Learn to Make Your Own Embroidery Pattern

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Stitchers ready to make your own embroidery patterns:

What if:

designing your own patterns felt like a clear, guided process, instead of something mysterious you had to figure out alone?

And what if:

your finished pieces were so distinct and polished that others wanted to stitch them too?

The Stitched Stories Pattern Design Blueprint gives you a sketch-to-fabric roadmap, stitch design framework, and practical lessons on color, composition, and polish...

..so you can create patterns that feel solidly designed and truly your own.

LET ME KNOW IF THIS SOUNDS FAMILIAR

You've got plenty of ideas for what you'd love to stitch...

In fact, you can picture patterns of your home, your garden, even your favorite pet — designs that would mean something to you and maybe even to others.

The problem is . . .

…every time you think about making your own pattern, it feels harder than it should.

🚫 You’re not sure how to get a sketch onto fabric without the whole process feeling clumsy.

🚫 Choosing stitches feels confusing — outline or fill? simple or textured?

🚫 And when you try to arrange motifs or pick colors, the design doesn’t quite hold together the way you imagined.

You’re willing to do the work, but you need a guide — a process that takes the mystery out of designing and gets you stitching your own patterns.

How would it feel to:

✅ See your sketches make the leap onto fabric without the stress of wondering which transfer method is “right”? You’d know the options, pick the one that suits you now, and feel confident you could try more advanced methods when you’re ready.

✅ Look at your home, your dog, or a seasonal piece with a trendy motif and know exactly how to translate what you see into stitches? With a clear 3-part framework, you’ll choose motif treatments, fills, and canvas elements (borders and backgrounds) that fit your style.

✅ Design like an artist, using color to set tone, composition to create movement, and polish to give your work that final spark — building patterns that reflect your signature style?

You don't need to be a professional designer to create embroidery patterns you're proud of.

What you need is a clear process that takes you from idea to composition — bringing motifs, stitches, and colors together into a design that feels intentional and complete.

That’s the promise of the Stitched Stories Pattern Design Blueprint.

Here’s how it works:

1. Go From Sketch to Fabric — Your Way:

Learn the full range of options for transferring your designs, so you can pick the method that fits your project now — and feel confident stepping into more advanced approaches when you’re ready.

2. Pick Stitches That Fit — With a 3-Step Framework:

You’ll have a roadmap for turning sketches into embroidery stitches. Decide how to render motifs, fills, borders, and backgrounds so they reflect your own unique style.

3. Elevate Your Design — With Color, Composition & Charm:

Visual design principles are woven into the Pattern Design Blueprint process, so you’re not just learning about color, composition, and polish — you’re applying them right away to your own designs, building confidence with every choice, and creating patterns you’ll be proud to stitch.

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Meet the creator of the Pattern Design Blueprint.

Hi, I’m Debbie Hodge — founder of StitchedStories.com and designer of more than 100 embroidery patterns. In just five years, I’ve sold over 60,000 kits and patterns (totaling $1.5 million in sales) to stitchers around the world.

My love of crafting started early and has shaped every stage of my life. I’ve designed program interfaces, built websites, and published both scrapbook pages and a book (Get It Scrapped). But at 59, I returned to embroidery — and discovered the joy of designing pieces filled with the motifs, stitch combinations, and stories I loved most.

Since then, I’ve built a growing library of embroidery patterns, sold through StitchedStories.com and Etsy, with thousands of stitchers completing projects that now hang in their homes. Through this work, I’ve learned what makes a design both engaging to stitch and striking to display.

And now I’ve taken everything I know and developed the Pattern Design Blueprint — so you can design embroidery patterns that feature the motifs, stitches, and style you love.

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Design Your Own Embroidery Patterns

with the Stitched Stories Pattern Design Blueprint

a self-paced online course at StitchedStories.com

enroll for just $99

📌 Self-paced lessons — start anytime
📌 Lifetime access in the Stitched Stories classroom

📌 This digital product is non-refundable

Here's what's inside Pattern Design Blueprint

Lesson 1: Design Foundations (set your compass)

Before you ever put pencil to paper, get clarity about why you’re designing and the practical details that shape what you create. With this foundation, every choice you make — motifs, stitches, color — will feel grounded and intentional.

Here's what you'll do:

Uncover your purpose for designing (aka, set your creative compass).
Define the “design drivers” that impact your designs.

