Embroidery Hoop Art has soared in popularity over the last few years, and while embroidery itself isn’t new, displaying it as wall art within the hoop that enabled its creation – thereby highlighting the craftsmanship and process behind the piece – is a very recent development. Textile artist Teresa Bettelley from Shirley Rainbow looks at the evolution of hoop art and why it is so appealing.

It’s rather lovely that the hoop frame references the way the embroidery was created and its handmade origins.

Hand-stitched embroidery hoop art by Teresa from Shirley Rainbow

Why I Love Embroidery Hoop Art

By Teresa Bettelley from Shirley Rainbow

I first saw hoop art online, it was love at first sight! I also couldn’t believe I’d never thought of displaying my embroidery this way before. As an art form, hoop art is very new – traditionally, embroidery to be displayed on the wall would have been stretched and framed over a board or canvas, and the hoop was only used during the stitching. However, in recent years as embroidery has grown in popularity, the idea of using the embroidery hoop to display the work has caught on.

Bee Embroidery Hoop Art by Kate Philbin Textile Art

The texture of the stitches can be seen and touched which, after all, is a huge part of the appeal of embroidery.

Embroidery hoops are inexpensive, easy to use and readily available, which partly explains their popularity. No more costly framing expenses! Framing the finished embroidery in the hoop is very simple and once it’s done the hoop can hang from the wall, or be propped on a shelf. Embroidery hoops look fantastic displayed en masse across a wall – I’d love to do that one day.

Fox Embroidery Hoop Art, hand stitched by Sue Casey from Tatts Treasures

Traditionally, embroidery to be displayed on the wall would have been stretched and framed over a board or canvas, and the hoop was only used during the stitching.

The hoops make the embroidery more accessible too. The texture of the stitches can be seen and touched which, after all, is a huge part of the appeal of embroidery. I think it’s rather lovely as the hoop frame also references the way the embroidery was created and its handmade origins. I love it when the hoop becomes part of the piece by linking them together, for example, or stitching over the hoop to create a sculptural dimension.

Detail of Summer Flowers Embroidery Hoop Art, hand-stitched by Louise Newton of LouStitches

I love it when the embroidery hoop becomes part of the piece by linking them together or stitching over the hoop to create a sculptural dimension.

Of course, hoop art is not just for embroidery; the hoops can be turned into a hand-weaving loom, and patchwork and quilting both look great displayed in an embroidery hoop. I love it when the hoop becomes part of the piece by linking them together, for example, or stitching over the hoop to create a sculptural dimension.

Shop Embroidery Hoop Art on Folksy > 

More Embroidery Hoops and Textile Art

Free Embroidery Tutorials:

Improve your embroidery skills with our free apple blossom brooch by Nicola McEachran. Click here to start making >

Learn how to make a gorgeous piece of embroidery hoop art inspired by clear night skies and Japanese Sashiko style stitching in our free craft tutorial. Click here for the tutorial > 

Meet The Textile Artists:

Read our Meet the Maker interview with Teresa Bettelley and learn more about her own embroidery hoop art. Click here to read >

Meet Scottish embroidery artist Nicola McEachran from ndm handmade. Click here to read our interview >

Meet world-renowned embroidery artist and star of the BBC show MAKE: Craft Britain, Marna Lunt. Click here to read our interview with Marna > 

Meet Sojung Kim McCarthy from Do A Little Dance the South Korea textile artist whose brand of embroidery hoop art and purses inspired by her love of tea, coffee and furry friends. Click here to read our interview >

Carole Fenwick from MaggieMagoo Designs is one of the leading designers of colourful prints and patterns, and she is also extremely talented with a needle and thread, creating beautiful contemporary embroideries and modern hoop art. Click here to read our interview >

Textile artist Heidi Meier creates original embroidered artworks that capture a moment in time and the changing seasons. Read our interview with Heidi here > 

Textile designer Kate Rowe’s embroidered textiles are inspired by mid-century design and all her embroideries are stitched by hand. Read our Meet the Maker interview with Kate here >

Angela Snape from CoverStory creates embroideries that are exquisitely stitched interpretations of nature. Click here to read our Interview >

Discover more textile art by UK designers on Folksy >