Which embroidery kit is right for me? An honest selection guide

Choosing the right embroidery kit comes down to four questions: how experienced are you, how much time do you have, do you want your own design or a ready-made one, and is it for yourself or as a gift? Just starting out? Choose a 30×40 cm from our Beginner's collection. Want something personal? Go for the Custom Photo Embroidery Kit starting from €34.95.

The 4 questions that determine your choice

1. How much experience do you have?

An honest check:

• Never embroidered before: small size, few colors, clear design. The Beginner's collection is tailored for this.
• Done it before, long ago: medium size (30×40 cm), 15–25 colors.
• Advanced: feel free to go for 40×50 cm or larger, with detailed portraits or landscapes.

For certainty, read the beginner's guide.

2. How much time do you have?

Embroidery is not a sprint. Be realistic:

• A few evenings a week, for a few weeks — 20×25 or 30×40 cm.
• A seasonal project of a few months — 40×50 cm.
• A long-term project — 50×70 cm or larger.

Our time indication per size gives you precise hourly guidelines.

3. Own design or ready-made?

Many customers have differing opinions here:

• Ready-made — quicker to choose, fixed price, immediately inspiring. View the Ready-made designs (11 themes, from Beginners to Cities & Streets).
• Custom photo — for those who want something personal: a pet, a loved one, a holiday spot. View the Custom Photo Embroidery Kit.
• Pattern only — for those who want to use their own fabric and thread: Custom Photo Pattern (PDF), delivery within 24–48 hours.

4. For yourself or as a gift?

Gifts require something different:

• Safe gift choice: ready-made design with a popular theme (Flowers, Dutch icons, Travel).
• Wow-gift: Custom Photo Embroidery Kit with a photo you secretly arranged.
• Mini-gift: small ready-made kit (20×25 cm) under €30.

Themes per type of selector

Still undecided on the subject? A quick guide per type:

• Pet owner: Animals & pets or the Custom Photo route with your dog, cat, or horse.
• New parents / maternity gift: Baby, Family & Birth.
• Traveler / nostalgic: Cities & streets or Monuments & world places.
• Nature lover: Landscapes & nature or Flowers & botanical.
• Living / interior: Cottage & living.
• Proud Dutch: Dutch icons.

What's in a StitchiStudio kit?

Whether you choose your own photo or a ready-made design, each kit contains the same:

• Custom-sized Aida fabric — with enough margin for framing or stretching.
• DMC thread sorted by symbol — you don't have to sort anything.
• Two needles — for working with two colors at once.
• The pattern with a clear color chart.
• A Dutch manual with techniques like the loop-start.

Everything is handmade and designed in the Netherlands, with free shipping in NL and BE from €35, and 4–10 days delivery time.

Which kit suits your situation?

Common mistakes when choosing

• Too large for your first project. 50×70 looks nice in the photo, but it takes 100+ hours. For a first kit, 1 in 4 gives up somewhere along the way at that size. Start smaller.
• Too many colors at once. A first kit with 40 colors is overwhelming. 15–25 colors is a nice maximum to start with.
• A photo with bad lighting. With Custom Photo kits, the result stands or falls with the input photo. Bright daylight and a sharp face are essential.

FAQ

What is the best embroidery kit for beginners?

A kit from our Beginner's collection at 30×40 cm, 14ct Aida, with approximately 15–20 colors. Small enough to finish, large enough to be proud of.

Is a custom photo kit suitable if I've never embroidered before?

Yes, provided you choose a calm photo and don't start too big. 30×40 cm on 14ct with the Dutch manual is manageable.

What size embroidery kit is most popular?

40×50 cm. It's large enough for good detailing — especially for portraits — and remains feasible within a few months.

How do I know the colors will turn out well?

We use DMC thread, the international standard, and sort each kit by symbol. The color chart on the pattern shows which symbol belongs to which thread — no room for confusion.

Can I ask a question if I'm in doubt before ordering?

Certainly. Send us an email or photo; we're happy to help you think things through before you order — also about size choice or which photo works best.

Ready to choose?

Are you torn between a custom photo or a ready-made design? First, check out the Ready-made designs as a starting point. If you want to make it personal, go straight to the Custom Photo Embroidery Kit. Whatever you choose: you start with a complete kit, you don't need to buy anything extra, and you'll be working on something that lasts.