Lesson 2: Tools & Methods Roadmap (see your options)

Before you dive into designing, get clear on the options for creating your pattern and transferring it to fabric.

You’ll be introduced to:

Two starting points for creating your pattern: pen & paper or digital tools.
A decision tree for choosing your best method that includes key work and tools.
Five ways to transfer your design to fabric — from lightbox tracing to print-on-demand.

Lesson 3: Create Your Pattern (choose your rendering path)

There isn’t one “right way” to get your design onto the page or screen. In this lesson, you’ll see the different routes and available tools for rendering your pattern so it’s ready for transfer and stitching.

You’ll discover:

Alternatives for turning hand-drawn sketches into digital, reproducible patterns.
What digital drawing can add to your toolbox — including quick-start tracing from photos and public-domain images.
How advanced tools open the door to building a personal design library you can re-use and adapt across future projects.

Lesson 4: Transfer Your Pattern (get it onto fabric)

With your design rendered, the next step is moving it to fabric. In this lesson, you’ll see five ways to do just that — from simple DIY tracing to professional print services. I won’t teach you the ins and outs of every tool or machine, but you’ll have a clear understanding of what’s possible, what each method requires, and how to choose the best fit for your project and volume.

You’ll discover:

The low-tech approach: tracing with a lightbox and heat-erasable pen.
At-home printing options: directly to fabric or onto wash-away stabilizer.
Scalable solutions: custom stamps and print-on-demand services.

Lesson 5: From Image to Stitches (your 3-step framework)

Choosing the stitches that will render your designs is about more that outlines. With your compass from Lesson 1 in hand, you’ll use a clear framework to decide how motifs, fills, and canvas treatments come together. This is where the guesswork ends, and your creative choices become intentional, repeatable, and true to your style.

You’ll work through:

Considerations for when and how to outline imagery as well as an understanding of how representational vs realistic motif rendering becomes key to your personal design approach.
How different fills (solid, creative, or repeating) provide tools for mood, texture, and a unique style.
The role of backgrounds and borders — and how they can either clutter a design or give it cohesion and polish.

Lesson 6: Color (set mood, focus, and flow)

Color choices can make or break a design. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to use color intentionally — not just picking shades you like, but understanding how color shapes mood, focus, and movement in a piece. With this knowledge, you’ll know how to make cohesive designs that set mood and move the eye through each piece.

You’ll discover:

The three properties of color — and how adjusting value or saturation can be more powerful than adding new hues.
Why some color harmonies feel soothing while others create spark and tension.
How to guide the eye with color — creating focal points, flow, and balance across your design.
A pro tip for building palettes as you stitch, so colors evolve naturally while keeping story and cohesion in place.

Lesson 7: Composition (arrange motifs with intention)

The way motifs are arranged on your canvas shapes the feel of your design. Balance, storytelling, and visual flow all depend on composition. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to make deliberate choices so your designs feel intentional rather than accidental. You’ll explore a set of go-to structures that can ground your work, spark new ideas, and even energize your personal style.

You’ll discover:

Why white space isn’t “empty” — and how it changes the way your motifs are perceived.
Six go-to compositional approaches and the distinct effect each creates.
How canvas shape and size guide what kinds of designs work best.

Lesson 8: Add Charm (give your design a strong finish)

A solid design can still fall flat without that final spark. In this closing lesson, you’ll see seven ways to add charm — the qualities that make a piece compelling, delightful, and unforgettable. This isn’t about following rules; it’s about learning how to spot opportunities to add polish and surprise so your designs feel finished and full of life.

You’ll discover:

Why simplicity, stitched with intention, can be more powerful than complexity.
How a strong motif, color choice, or contrast instantly raises the impact of your design.
The charm of a collection — repetition and abundance that draw viewers in to explore.
The unexpected touches — from texture to surprise elements — that make viewers lean in closer.

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My promise to you

The Pattern Design Blueprint is designed to be practical, clear, and doable. For just $99, you’ll get lifetime access to step-by-step lessons that walk you through the design process — from sketch to polished, stitch-ready patterns.

Because this is a digital course, I don’t offer refunds. But I do promise that what you’ll find inside is straightforward, approachable, and built to help designers at every level. You can take the lessons at your own pace, revisit them anytime, and apply the framework again and again as your skills and ideas grow.

If you’ve been wanting to design patterns that reflect your own style and stories, the Blueprint gives you the structure and guidance to make it happen.

