How to Build an Embroidery Stitch Library (Using Instagram Reels as a Stitch Dictionary)

Once you’ve finished your first embroidery kit (or a couple small pieces), you start noticing something: you don’t just want to follow instructions anymore — you want options. A smoother satin stitch. A better way to fill petals. A leaf stitch that actually looks leafy. And Instagram Reels are overflowing with quick demos… until you need that exact stitch again and it’s gone.

This is my simple “next-level” system for building an embroidery stitch library using Instagram’s Saved bookmarks and Collections — basically turning Reels into a personal stitch dictionary you can pull up anytime you’re planning a new piece.

I’ve been working on my IG stitch reference library, but it got very messy and I kind of lost the plot lol. I’m still in the process of reorganizing, but I thought I would share how it works or how it’s supposed to work anyway.

What an embroidery stitch library is (and how it works like a stitch dictionary)

An embroidery stitch library is a personal collection of stitch tutorials you’ve saved for future projects — the stitches you actually use, the variations you want to try, and the techniques that make your work look cleaner or more “you.”

If “library” sounds cozy, think of it as your shelf of go-to resources. If “dictionary” sounds more practical, that works too: it’s a quick-reference system where you can look up a stitch by name (or by category) and immediately see how it’s done.

Instagram Reels are especially good for this because they’re short and visual — perfect for those moments when you don’t need a full lesson, you just need to see the stitch movement again.

Here is a great example to save: Pistil stitch embroidery tutorial by Emily June on Instagram.

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A post shared by Embroidery by Emily June (@iamemilyjune)

YouTube vs Instagram for Embroidery Stitches

Before we go any further, I wanted to point out that YouTube is still a great resource for video tutorials.

YouTube and Instagram each shine in different ways. YouTube is better for deep dives — slower pacing, longer explanations, and full projects that are great when you’re still learning the basics. Instagram Reels are better for quick refreshers: a 10–30 second reminder of how that stitch moves, plus endless variations you can save into your stitch library for later.

Check out YouTube video tutorials from, artist and teacher, Sarah Homfray.

If you’re building an embroidery stitch library, it helps to use each platform for what it does best. YouTube is still great for learning.

YouTube is best for learning from scratch

• Longer tutorials with slower pacing
• Better for beginners who need setup + “why it works” explanations
• Great for full projects, troubleshooting, and technique deep dives

Instagram Reels are best for quick reference + inspiration

• Perfect for a fast “how does that stitch go again?” refresher
• Easy to save and organize into Collections (your stitch library / stitch dictionary)
• Great for discovering variations, textures, and creative stitch combos you can try later

Step 1: Save (bookmark) stitch Reels as you find them

When you come across a Reel that clearly shows an embroidery stitch, your first job is simple: save it immediately.

• Tap the bookmark icon on the Reel to save it.
• Don’t worry about organizing it perfectly in the moment — the point is to capture it before the scroll eats it.

What’s worth saving (quick checklist)

Not every Reel is a great “dictionary entry.” I save Reels that have at least one of these:

• A clear view of the needle path (you can actually see how the stitch forms)
• A stitch demo that’s slow enough to follow (or loops the motion)
• A useful variation (same stitch, different look)
• A stitch shown in a real use case (petals, leaves, borders, shading, texture)

What I skip (so my library stays useful)

I usually don’t save Reels that are:

• Mostly aesthetics with no clear demo
• So fast you can’t tell what’s happening
• More “vibes” than instruction (pretty, but not reference-friendly)

I still love those kind of reels, but they are more for inspiration. Once it’s saved, you’ve done the most important part: you’ve turned a random moment of inspiration into something you can find again. Next is the magic step — sorting those saves into Collections so your stitch library actually works.

Or do a Search for stitch Reels to save

If you are going to start right away, you can do a search for “feather stitch embroidery tutorial” for instance. After clicking a Reel you want to save, look for the ellipses, three dots, at the bottom right corner. Then click save. You will be prompted to start a new collection or add to an existing one.

Note, that some creators try to protect their content by limiting shares, saves, etc. So the icons might be in a different spot or just not there at all.

