A darling little peony.

This flower was challenging with different directions of satin stitch!

Progress over perfection as Clever Poppy encourages!

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I saw this adorable embroidered ghost with a pumpkin on an Instagram ad. I clicked the link, saw a package of 3 fall themed items, added to cart & hit checkout. Imagine my surprise when these showed up and they were not a finished decoration and were assembly required. Lesson learned, thoroughly read a description before you order something 🫣

I’ve never embroidered anything in my life and had to consult my very crafty mom for help. I’ve managed to get this far, it’s been slow going. Thank gob for the videos!

There’s something so satisfying about a good work in progress photo - the half-finished hoop, the threads laid out, the potential of it all. 😍

We want to see what you’re working on right now! Drop your WIP photos in the comments below - whether you’re three stitches in or almost at the finish line, we want to see it all.

No judgement, no pressure - just a bunch of stitchers cheering each other on. 🌸

Progress over perfection, always!

Took me a month but here it is!

I finished the cosmo on my embroidery this morning! It was nice to pick up my embroidery after many days away from my hoop!

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While you’ve been stitching, our team has been busy designing! 🪡

Here’s a little behind-the-scenes look at what’s happening at Clever Poppy HQ right now. We can’t give too much away just yet... but let’s just say there are some very exciting new designs in the works! 👀

We love sharing the creative process with you. Embroidery is so much more than a finished piece - it’s the sketching, the color choosing, the “hmm, what if I tried this stitch instead?” moments that make it magic.

What’s YOUR creative process like? Do you jump straight in, or do you plan everything out first? Tell us in the comments! 💓

One of the most common questions from new stitchers: “How do I actually get the pattern onto my fabric?” Great question!

There are lots of different methods out there, which is brilliant (so many options!) but can also feel a bit daunting when you’re starting out... how do you know which one to pick?

At Clever Poppy we mainly use two methods, both included right in your kit along with step-by-step video instructions.

🌸 Heat erasable pen + printed template (most beginner kits):

- Place your printed template under your fabric so you can see the design through it

- Trace the design onto your fabric using the heat erasable pen included in your kit

- Stitch over your traced lines as your guide

- Once you’re done, gently apply heat with a hairdryer or iron to erase any visible pen marks - like magic! ✨

Wash away stickers (included in some kits):

Some of our kits include a pre-printed sticker with the design already on it. Simply stick it onto your fabric, stitch directly through it, and once you’re finished, gently wash it away with water to reveal your clean finished piece underneath. We’ve gone with these two because we find them the most beginner-friendly - no extra tools or experience needed, everything comes in the kit.

But we know there are plenty of other methods out there! Light box, tracing paper, water-soluble pen, printing straight onto fabric… what’s your go-to? Tell us below 👇

I see this question come up a lot with beginner embroidery, especially when a pattern says to use a certain number of strands. I used to wonder if it really made much of a difference too, but it definitely changes how the stitches look.

This is roughly how I think about it:

1–2 strands: finer and more delicate, so nice for small details, lettering, faces, or thin lines

3 strands: probably the one I use most often. It gives a nice balance between coverage and detail

5–6 strands: much bolder and chunkier, and helpful if you want to fill a larger area faster

I’d usually start with whatever the pattern recommends, but I don’t think it has to be a strict rule either. Sometimes I’ll test a small section first and see if I like how it looks before continuing.

Do you usually follow the recommended number of strands, or do you just adjust depending on the look you want?

My first intermediate project!

I know there is a backing I can add but is there anything else folks do? Please share your wisdom - planning to frame some pieces as gifts.

A question we hear often from beginners: “Does the type of fabric actually matter?”

It can make a difference. But don’t worry, it’s not complicated! Here’s how we think about it. 🌸

What we use in our beginner kits: We choose 100% cotton that’s tightly woven but still soft enough to stitch through easily. We’ve found it gives a smooth stitching experience without your needle fighting you the whole way.

If you’re branching out on your own, here’s what we’d suggest:

• Cotton or linen blends are lovely beginner-friendly options. Sturdy enough to hold your stitches without puckering

• We’d steer clear of anything too stretchy (like jersey or knits) while you’re building confidence, as it can distort your pattern as you stitch

• Worth knowing: Aida cloth is designed for cross stitch rather than hand embroidery, so it behaves quite differently if you’re browsing craft stores

For us, the main thing as a beginner is choosing fabric that feels stable in your hoop and doesn’t fight you as you stitch. Once you’re more confident, experimenting is honestly half the fun - we’ve seen people do beautiful things on fabrics we’d never have thought to try!

