Introduction to Free-Motion Embroidery WORKSHOP

Free motion embroidery is the art of steering fabric like a pen under the needle — drop your feed dogs, swap to a darning foot, and suddenly your sewing machine becomes a drawing tool. Over this 4-hour workshop you'll learn how to prepare your fabric, work with and without a hoop, and get to grips with dissolvable stabiliser, before exploring more expressive techniques like writing text, fashion sketching, and layering cloth. We'll finish by looking at how hand beading and hand painting can be added afterwards, opening up a whole extra range of textures and techniques.

By the end of the workshop you'll have the confidence to keep exploring free motion embroidery on your own — whether that's within textile art or adding your own designs to clothes.

This workshop assumes you're already confident operating a sewing machine. If you're newer to sewing or would like a refresher first, our Get to Know Your Sewing Machine workshop is a great place to start.

You can read more about free motion embroidery, and how it compares to hand and computerised embroidery, on our blog.