instrument or starting a sport.

What helps to get good quickly:

• Start with a beginner's kit or a smaller size (30x40 cm) — don't immediately start a large project
• Read our complete beginner's guide before the first stitch, not after
• Good light. A decent daylight lamp eliminates 70% of beginner frustration. Also read our guide on pain-free embroidery
• Don't succumb to the urge to take large sizes because they seem more impressive. Small first work leads to faster success and motivation for the second

Why embroidery is a good fit for those seeking calm

Many men we talk to are not looking for a 'hobby' in the classic sense — they are looking for a way to switch off their minds without passively zoning out on a couch. Exercise is good, but you already do it during the day. Reading is good, but for many, it's no longer possible to concentrate on reading in the evening.

Embroidery fits exactly into that gap: active enough to force your mind to do something, passive enough to sit next to someone or listen to a podcast in the background. We discussed this in more detail in our article about embroidery against stress — the scientific basis is real.

One last myth: 'my friends will laugh at me'

Experience shows that the initial reaction of friends ('you embroider?') comes from surprise, not disapproval. After five minutes of looking at your work, the grumbling usually stops. And you don't have to tell everyone — it's your evening activity, not your public identity. We know male embroiderers who have been doing it for years before their colleagues accidentally discover it.

What if you still want to start?

Three steps that, in our experience, work well for male beginners:

1. Choose a piece that you genuinely find beautiful. Not something you 'could give someone as a gift,' but something you yourself would want on your wall. Self-motivation is half the habit.
2. Start with 30x40 cm. A large piece may seem more attractive but shows too little progress for too long. 30x40 cm is a 'real' piece that will be finished in 40–70 hours.
3. Create a fixed spot. A chair, a lamp, a table for your work. Reducing barriers is everything. If you have to unpack things every evening, you won't do it.

Our popular route: Custom Photo Embroidery Kit at 30x40 cm with a photo that moves you — dog, house, place, or vehicle. Live preview beforehand, complete kit, shipped within 48 hours. Or check out the ready-made designs if you don't have a specific photo.

Finally

Embroidery is not a 'masculine activity' and not a 'feminine activity' — it is a craft, and crafts are for everyone. The quiet satisfaction curve of a piece finished over months, the rhythm of counting, the small success per hour, the tangible finished product — these are elements that for many men form exactly the right mix between passive and active. If you suspect it's for you, try it. A first kit costs less than a night out; it provides months of enjoyment.

Related articles: complete beginner's guide, mindful embroidery, and which embroidery kit suits me.