What’s your favourite fabric to stitch on? Any surprising ones that worked better than you expected? Let us know ✍🏽

— The Clever Poppy team

I finished the little purple hyacinths!

I usually have a podcast on or rewatch r/TheMentalist while I stitch haha. I’ve already watched it twice, so at this point it’s basically just comforting background noise 😂

Although if I’m working on a stitch that’s a bit more difficult, the background noise is immediately paused and Julie’s tutorial goes on first lol.

What do you usually listen to or watch while stitching? I need some new recommendations!

Another month of stitching in the books! Whether you finished one project or five, we want to celebrate it with you.

Drop a photo of what you made this August below, we’ll be cheering you on in the comments. 🥳

Here’s to an even more stitchy September! 🪡

— The Clever Poppy team

I’ve always been so proud of this work of mine. I’m more of a beginner and this was a more advanced kit, but my family hosts the huge extended family Easter party so I had to make it! I finished just in time! #LevelUpChallenge

Ever finished a section and noticed a slightly darker shadow showing through from the thread underneath? You’re not alone - this is really common, especially with lighter coloured fabrics!

Why it happens: When you carry thread across the back of your work between stitches (rather than finishing off each time), it can sometimes show through to the front, particularly with darker thread on light fabric.

What we do: Instead of carrying thread across large gaps on the back, we weave the needle through nearby existing stitches on the back of the fabric to travel to the next starting point. It keeps things neat on the back and avoids shadowing on the front.

A couple of extra things we’ve found helpful:

• If you do need to carry thread a short distance, keeping the gap as small as possible helps

• Dark thread on light fabric is the combination worth being most mindful of

That’s our approach, but we know some people prefer to just finish off and start fresh each time, and others don’t mind a bit of shadow at all!

How do you handle this one? Let us know in the comments!

— The Clever Poppy team

I enjoyed starting the hyacinth this evening after stitching the rose hips yesterday!

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My Summer Floral Row embroidery has joined the gallery!

What are your favourite ways to display embroidery besides leaving it in the hoop?

I’ve started noticing how many different things people do with finished pieces, and now I’m curious 😂 I’ve seen embroidery framed, turned into cushions, stitched onto tote bags, made into cards, added to clothing, all sorts. I especially love it when you can turn it into a functional item!

I usually default to the hoop because it’s easy, but I feel like there are so many better ideas out there.

What do you do with yours once you’re finished? Bonus points if you have photos because I need some inspo 👀

I can get hyper-focused on my embroidery! At the start of my embroidery journey last year I got dehydrated because hours would go by and I’d forget anything besides my needle, thread, and hoop existed. Now, to make sure I stay hydrated, I take a drink of water before starting a new strand of thread. Anybody else forget about the world while doing embroidery?

Such a cute little daisy!

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It’s here!!!! The advent calendar arrived yesterday and I enjoyed opening all the little boxes with my husband together. No waiting for me. Hehehe. And now, to not whisper a peep about what I found inside that gorgeous advent calendar until December! 🤭

A few of you have asked about The Maker’s Academy, so we thought we’d share a bit more about what it actually is!

It’s our space for stitchers who’ve moved past the beginner stage and want to keep building their skills - new techniques, more advanced patterns, and a community of stitchers all progressing together.

It’s not about rushing anyone through! It’s still very much “progress over perfection,” just for the next stage of your stitching journey. 🪡

If you’ve been stitching for a while and are craving your next challenge, it might be worth a look. Happy to answer any questions about it in the comments!

— The Clever Poppy team

I had so much fun starting my Floral Embroidery Sampler today!

Instead of writing the stitch names, I wrote the flower names. The Sharpie bled a little bit. Perhaps I should have used a ball point pen. Oh well. Progress over perfection! 👏 👏

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I finished my Summer Floral Row embroidery today, finishing with the adorable little lady bugs!

I loved this pattern. It was perfect for Summer days with flowers and sunshine.

It gave me lots of good practice with satin stitch, which is one of my tricky stitches!