Preparing your materials: To do embroidery you will need fabric, an embroidery hoop, embroidery floss, embroidery needles, and a pair of scissors.  I prefer to use muslin fabric, but any tightly woven fabric works. Do not use a stretchy fabric to start learning on, it is very difficult to embroider on especially if you are a beginner. To prepare your fabric, lay it over the inner ring of your embroidery hoop, then place the outer ring around both the fabric and the inner ring and tighten until your fabric is taught. To prepare your embroidery floss you need to split it. If you look closely at the floss, you will notice that it is made up of six individual threads. For all of these stitches I use three strands.

Running Stitch: This is the most basic stitch in embroidery. You are simply weaving the needle and embroidery floss through the fabric. This stitch can be used for outlining or patterns. 

Straight Stitch: This stitch is arguably the most simple stitch in embroidery. You bring the needle up through the fabric, then back through, resulting in a single line of thread on your fabric. This stitch can be used for outlining, making simple flowers, or artistic touches on any piece. 

Back stitch: The back stitch is like the more professional version of a running stitch. You come up through the fabric at point 1, then go down through the fabric at point 2 creating a single stitch. You then come back up through the fabric at point 3, then back down through at point 1. You continue this until the stitch is as long as you would like. This can be used for outlining or other detail work.

Stem stitch: The stem stitch is a very easy way to make your stitch look clean and finished. This is an addition to the running stitch. You complete your running stitch, then come back up through the fabric and weave your thread through your running stitch. This stitch is most commonly used for flower stems as the name implies, but it can also be used as an outline or for other detail work.

Lazy Daisy Stitch: The lazy daisy stitch is a simple way to make flowers or other single looped stitches. For this stitch you go up at point 1 and down at point 2, but you do not pull the string all the way through, you leave a loop the size that you want your stitch. You then come up at point 3 and go over the loop you created, and bring your needle back down at point 3 securing your lazy daisy stitch. This stitch is most commonly used for making daisies, but you can modify the closeness of point 1 and 2, or the length of your loop to make other flowers as well. 

Chain Stitch: The chain stitch is very similar to the lazy daisy stitch, but you continue the stitch to make a chain, hence the name. You start off with a singular lazy daisy stitch, then you come up through the fabric a stitch length behind the first stitch creating point 1. Then you will thread your string through the first chain and come back down as close to, or at point 1. You continue this process until your desired chain length is desired. 

Fly Stitch: Very similar to the lazy daisy in technique, the fly stitch is a pretty simple stitch. In this stitch you come up through the fabric at point 1, down at point 2, leaving a loop. Then you come up at point 3 going through the loop, but unlike the lazy daisy stitch you do not go back down at point 3; instead you continue the line to point 4. This stitch can be used for birds in the distance, or as other detailing.

Satin stitch: Arguably one of the most versatile stitches on the list is the satin stitch. This stitch is used as a way to fill in shapes. There are two ways to do this stitch, but I prefer the one that uses less embroidery floss. You go up at point 1, down at point 2. You then move to the side of point 2 slightly and come back through at point 3. Go back through at point 4. Continue this process until your shape is filled in. Some people like to put a border around their shape to make it look more clean, but it is up to you. This can be used for flowers, lettering, or really any shape. 

French Knot: Finally one of the most difficult, but still useful, stitches on the list, the french knot. This is a very easy stitch once you have your technique down, but it takes practice. To do this stitch, come up at point 1, then wrap the thread around your needle twice, and go back down through the fabric at point 2. Point 2 should be as close to point 1 as possible without being directly on top of it. The trick with this stitch is to hold the string taught throughout the entire process of making the stitch. This stitch can be modified to be a bit messy to create the middles of flowers by leaving the stitch loose as well. The french knot can be used as flowers, stars, detailing, or just as an extra design.

Woven Wheel Stitch: The woven wheel stitch is a very simple stitch that looks very elegant. You make two or three overlapping straight stitches, and then weave a colored string through the straight stitches. Make sure to alternate over and under the straight stitches in order to not have any showing through your design. While weaving through this stitch, I like to use a full six strands in the embroidery floss, I find it leaves a fuller look that I prefer.  This stitch is most commonly used for roses, but can be used as a wheel on a car, or any other circular object you would like.