Two art forms, both involving the use of needles, but seemingly worlds apart. But no more. Embroidery, a classical art that you are more likely to associate with your grandma, has combined with the tattoo scene to create beautiful, folky designs that are both unique and traditional at the same time.
The results speak for themselves. The rich, textured designs look like the ink has been sewn into the skin, and take on an almost 3D appearance as they 'pop' out at you. Many designs are a contemporary take on a timeless technique, with a series of tiny x's combining to form a bigger picture.
What do you think? Would you consider getting a tattoo like this? Scroll down to check out Bored Panda's list for inspiration, and let us know what you think in the comments!
This post may include affiliate links.
WoW. Really beautiful. Never wanted a tattoo, but maybe i will now. Great idea!
This is AWESOME, but not that awesome for me to get one... I HATE needles.
Load More Replies...
that is really gonna look GOOFY when his hair grows back, gross!!
i had that patch on my backpack in high school still have the patch
I love this, on someone else. If it were on me, all I'd hear day in and day out would be, 'guhuguhhuguh!' I couldn't take that
looks like an applique has been placed on the arm; see the loose threads on the outline....
This one even looks like it has the tiny bits of paper from the embroidery patch.
"look Morty, we are in a dimension were we are part of a Bad A*s Tattoo"
I like them, very detailed. But I am wondering how well they will hold up, especially those with little to no black ink. Red is gone at a different rate than white and greens, so you will have to keep up (wow.. that will be a very painstakingly precise task) or cover in some years. (I have lots of ink - I think the reds/pinks fade in about ten years, so all the detailed crosses will be blurs)
If you want your ink to last, you have to protect it from the sun. I have a full back piece and I NEVER go without sunscreen on the whole thing in the summer. Natural fading happens, but it takes a LONG time.
Load More Replies...
These are interesting, and very well done. However, I think the artist went overboard on the patch-style ones by including so many loose threads on the border, and it's driving my sewing brain crazy. They look realistic enough without adding what amounts to a manufacturer's defect.
YES. Also it makes them appear rather seperate from the skin, while the idea (I guess) was to let them look like stitched onto it.
Load More Replies...
Anyone else get annoyed at artists only showing off fresh ink though? Fresh ink isn't representative of their actual work. It needs a good month or two to really see not just the artistic skill, but the needle control too.
Is this what they call "cruel embroidery"? Oh... it's spelled "crewel"? Never mind, carry on.
I can’t imagine getting a tattoo, of any kind, ever. But, I think these are cute for the people who wear them. Skillful artistry.
I guess everything is through the eye of the beholder, but to me some of these tattoos can easily be mistaken for an allergic reaction towards tattoo ink.
Most of them look like the old fashioned 'patches' one used to buy and adhere to their clothes. I don't want something like that on my skin.
Then don't get any of this style if you don't like it. Problem solved. True or not true?
Load More Replies...
How interesting! Not something I would choose to put permanently on my skin, but these are unique <3
There's a difference between embroidery and needlepoint... but other than that, most are exceptional!
I'm impressed by all the commenters here who wouldn't get one personally, but don't condemn the whole idea. Thank you!
Its called behaving like an adult ;-) And fortunately BP audience has a very high % of them :-)
Load More Replies... Duda Lozano's work here stands head and shoulders above everyone else's. Just amazing work.
I need to know the tattoo artist's name who does the photorealistic pieces (Duff beer cap, measuring tape). That's an incredibly difficult technique to do properly.
I think it is all glued on with the medical adhesive you get in the bandage section at the pharmacy. What hipster would pay for these designs? Like others say, too intricate to be done to such perfection.
Load More Replies... 
What about Ian Berry from Kirklees who was on Bored Panda and got 10 million views
The Disney patches are meh but the rest is actually pretty nice. Better than most tattoo trends I've seen here.
Where does one find a tattoo artist that specializes in embroidery tattoos?
I think they look great! Maybe for my next tat...but i have to wonder how much more time something like this would add to the process? not real sure about some of them actually looking like appliques though--I'd have to do mine w/o the borders
Intruiging! Some great textures here, perfectly handled motives, too.
I’ve been a tattooist for 32 years and as much as I like all formats of the art this is a style that won’t age well no different to colour portrait art. Any tattoo that is not established with black outline and shading will not age well, reds, pinks, orange and yellow break down in the skin and will dissipate quicker than greens, blues and black, fine linework that is established with colour will come together in time as the pigment will migrate through the skin. But in saying all this if you like the style of tattoo go for it, it looks brilliant, all tattoos age as do we. Considering most tattooists charge by time this style would be very times taking due to detail so I say bring it on lol $$$ 😃
Looks pretty but i imagine the process must have been extremely painful for these people
Awesome!!! I have 13 tattoos and would absolutely love something like this!!! I fo embroidery and this would fit right in perfectly
Apparently, Embroidery Tattoos Are A Thing And It Looks Cooler Than It Sounds----- & Now I am getting one!!! lol!
This is new to me, ove never seen a tattoo like that before. They're very pretty.
I worry about infection with foreign body (thread/inks) being in the body. If you have a good immune system it might start attacking it.
