There is a craft I have loved since I was a teenager in high school; embroidering on my clothes.
Yes… really. And I do believe it’s making a comeback.
Now, maybe we personally aren’t all stitching flowers on our jeans (yet), but you’re definitely seeing it again. Walk into places like Urban Outfitters or Anthropologie and you’ll notice it right away, embroidery quietly showing up everywhere. Those places always seem to live right on that edge of bringing the old and the new together, and I love that.
But before I get too far into the story, you all might enjoy this little memory.
About twenty years ago, I used to work with a yarn rep (for free, mind you!). She paid my airfare, my room, and my meals whenever I helped her work a booth at shows. I absolutely loved that time with her. It was a stressful season in my life, and those trips felt like tiny getaways. Instead of saying, “Calgon, take me away,” I would say, “Frederika, take me away,” and sure enough… off I went to California or Ohio or wherever we were headed next.
Anyway (see… chasing squirrels already), on one of those trips I met a very young woman and her father sitting at a tiny table promoting a brand-new yarn line, Knit Collage. I remember being so impressed with her ambition and creativity. If I recall correctly, she had worked at Anthropologie helping design garments, and somewhere along the way discovered her own voice in fiber. Watching that spark of entrepreneurship stuck with me.
But back to embroidery.
Lately I’ve noticed an influx of books and designs focused on embroidery, especially embroidery on knitting. My first real project combining the two was Lisa Granick’s Florality Cowl. That project taught me so much: reading charts, working intarsia in the round (well… sort of 😉), and layering embroidery over knitted fabric. Once I finished, my mind just kept wandering back to it.
So I decided to play.
I pulled out an old sweater, not one of my handknits, a gold one that I never wore because I didn’t love the neckline. I had a set of doodle iron-on transfers and thought, why not? I carefully pressed one along the neckline and started stitching with a variegated fingering-weight superwash wool so I wouldn’t have to change colors.
Well… here’s the funny part.
I didn’t realize just how much acrylic was in that sweater. Let’s just say I may have melted it a tiny bit. (I truly don’t think it’s noticeable… at least I hope not.) After that realization, I turned the heat down and pressed much more gently. Some of the transfer didn’t take perfectly; but honestly? I still love it.
And now I love that sweater too.
The stitches were quick and simple, and the yarn blended beautifully. What used to sit untouched in my closet now feels completely new again. There is something so satisfying about giving a piece a second life with just a needle and thread.
Which brings me to why I’m sharing all this with you.
I would absolutely love to show you how approachable embroidery on knitting really is. There are two easy ways to transfer designs onto knitted fabric, and once you learn them, the possibilities are endless; sweaters, hats, cowls, even cuffs and pockets.
So… we’re going to have a little fun with it.
We have a new Embroidery on Knitting Workshop coming up here on March 21, 2026 at Yarn Store Boutique. You’re welcome to bring an old sweater to refresh (highly encouraged!), or you can practice on one of the knitted blanks I’ll have ready for you. We’ll supply everything you need except the sweater if you bring your own.
Let’s go back to the 70’s for a bit, loosen up, play with stitches, and see where our imaginations take us.
I think you’re going to love it.
