Crafts & Crafts Pet Embroidery at Tonewood Brewing
This pet embroidery workshop is easily one of my favorite events to host. It brings together everything I love: crafting, community, pets, and a good local beer. This one took place at Tonewood Brewing in Barrington, NJ as part of my Crafts & Crafts series, where you sip on craft beer while learning a new creative skill.
Before the event, everyone sent me photos of their pets. Dogs, cats, the whole crew. I hand-draw each pet from their photo and turn it into a custom embroidery design, so when people arrive, they’re stitching their pet,not a generic pattern. It makes the whole experience feel extra personal from the start.
There were two ticket options: bring your own item (like a tote, tea towel, or sweatshirt), or choose a crewneck that I provide in the size and color you want. Everyone picked their own thread colors too, which meant no two projects looked the same, even when people were stitching similar designs.
Once we got settled, I went over how to set up embroidery from scratch: adding stablizer, hooping the fabric, threading needles, choosing stitches, and getting comfortable before jumping in. Most people had never embroidered before, and a few admitted they were nervous, convinced it was going to be hard. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. I heard multiple people say how surprised they were by how approachable it felt, which is always my favorite feedback.
The vibe of this workshop was very social. People came with friends, grabbed beers, stitched, chatted, and hung out for a solid 2–3 hours. It was the kind of creative time that doesn’t feel rushed, just easy, cozy, and genuinely fun.
Everyone left with their embroidery in progress, plus their hoop, needles, threader, and extra floss so they could keep going at home. Even better, they left with a new hobby. A few people were already talking about what they wanted to embroider next, which is exactly the goal.
This workshop was a reminder that embroidery doesn’t have to be intimidating. With the right setup, a little guidance, and a relaxed environment, anyone can learn and actually enjoy the process along the way.
