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Adding embroidery to clothing is a wonderful way to add personality to your wardrobe - and it's easy to do! You only need a few supplies and a little imagination to create a unique item of clothing that is washable and comfortable to wear. This Back to Basics tutorial will highlight our favorite tools and techniques to ensure successful wearable embroidery every time.
Skill Level: Beginner
Supplies:
Sticky Fabri-Solvy - Printable, water soluble stabilizer that comes in 8 1/2 x 11" sheets. It has a peel away backing that exposes a sticky side for applying to fabric.
Tender Touch or "Cover-a-Stitch" - Soft and permanent iron-on mesh. Used to cover stitching on inside of the garment to make it more durable and comfortable to wear.
Thread - Sewing thread, embroidery floss and wool thread can all be used with great success.
Embroidery Needle - An all purpose embroidery needle #3-9 glides easily through the fabric and stabilizer.
Directions:
1. Pre-wash item of clothing to be embroidered. You do not want the fabric to shrink after embroidery has been applied.
2. Print embroidery design onto Sticky Fabri-Solvy and apply to clothing. If you are unfamiliar with Sticky Fabri-Solvy, visit this tutorial for more detailed instructions.
3. Embroider design onto clothing. If needle or thread gets tacky from being pulled through the stick-on stabilizer, run it through a thread conditioner to remove stickiness.
Red thread or floss may bleed when washed. Test for color fastness if unsure.
4. Once design is stitched, remove Sticky Fabri-Solvy by soaking in water for 15 minutes. After soaking, use a stream of water and your fingers to gently rub away any remaining bits of stabilizer. Dry clothing.
5. Turn clothing inside out. Place a piece of Tender Touch over the stitching, rough side down. There is a rough and smooth side of Tender Touch which can be distinguished by touch.
6. Cut Tender Touch to 1/2" larger than the design. A disappearing ink pen can be helpful to mark out the area.
7. Place cut Tender Touch rough side down over the inside stitching and adhere with a dry iron on the Wool setting (250-270 degrees.) Press for 10-15 seconds.
Wardrobe upgrade complete! We love using the embroidery and transfer skills we've shared to create something new and original you can wear and enjoy. I think we have our next craft night figured out...
Congratulations on learning a new skill! Be sure to check out the other tutorials in our Back to Basics series.