Step 2: Sort your saved Reels into Collections (this is the stitch library part)

Saving a Reel is step one. Collections are what turn saved Reels into an actual embroidery stitch library—because you can find what you need on purpose, not by scrolling forever.

How to create stitch Collections

1. Go to your Instagram profile
2. Tap the ☰ menu (top right)
3. Tap Saved
4. Tap the + (or “Create collection”)
5. Name your Collection by stitch category (examples below)

A simple naming system that stays organized

If you want your Collections to sort nicely, add numbers:

• 01 Borders + Lines
• 02 Fill Stitches
• 03 Texture + Knots
• 04 Leaves + Greenery
  (You can always rename later.)

The habit that makes this system work

When you save a Reel, try to file it into a Collection right away (or at least the same day). Otherwise, your Saved area becomes a junk drawer.

A quick rule I use: If I can’t decide where it goes, I put it in a “To Sort” Collection and deal with it later.

Collections ideas for intermediate stitchers

Sort by design need or stitch type. Start with 5–10 that you can expand later while testing out what works best for you. Here are some ideas to start with:

Once you have Collections set up, Instagram becomes a quick-reference tool: you’re not just saving inspiration—you’re building a stitch dictionary you’ll actually use while you stitch.

Step 3: Add a tiny note system (optional, but makes it feel like a real dictionary)

Instagram Collections are great, but they aren’t searchable the way a true dictionary is. If you want to level up your stitch library, add a lightweight note system so you can remember why you saved something.

If you name your Collections with design type like “Leaves” you might not need a note system. I have mine saved by the stitch name which would be best with a note.

DM the Reel to yourself with a one-line note (fast + simple)

• When you find a great stitch Reel:
• Tap on the Reel itself
• Tap the paper airplane icon → send it to yourself
• Add a note like:
  • “Raised chain band — border idea”
  • “Fishbone leaf — try 1 strand”
  • “Satin stitch trick — outline first”

I actually keep forgetting to DM the reel to myself, so this might more of a “do as I say, not as I do” situation.

Final Step: How to use your stitch library while you stitch

Once your Collections are set up, your stitch library becomes more than a stash of inspiration — it becomes a tool you can use in real time. Here are a few easy ways to work it into your stitching routine.

Use it at the start of a project (planning + ideas)

Before you thread your needle, open your Collections and browse with intention. Intention is the keyword here. Be careful not to get caught up in scrolling.

• Need a cleaner outline? Check Borders + Lines
• Filling petals or leaves? Check Petals + Florals or Leaves + Greenery
• Want more dimension? Check Texture + Knots or Woven Stitches

This is a fun way to “audition” stitch options and build your own style, especially once you’re past beginner kits.

Use it mid-stitch for quick refreshers (the “wait… how did that go again?” moment)

This is where I think Instagram Reels shine. When my brain blanks on a stitch I know I’ve done before:

• Open Instagram with intention
• Go to Profile > Saved > Collections
• Watch the Reel a couple of times
• Get back to stitching

No deep dive required — just a quick visual reminder of the needle path and rhythm.

Quick maintenance tip (keeps your library helpful)

Every once in a while, do a quick clean-up. When I first started saving Reels for reference, I saved almost everything. It became cumbersome to use but when I referred to my Collections enough times, I knew what I needed and organizing became easier.

• Unsave Reels that aren’t clear anymore
• Merge Collections that overlap
• Promote your best “go-to” tutorials into a Favorites-style Collection if you want

Also, keep in mind that your stitch library doesn’t have to be perfect — it just needs to be easy to use when you’re actually stitching.

Conclusion

If you’ve ever watched a stitch Reel and thought, “I need this later,” an embroidery stitch library might be the easiest way to make sure you actually find it later. A few Collections + a quick note habit turns Instagram from endless scrolling into a personal stitch dictionary you can use while you stitch.

Intermediate embroidery is where things get really fun — because you’re not just following instructions anymore, you’re building your own toolkit. An embroidery stitch library gives you options on demand: smoother outlines, better fills, new textures, and stitch combinations you can pull up in seconds.