Now, three months into 2025, I thought this would be a good time to evaluate some of the predictions made in 2024 concerning trends in embroidery for this year.

I have to say, though, researching this topic confirms that many of these predictions make for some interesting reading.

Does anyone follow these trends?

If you’re designing and creating original work, perhaps not as a narrative dictates you.  Then again, trends may be the narrative.  Still, it’s worth knowing what others in the industry are saying and, dare I say, predicting for future consumption.

Let’s not forget that trends are powerful selling tools that encourage people to drift and move with current fashions. Just the word alone makes many sit up and take notice.

However, if you’re new to the textile and embroidery world, run an embroidery or textile-based business, or write about textiles and embroidery via a blog, this research could be valuable.

Should we follow these trends?  That’s a personal decision.  If you’re designing work to a narrative, you’ll use whatever elements help convey that narrative in your work, whether trendy or not.

However, this topic is interesting.  A generic central core of highly predictable proposed trends using keywords sure to aid in SEO, many of which avoid gritty topics like advances in technology as AI and digitizing, which I feel are impacting this industry hugely now, are also important.

So, join me on this enjoyable merry-go-round of ideas and proposals from several different viewpoints, and let’s see if they’re correct in their predictions.  I’m rubbing that mystic crystal ball as hard as I can to see if these people really can see into the future, or are all these trends biased towards sales and promotion?  I’m afraid you’re the ones who’ll have to decide.

Come on, let’s do this.

Trends.  Do you follow them?  I don’t, but that’s just me.

I didn’t realise so many people actually wrote about what’s trending in embroidery until I began researching this episode, and I have to say, the predictions were illuminating.

Illuminating because I wonder what’s behind them.  Is it for promotion, sales or simply a genuine interest?  Or a little of everything.  I suspect that’s closer to the truth.

I’m going to begin by listing the topics that were predicted to trend in embroidery in 2025; then, I’ll evaluate whether or not they’ve come to fruition.

I don’t believe any of you will be surprised by some of these predictions, but some are interesting, nonetheless.

Now, if you’re into technology, you can do your own research quickly and easily by searching for embroidery keywords.

Words like sustainability, experimentation and innovation, repurposing, digital and AI technologies, abstract designs, bold typography, personal stories and touches and unique and unusual threads and materials.

These are all worthy attributes to include in your artistic practice, but are now labelled as trends.

Let’s explore them further.

