For months I’ve been noticing tiny embroidered details appearing all over: on socks and lampshades, on table linens and even cafe curtains. It’s a simple way to personalize a gift, spruce up a secondhand find, or freshen something you’ve tired of. (It’s also a sweet way to preserve a memory: Fan spotted, on Instagram, a dinner party where guests were asked to sign their names on the tablecloth; the host later stitched over each one in thread as a keepsake of the night.)
Here’s a peek at a few examples—in case you, like us, are inspired to try stitching your own. (And don’t worry: Your stitches needn’t be perfect. Unlike the fussy, machine-made monograms of yesteryear, today’s embroidered bits are a little appealingly wonky. It’s part of the charm.)
Napkins
Cafe Curtains