I think that on the back of my right wrist I've got one real Tatoo made by Theotatoo and that it has been lasting for years and I love it(it pinches a bit when it starts and eventually you are numbed by a cream at that spot so you do not feel a damn thing) and I repeat I LOVE it.!!!!!!
Have you all ever seen what a tattoo looks like after about 25 years? I have 5, it’s not a pretty sight. lol
My oldest tattoo is about 20 years old and it still looks good, it depends entirely on the artist and their skill level.
Load More Replies...
All of them look incredibly painful. I'd prefer just to buy one of the designs with backing coated sticky adhesive and attach it to my skin that way. :)
how are these being done? fantastic work, but doesn't look anything at all like standard needle work
I like them, very detailed. But I am wondering how well they will hold up, especially those with little to no black ink. Red is gone at a different rate than white and greens, so you will have to keep up (wow.. that will be a very painstakingly precise task) or cover in some years. (I have lots of ink - I think the reds/pinks fade in about ten years, so all the detailed crosses will be blurs)
If you want your ink to last, you have to protect it from the sun. I have a full back piece and I NEVER go without sunscreen on the whole thing in the summer. Natural fading happens, but it takes a LONG time.
Load More Replies... These are interesting, and very well done. However, I think the artist went overboard on the patch-style ones by including so many loose threads on the border, and it's driving my sewing brain crazy. They look realistic enough without adding what amounts to a manufacturer's defect.
YES. Also it makes them appear rather seperate from the skin, while the idea (I guess) was to let them look like stitched onto it.
Load More Replies... Anyone else get annoyed at artists only showing off fresh ink though? Fresh ink isn't representative of their actual work. It needs a good month or two to really see not just the artistic skill, but the needle control too.
Is this what they call "cruel embroidery"? Oh... it's spelled "crewel"? Never mind, carry on.
I can’t imagine getting a tattoo, of any kind, ever. But, I think these are cute for the people who wear them. Skillful artistry.
I guess everything is through the eye of the beholder, but to me some of these tattoos can easily be mistaken for an allergic reaction towards tattoo ink.
Most of them look like the old fashioned 'patches' one used to buy and adhere to their clothes. I don't want something like that on my skin.
Then don't get any of this style if you don't like it. Problem solved. True or not true?
Load More Replies... How interesting! Not something I would choose to put permanently on my skin, but these are unique <3
There's a difference between embroidery and needlepoint... but other than that, most are exceptional!
I'm impressed by all the commenters here who wouldn't get one personally, but don't condemn the whole idea. Thank you!
Its called behaving like an adult ;-) And fortunately BP audience has a very high % of them :-)
Load More Replies... Duda Lozano's work here stands head and shoulders above everyone else's. Just amazing work.
I need to know the tattoo artist's name who does the photorealistic pieces (Duff beer cap, measuring tape). That's an incredibly difficult technique to do properly.
I think it is all glued on with the medical adhesive you get in the bandage section at the pharmacy. What hipster would pay for these designs? Like others say, too intricate to be done to such perfection.
Load More Replies... What about Ian Berry from Kirklees who was on Bored Panda and got 10 million views
The Disney patches are meh but the rest is actually pretty nice. Better than most tattoo trends I've seen here.
Where does one find a tattoo artist that specializes in embroidery tattoos?
I think they look great! Maybe for my next tat...but i have to wonder how much more time something like this would add to the process? not real sure about some of them actually looking like appliques though--I'd have to do mine w/o the borders
Intruiging! Some great textures here, perfectly handled motives, too.
I’ve been a tattooist for 32 years and as much as I like all formats of the art this is a style that won’t age well no different to colour portrait art. Any tattoo that is not established with black outline and shading will not age well, reds, pinks, orange and yellow break down in the skin and will dissipate quicker than greens, blues and black, fine linework that is established with colour will come together in time as the pigment will migrate through the skin. But in saying all this if you like the style of tattoo go for it, it looks brilliant, all tattoos age as do we. Considering most tattooists charge by time this style would be very times taking due to detail so I say bring it on lol $$$ 😃
Looks pretty but i imagine the process must have been extremely painful for these people
Awesome!!! I have 13 tattoos and would absolutely love something like this!!! I fo embroidery and this would fit right in perfectly
Apparently, Embroidery Tattoos Are A Thing And It Looks Cooler Than It Sounds----- & Now I am getting one!!! lol!
This is new to me, ove never seen a tattoo like that before. They're very pretty.
I worry about infection with foreign body (thread/inks) being in the body. If you have a good immune system it might start attacking it.
I think that on the back of my right wrist I've got one real Tatoo made by Theotatoo and that it has been lasting for years and I love it(it pinches a bit when it starts and eventually you are numbed by a cream at that spot so you do not feel a damn thing) and I repeat I LOVE it.!!!!!!
Have you all ever seen what a tattoo looks like after about 25 years? I have 5, it’s not a pretty sight. lol
My oldest tattoo is about 20 years old and it still looks good, it depends entirely on the artist and their skill level.
Load More Replies... All of them look incredibly painful. I'd prefer just to buy one of the designs with backing coated sticky adhesive and attach it to my skin that way. :)
how are these being done? fantastic work, but doesn't look anything at all like standard needle work
