Will I be able to do this?

Have you ever found yourself looking at embroidery patterns and thinking, “Will I even be able to do this?” Most craft kits have some sort of scale to help you know what skill level the kit is meant for. But if you’re just starting, does that mean you can’t do something more advanced? Or if you’ve been crafting for years, should you skip over a basic kit?

We don’t think so!

Here at Penguin & Fish, we scale our embroidery kits from Basic (1 dot) to Advanced (4 dots) and we want to make sure you know what we mean by that. This article breaks down what you can expect from each level of embroidery kit we put out.

No matter what your experience level is, Penguin & Fish embroidery kits, instructions, and videos will help you through even the most “advanced” designs. Yup, even if this is your first project!

So whether you’re just starting out, or have been doing embroidery for years, don’t let these dots deter you from the patterns you love. Our embroidery kits are meant for everyone!

Basic/Beginner - 1 dot

A 1-dot embroidery kit includes a basic, simple pattern. It uses 4 or fewer basic embroidery stitches and the pattern consists of mostly outlines. A basic embroidery kit will take anywhere between 2-5 hours to complete, depending on the size of the pattern and your personal skill level. This is where the majority of Penguin & Fish embroidery kits land on the scale.

A 1-dot embroidery kit is for you if:

• You’ve never embroidered before
• You want to know if embroidery is a good craft for you
• You love to embroider

Shop all basic embroidery kits.

Advanced-Beginner - 2 dots

A 2-dot embroidery kit is just a touch more difficult than a 1-dot because it may use more stitches, more complex stitches, or introduce a more advanced skill. These patterns may also take slightly longer to stitch. But don't let that scare you, you can do it! And we're here to support you.

A 2-dot embroidery kit is for you if:

• You’ve never embroidered before and want a slightly longer project
• You embroider and are looking for a pattern to learn something new
• You love to embroider!

Shop all advanced-beginner embroidery kits.

Intermediate - 3 dots

A 3-dot embroidery kit is getting closer to being more advanced because it includes more details in the pattern as well as more complex stitches. The pattern may take more time to complete due to the complexity of the stitches and/or pattern. Again, don’t let this scare you! You can do it, and we will be here to support you every stitch of the way.

A 3-dot embroidery kit is for you if:

• You’ve never embroidered before, but like to jump in with both feet first
• You embroider and are looking for a longer-term project or wanting to learn something new
• You love to embroider!

Intermediate embroidery kits coming soon...

Advanced - 4 dots

A 4-dot embroidery kit is the most advanced kit we offer (and you won’t see very many). If an embroidery kit is noted with 4 dots it likely contains complex stitches, filled in shapes, and advanced color-shading. These kits will also take a longer time to complete. If you pick up a 4-dot embroidery kit, you can be assured that there will be plenty of easy-to-read instructions included to walk you through each step of the process. We won’t leave you high and dry.

A 4-dot embroidery kit is for you if:

• You’ve never embroidered before, but are up for the challenge
• You embroider and are ready for a fun new journey in embroidery
• You love to embroider!

Advanced embroidery kits coming soon...

Is embroidery the right craft for me?

We hope this breakdown helps to eliminate any doubts you may have about any particular embroidery pattern. We truly believe that anyone can embroider and we are here to support you along the way!

Want to figure out if embroidery is the right craft for you? We encourage you to pick up one of our Basic embroidery kits and give it a shot! You’ve got nothing to lose. Our kits come with all of the supplies you need to complete a project, giving you a chance to try out embroidery. After all, there’s no need to invest in all of the supplies if you’re going to hate it in the end, right? But we don’t think you’ll hate it...we think you’ll love it!

Want to learn some basic embroidery stitches? Sign up below to receive the FREE Stitching Raccoon Sampler PDF pattern and also receive 14-days of embroidery stitches straight to your inbox. We’ll walk you through 14 of the most basic embroidery stitches out there and give you a chance to practice your skills on the Stitching Racooon pattern.