📌 Lifetime access
📌 One-time payment of $99
📌 Digital, start anytime

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Design Your Own Embroidery Patterns

with the Stitched Stories Pattern Design Blueprint

a self-paced online course at StitchedStories.com

enroll for just $99

📌 Self-paced lessons — start anytime
📌 Lifetime access in the Stitched Stories classroom

📌 This digital product is non-refundable

The questions would-be pattern designers ask before enrolling in the Pattern Design Blueprint

Q: How much time will this take? I love embroidery but I’ve also got a busy life.

A: I hear you! That’s why the Blueprint is self-paced, with lifetime access. You can move through a lesson in a single evening, pause when life gets full, and return later to review or try more advanced methods as your skills grow. Many students revisit the lessons again and again as they design new patterns.

Q: I’ve never drawn more than a doodle. Can I really make my own embroidery patterns?

A: Absolutely. You’ll see multiple ways to start — from simple pen-and-paper sketches to tracing photos or using public-domain imagery as a jumpstart. You don’t need to be an artist; the framework shows you how to make design decisions step by step, with digital tools and starter images available if drawing feels intimidating.

Q: Do I need special software, hardware, or expensive equipment to get started?

A: Not at all. You’ll see the full range of options, from the simplest DIY tools to advanced digital setups, but you won’t be asked to buy or learn anything specific to succeed. You can start with what you already have on hand, and the lessons will give you a roadmap for deciding if and when it makes sense to add new tools.

Q: My ideas are more complicated than most patterns I see. Will this still work for me?

A: Yes. The Blueprint is designed to meet you where you are. If your vision is detailed, you’ll learn how to break it down into motifs, fills, and canvas decisions so it’s still stitchable. And when advanced tools or higher-volume methods make sense, you’ll know what they are and how to step into them.

Q: Do I have to take the lessons in order, or can I jump around?

A: The lessons are designed as a sequence that builds your skills step by step — but you’ll also have lifetime access, so you can skip ahead to what you need right now and circle back later. For example, you might dive into color or composition first, then return to transfer methods when you’re ready to stitch.

Q: What if I only want to design patterns for myself, not to sell?

A: That’s wonderful! The Blueprint is designed for personal stitchers as much as aspiring designers. You’ll learn how to create patterns that reflect your own stories, motifs, and style — whether that means stitching a family heirloom, decorating your home, or just enjoying the creative process.

Q: I’ve been stitching and crafting for years. Will this course still teach me something new?

A: Experienced stitchers often know stitches inside and out but feel less confident about design. This program gives you the design-side framework — color, composition, and charm — so you can finally create patterns that reflect your unique style instead of relying on others’ designs.

Q: Is this course only for beginners? I don’t want to feel like I’m starting from scratch.

A: The Blueprint isn’t about re-teaching basic stitches — it’s about design. Whether you’re new or experienced, you’ll be applying a clear framework that helps you make design decisions with confidence. Many advanced stitchers discover this fills a gap they’ve felt for years.

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Still not sure if the Pattern Design Blueprint is right for you?

Check off five or more of these, and come on in!

✔️ You’ve got ideas for patterns — your home, your garden, your pet — but don’t know how to turn them into stitchable designs.

✔️ You’ve bought plenty of embroidery patterns before, but now you’re itching to create something that feels truly your own.

✔️ You’re not an artist (your drawings are closer to doodles!) but you love knowing there are easy ways to start — from tracing photos to using public-domain imagery.

✔️ You don’t want to waste time second-guessing stitches, fills, or layouts; you’d rather follow a clear framework that takes out the guesswork.

✔️ You’d like to try digital tools someday, but right now you want to start with what you have — and know that you’ll learn the options for stepping up when you’re ready.

✔️ You’ve been stitching for years but feel like your pieces don’t always “hang together” — you’re ready to understand color, composition, and polish.

✔️ You want your embroidery to reflect your style and stories — whether you’re stitching for your own home, gifting, or sharing with others.

👉 If you found yourself nodding along, the Pattern Design Blueprint was made for you.

Title

Design Your Own Embroidery Patterns

with the Stitched Stories Pattern Design Blueprint

a self-paced online course at StitchedStories.com

enroll for just $99

📌 Self-paced lessons — start anytime
📌 Lifetime access in the Stitched Stories classroom

📌 This digital product is non-refundable