Tips & Inspiration

Written by the editors of Stitchly Studio · Last updated on June 8, 2026

An honest observation: for every 100 embroidery kits we sell, the vast majority go to women. And yet: from the men who do buy, we hear the same things repeatedly. 'My wife laughed at first, now she joins me.' 'I thought this wasn't for me – now it's my favorite evening activity.' 'Better than TV or my phone.'

This article is not a persuasive piece. We have no agenda to convince men to do something they don't want to. However, we do want to dispel the most persistent misconception about cross-stitch – namely, that it's 'something for women.' Embroidery is historically a male craft. It requires concentration and craftsmanship. And it's one of the few evening activities that clears your head and yields something tangible at the same time.

A brief history: for centuries, embroidery was men's work

In medieval Europe, embroidery (the decoration of royal cloaks, episcopal vestments, and banner tapestries) was a strictly regulated craft. In London, Bruges, and Florence, male master embroiderers formed guilds – women were explicitly excluded from the highest levels of the trade. It was heavy, delicate, prestigious work. The Bayeux Tapestry (actually an embroidered cloth 70 meters long depicting the Battle of Hastings in 1066) was likely made by both men and women, but led by male masters.

The shift only came with the Industrial Revolution and the Singer embroidery machine in 1890. Then, handwork became less economically valuable and was relegated to the home – as an activity for women and girls at school. A cultural separation of a few generations, not a fundamental truth about the hobby.

Important to know: there is nothing 'feminine' about embroidery. It's simply a craft that was temporarily adopted by women in our culture because men were busy with other things.

Why embroidery fits what many men seek in a hobby

Our experience (and that of the customers we know) shows that men who start cross-stitching usually have similar motivations. Four patterns we see repeatedly:

1. A break from screens, without being idle

For men with intensive screen work during the day, embroidery is a welcome change: no pixels, no notifications, no scrolling temptation. But at the same time, no boredom, because something concrete is happening. Many men report that embroidery helps them through the evening better than a series or social media – they go to bed less exhausted, and the rhythm is enough to let go of work-related thoughts.

2. Craftsmanship without a messy workshop

Not all men who like to make things have room for a workbench, woodworking, or metalwork. An embroidery kit fits in a shoebox. You can pick it up and put it away without cleaning up sawdust. For men in an apartment or without a shed, that's appealing. And yet you get the same 'made something' satisfaction as with woodworking – just on a different scale.

3. Concrete progress

The comparison made multiple times: embroidery is to your evening what a puzzle or a long book is. You see your work grow hour by hour, session by session. For men who are busy during the day with things that are rarely 'finished' (client projects, organizational work, long-term plans), it's refreshing to do something where the endpoint visibly gets closer.

4. Something that lasts

An embroidered piece will still be on the wall twenty years from now. Your hobby produces not consumption but production – in an age where we stream, scroll, and consume more and more, that's a welcome contrast. Many men we talk to specifically choose a piece that has personal meaning: their favorite place, their dog, a building they associate with an important moment.

What are good first projects for men?

Here's where the embroidery industry has historically failed: most kits on the market are geared towards classic 'feminine' imagery – floral wreaths, sampler letters, cute animals. Nothing wrong with that, but for those entering without that style context, it's hard to find kits that match other visual preferences.

Our suggestion for male beginners – based on what we see working:

Cities and architecture

Skylines, facades, bridges. A canal house, the New York skyline, a recognizable bridge. Visually strong, easy to start because the lines are clear. Check out the cities and streets collection.

Landscapes and nature

Mountains, coastlines, lighthouses, forests. Especially the work we've created around the Icelandic and Dutch coastlines appeals to men. See the landscapes collection.

Vehicles and machines

Classic cars, motorcycles, airplanes, boats, locomotives. Niche, but for custom photo kits, we do this fairly regularly: a workboat, a vintage car, an old tractor. Very personal because many men have a specific vehicle memory.

Your own photo of what matters to YOU

The most chosen route at Stitchly Studio: simply your own photo. Dog, cat, house, ship, the view from your window, your favorite vacation spot. Our Custom Photo Embroidery Kit converts your photo into a pattern – so what the image is, is entirely up to you.

'But I can't embroider'

No one could embroider when they started. We have male customers who picked up a needle for the first time in their lives and had excellent results within two weeks. The technique is simple: two diagonal stitches forming an X. Count, cross, count, cross. Much easier than learning a musical instrument or starting a sport.

What helps to get good quickly:

• Start with a beginner's kit or a smaller size (30×40 cm) – don't immediately tackle a large project
• Read our complete beginner's guide before the first stitch, not after
• Good lighting. A decent daylight lamp eliminates 70% of beginner frustration. Also read our guide on pain-free embroidery
• Don't succumb to the urge to choose large sizes because they seem more impressive. A small first piece brings quicker success and motivation for the second

Why embroidery is a good fit for wanting to calm down

Many men we speak to are not looking for a 'hobby' in the classical sense – they are looking for a way to switch off their minds without passively sinking into a couch. Exercise is good, but you already do it during the day. Reading is good, but for many, concentrating on reading in the evening is no longer possible.

Embroidery fits precisely into that gap: active enough to force your mind to do something, passive enough to sit next to someone or listen to a podcast in the background. We discussed this in more detail in our article on embroidery against stress – the scientific basis is real.

One last myth: 'my friends will laugh at me'

Experience shows that friends' initial reactions ('you embroider?') stem from surprise, not disapproval. After five minutes of looking at your work, the grumbling usually stops. And you don't have to tell everyone – it's your evening activity, not your public identity. We know male embroiderers who have been doing it for years before their colleagues accidentally find out.

What if you want to start anyway?

Three steps that, in our experience, work well for male beginners:

1. Choose a piece that you genuinely find beautiful. Not something you 'could give someone as a gift' but something you yourself would want on your wall. Self-motivation is half of the habit.
2. Start with 30×40 cm. A large piece seems more appealing but offers no progress for too long. 30×40 cm is a 'real' piece that can be finished in 40–70 hours.
3. Create a dedicated spot. A chair, a lamp, a table for your work. Reducing barriers is everything. If you have to unpack things every evening, you won't do it.

Our popular route: Custom Photo Embroidery Kit at 30×40 cm with a photo that moves you – dog, house, place, or vehicle. Live preview beforehand, complete kit, shipped within 48 hours. Or check out the ready-made designs if you don't have a specific photo.

In conclusion

Embroidery is not a 'masculine activity' and not a 'feminine activity' – it's a craft, and crafts belong to everyone. The quiet satisfaction curve of a piece that takes months to complete, the rhythm of counting, the small success per hour, the tangible finished work – these are elements that for many men form exactly the right mix between passive and active. If you suspect it might be for you, try it. A first kit costs less than a night out; it provides months of enjoyment.

Related articles: complete beginner's guide, mindful embroidery and which embroidery kit suits me.