• Sustainability: This tops the list of predictions.  What embroiderer doesn’t want to adopt eco-friendly habits, use organic or bio-degradable threads, repurpose fabrics or work with natural dyes?  2025 was predicted to see more fabrics made from hemp, organic cotton and bamboo, offering embroiderers choices that will help lower the environmental impact without sacrificing quality.  Demands for biodegradable threads should also help reduce waste and are said to influence the market in 2025.  Sustainability also encompasses ethical and fair labour practices, meaning that many consumers now want to see a transparent supply chain from source to final product and feel that using energy-efficient embroidery production is important to them.
• Experimentation and Innovation:  According to one article it’s ‘back to the future’ for embroidery trends in design with a sustained resurgence of the values and designs inspired by the Arts and Crafts Movement along with influences from the Bloomsbury Set,  renewed interest in the 1980’s- 1990’s pop scene and the Japanese Kawaii cult.  Recurring themes such as sustainability and climate change will feature, and interestingly, there will be a wider interest in exotic world textiles with world travel presenting a new, diverse and expansive artistic vision that tells global stories.  So I take this to mean there will be interest in work produced with integrity and common values, as well as showcasing the influence and evolution of women as textile designers. There is a definite rise in the appreciation for handmade artisanal embroidery along with an understanding of the values of time and skill needed to create these items.  Another source, however, suggests that the world is set to embrace bold maximalist embroidery designs featuring oversized floral patterns incorporating vibrant colours, patterns and finishes.  Think luxe for this prediction.
• Repurposing:  This key theme focuses on upcycling old clothes, using eco-friendly materials and creating personalized, meaningful embroidery designs expressing personal stories, cultural influences and issues surrounding mental health.  Embroiderers will value-add to existing items by adding personalized touches and utilising mending to reduce waste.  Old fabrics and embellishments will be re-used to create unique, one-of-a-kind pieces, along with fabric scraps to make patchwork quilts.
• Digital and AI technologies:  This one area is set to revolutionise the embroidery world in 2025 and onwards, offering features such as AI automation, smart tools and sustainable innovation leading to increased efficiency, accuracy and flexibility for businesses and hobbyists.  AI-powered tools will make it easier to digitize family photos and help create custom artwork or unique designs for personal projects.  I hope to delve into the world of AI and Embroidery in a future episode of the Stitch Safari Podcast because it is becoming such a huge factor.
• Abstract designs:  2025 was set to veer away from the popular flora and fauna motifs and move towards the popularity of abstract and geometric shapes.  Celestial themes were to become popular, so we should expect to see more stars, zodiac signs and moon phases.
• Bold Typography: Bold typography in embroidery was set to trend in 2025 with statement pieces featuring oversized text worked in unique colours and metallic threads.  Key features are to include bold oversized statement pieces incorporating motivational quotes, witty sayings or names utilizing unique fonts, worked with a variety of thread colours with metallic accents for added flair.  And to showcase authenticity and personal connection in 2025, handwritten fonts were to surge in popularity.
• Personal stories and touches:  Many sources cite using personal touches as a trend for embroidery in 2025, incorporating meaningful motifs, quotes and symbols, monograms or digitized handwriting.

Gideon Lubbe, writing for Stitch Delight in 2024, noted this:  ‘2025 promises to be a groundbreaking year for embroidery, brimming with innovation and creativity to inspire every enthusiast. From bold, boundary-pushing techniques to modern takes on timeless favourites, the year ahead offers endless opportunities to explore, create, and share. Whether you’re diving into textured designs, experimenting with glow-in-the-dark threads, or creating sustainable art, there’s something for everyone to explore. These trends offer endless possibilities for expressing your creativity and pushing the boundaries of what embroidery can achieve.

Do I agree with Gideon?  Well, what he predicts can be read in many ways.  But I like to see things for myself, and I have to say,  I’m not seeing a number of the proposed trends set to send 2025 into a groundbreaking year for embroidery.

It seems to me that many of the so-called trends have simply been overlooked.

Pinterest is alive with floral and nature-based hand embroidery design inspiration.  There was one promo for a sustainable, colourful and unique upcycled sari tape along with one or two abstract designs.

I would suggest that bold and beautiful textures in embroidery are extremely popular now, as they should be, with a variety of 3D work, stitched separately and applied to either a garment or artwork.

Those delightful embroidered journals worked on for an entire year detailing events remain popular, incorporating memories, happenings, vibrant colourways, cute icons and the inclusion of beads and sequins for added texture.

I found one sustainable eco-friendly embroidery kit, some unused vintage embroidery threads and one instance of combined hand and machine embroidery.

Etsy offered some insights into sustainable and eco-friendly embroidery for 2025, with one seller featuring Vegan Bamboo and Vegan Banana silk fabrics, some naturally dyed organic threads, and some handwoven, hand-dyed hemp fabrics.

So, taking the time to actually look and see whether these predictions have driven new life into the embroidery world has been fascinating.

This is what my research has unveiled.

Those embroidered journals and hoop art come first by a winning mile.  They were popular in 2024 and remain so in 2025, and I can see these little gems lingering for several years to come.

They express personal stories, are relatively quick and simple to work and when finished, are ready to display.  What’s not to love?

There were typographical digital downloads galore on Etsy, and if this is your jam, then that’s the place to look for these digital downloadable files.

