The embroidery tattoo trend has stepped straight out of Nana’s embroidery design magazine and onto the tattoo scene.  

This increasingly developed genre does a superb job balancing realistic needle work looks with outlandish style choices ranging from classical art through to traditional flower ink and video game characters.  

The almost 3D appearance of embroidery tattoos makes them look like an iron on craft patch that has been applied directly. They replicate the deliberate linear needle marks that are hallmarks of embroidery, as opposed to the equally growing cross stitch tattoo trend that has noticeable tiny ‘X’ marks in each design.  

There’s no actual embroidery, stitching, or yarn used. Embroidery tattoos are created the usual way – with a tattoo gun, needle and the variety of inks required to get the job done by coloring in your skin.  

Embroidery tattoo effects mimic the stitch texture of embroidered fabric, and some of more the classical styles – cartoon character, sports motif, 3D tattoos and superhero badges.  

The most successful embroidery tattoos look like a patch tattoo that you can iron or stitch on to clothing. Read on and explore our gallery of ink inspiration that will have you thinking in stitches.  

1. Unique Embroidery Tattoo Art 

Source: @yomera1 via Instagram

Source: @palmerdemaria via Instagram

Source: @min_zumi via Instagram

Source: @yomera1 via Instagram

Source: @krisnotch_tattoo via Instagram

Source: @ksuarrow_tattoo via Instagram

Source: @ksuarrow_tattoo via Instagram

Source: @alicia_casale via Instagram

These badass tattoo art examples bring out interesting interpretations of what you can achieve with a cool embroidery design. There are realistic tattoos that look like they may be an actual craft patch ready to cover a ragged hole, or make a cool jacket even more fly, while others mix between the stitch tattoo style and regular tattooing concepts – I love the blue sailboat and white ink flourishes – for killer contrast in pattern.