No press releases, no sponsored inclusions. Every course on this list was taken start to finish by a beginner — so the trade-offs we flag are the ones you'll actually hit.

We took them ourselves

Every course was completed start to finish by someone who'd never touched the craft before.

Beginner-first scoring

We scored on pace, clarity, what you actually make, and how well each course handles the bits where beginners get stuck.

Equipment honesty

We checked what kit each course needs and whether the instructor's recommendations are actually the best options.

Updated regularly

We re-check courses every 6 months. Prices change, platforms change, and new courses launch.

The full reviews

Worth the time you've got

01Our top pick

★★★★½4.7

course preview

£14.99 (often on sale)

2h 50m · 15 lessons

Domestika

★ 4.8 user rating (22.3k)

Adriana Torres

Contemporary Embroidery for Beginners

The beginner embroidery course we'd send anyone to first. Adriana takes you from your first stitch to a finished botanical hoop with a remarkable amount of calm.

What we liked

Adriana's calm is contagious. Each stitch gets its own demonstration, repeated from two angles. The final botanical hoop is genuinely frame-worthy — no hollow 'final project' energy.

Worth knowing

Captioned rather than narrated — some lessons rely on on-screen text. Fine if you're watching closely, but you can't 'listen' to this course while doing something else.

You’ll make: A frame-ready botanical hoop

Read the full review See the course on Domestika

02Best for project lovers

★★★★½4.5

course preview

Free trial · £11/mo

2h 15m · 14 lessons

Skillshare

★ 4.6 user rating (5.6k)

Mollie Johanson

Embroidery Sampler for Beginners

A classic sampler-based introduction. Perfect if you want to drill each stitch before committing to a 'real' project.

What we liked

Mollie is calm, clear and consistent. The sampler format means you leave with a proper reference piece — useful long after you've moved onto bigger projects.

Worth knowing

A sampler isn't as visually satisfying as a finished botanical hoop. If you crave a 'real' outcome, our Domestika pick is the better bet.

You’ll make: A ten-stitch reference sampler

Read the full review See the course on Skillshare

Side by side

At a glance

	Adriana Torres	Mollie Johanson
Price	£14.99 (often on sale)	Free trial · £11/mo
Duration	2h 50m	2h 15m
Projects	A frame-ready botanical hoop	A ten-stitch reference sampler
Platform	Domestika	Skillshare
User rating	★ 4.8 (22.3k)	★ 4.6 (5.6k)
Our rating	★ 4.7	★ 4.5

The starter kit

Got your course? Now grab the kit.

Each course recommendation comes with a specific equipment list — the exact hoops, floss and needles you’ll need to follow along. Starting from ~£20.

See the starter kit

equipment flatlay

Some links on this page are affiliate links — we earn a small commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend things we’d use ourselves.

Common questions

Do I need a paid course, or can I learn from YouTube?: You can learn from YouTube — our "best free" pick is genuinely great. A paid course saves time and is more structured, but it's not essential.
Which platform is best — Skillshare or Domestika?: Skillshare is subscription-based (great if you'll try multiple courses). Domestika is one-off purchase (better if you just want one course and done).
How do I know which course is right for me?: If you've never held a hoop, start with our top pick. If you prefer more structure, go with our most-structured pick. If you want free, our YouTube pick will get you started.

Ready when you are

Ready to start embroidery?

Pick the course that suits you, grab the kit, and you'll be making something real within a week.

Read our top pick Get the starter kit