So technology is well and truly entrenched in the embroidery world.  AI is being used for images as well as helping to write artist statements, yet neither of these was mentioned as trending in 2025.  Big mistake.

TikTok embroidery trends suggest a continued interest in hand embroidery techniques, DIY projects, and creative self-expression, with a growing interest in 3D and textured embroidery and the possibility of AI-powered tools.

Lastly, I went to my own Instagram home feed.  One of the first to pop up was a delightful hooped embroidery, followed by another larger, bold, bright embroidery being worked in a hoop, then a cute cross stitch along with a contemporary embroidery using thick, vibrant colourways set to excite any viewer.

None of these were mentioned as trends, yet they continue to saturate my home feed.

So do I believe in trends?

Well, no.  A number of the sites visited were simply trying to promote businesses, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.  They may well see those trends in their own fields, but I’m not seeing them on social media.

If you are or want to be a trend follower, here are my top suggestions for the rest of 2025:

• Teach yourself hand embroidery – there’s so much information available now at your fingertips and it’s relatively inexpensive in terms of tools and materials.
• Create hoop art – buy a good-quality hoop, create your design and begin stitching.  Finish neatly and hang or display as is, in the hoop.  Amazon sells mini artist tripods that make a great display for small embroidered hoop art.
• Begin an embroidered journal to record your year.  These are still hugely popular, and very personal, if you want them to be.  They can be about anything, and you can learn to stitch as you go.
• Incorporate texture into your embroidery.  This seems to be all the rage now.  Include dimension wherever practical and don’t forget to add some delicious beads and sequins.  Large designs worked in thick, vibrant threads are extremely popular.
• Vibrant colours are in for 2025.  Or pretty monochromatic colourways that utilise light, lights through to dark, darks to give that dramatic gradation.
• Nature-based themes are still very much on song for many embroiderers.  I’m not seeing any connection with the Arts and Crafts Movement, the Bloomsbury Set, Kawaii dolls or pop culture.  Perhaps I’m not looking in the right places – but what are the right places?
• In terms of sustainability, I think most of us are working our way through the stash collected over many years of stitching.  I know that’s what I’m trying to do, but reusing fabrics rather than adding to landfill is certainly the way to go.
• Teach yourself how to design embroidery that is personal to you, sharing your stories, interests, or memories.  I don’t think this is a trend per se, so much as it gives a glimpse of the real you behind the work.
• Make and mend was a pretty good slogan during WWII – and the same applies now.  Is it a trend?  I don’t think so, but I’m seeing lots of lovely embroidery on things like jackets, jeans, jumpers, shirts and bags.  Have a hole or snag – cover it up with an embroidered patch.  This has been on trend for some years now.
• Study world embroidery textiles and techniques – there’s huge inspiration in that one topic, and it’s fascinating to see how differently we all see the world.  Is it a trend?  No.  It’s common sense really.

So my suggestion is to take the notion of trends in embroidery with a grain of salt.  Do your own quick research, including Pinterest, Etsy, TikTok and Instagram.  They’ll tell you within a very short time what’s trending and what’s not.

Frankly, the idea of trends is more related to the fashion industry, and embroidery in that sphere that relies on the same techniques we use.  It’s bolder, brighter, and often incorporates expensive technologies out of the range of most embroiderers.

If you’re an embroidery designer and creator, however, trends would probably be irrelevant.  Your work is more about the story behind the work, and the materials used should help express that narrative.

If you’re a hoopyist embroiderer, you just want to do what you want to do.  I don’t think those choices are at all led by trends.  They may be led by a particular tutor who may look at what’s trending to create and sell their classes.  But I think they’d be doing similar research to mine, not relying on suggested trends.

But for me, year in and year out, embroidery is about the actual doing, the mechanics of stitch production, including pattern, colour, line, texture, and contrast – all those delicious things very few people talk about.

Because they’re what make embroidery great.

I simply turn to my stash and work from there.  I hope you can do the same.

Happy Stitching.