“Every master embroiderer once started confused, staring at a blank piece of fabric with no idea where to begin. But skill is not given, it is built stitch by stitch. Even when it gets frustrating, that is where growth happens. Embroidery proves that with patience and practice, something ordinary like thread can become something powerful and meaningful,” said Zaynab Juwara.
For this story I interviewed Zaynab Juwara, someone whose embroidery inspired me to learn more about hand stitching. The way she carefully creates every leaf in detail made me want to learn, but it came with challenges and frustrations. She inspired me with how carefully she created every leaf in details, which made me realize embroidery is more than a hobby it is art form that tells a story about through thread and fabric. Watching her work inspired me and made me realize embroidery is just not sewing thread and fabric but turning simple material into art into something beautiful and unique. Hand embroidery takes and teaches you patience, focus and creativity that bring a design to life.
Hand embroidery might seem hard and it is hard but here are some tips to do the fish bone stitch. First draw the shape of a leaf on your fabric doesn’t need to be perfect. Bring your needle up at the top point of the leaf making a small stitch down the center very important after that bring your needle up to the left sides near the and stitch across the middle line do the same thing on the right side keeping repeating the steps on the right and left slightly overlapping each stitch until you reach the bottom of the leaf make sure your stitch stay close together so it look full and smooth. As the leaf grows you will begin to see the fish bone pattern appear giving the embroidery texture and depth. The most important thing is to stay patient and enjoy the process and have fun because every stitch adds beauty to the final piece.
“To me, embroidery is a reminder that growth takes time. Every stitch represents patience, effort, and progress. I learned that mistakes are part of the process and consistency is what turns practice into skill. It is not about being perfect at the start but about continuing until something simple becomes something beautiful,” said Juwara.
I think people should know about hand embroidery because it is more than just decorating fabric as people say embroidery can be relaxing, meaningful and a creative way to express yourself but also showcase your talent. Embroidery is technically a form of art but a different form of art in a world where people are busy or spending time online embroidery give you a chance to create something unique, beautiful with your own hands.for me embroidery is also part of my culture and allows me to share a part of myself with the world but also through art something made with embroidery could last for years and hold memories, emotion, and creativity in every stitch. I want readers to know you don’t need to be perfect to start embroidery but end up with a lot of skill and knowledge about embroidery . you only need patience and imagination once you begin you may discover a hobby that brings happiness, confidence and comfort.
I will leave you with a little message that I hope will inspire you to persuade hand embroidery.
“So whether it’s embroidery or anything else you enjoy, the point is to keep doing what makes you feel like yourself, because that’s where real growth and confidence start.”