Choosing Fabric for Embroidery
Which fabrics are easy to embroider, which to avoid at first, and how to prepare fabric before stitching.
Start with plain woven cotton or linen
The easiest fabric is a medium-weight plain weave that does not stretch: quilting cotton, cotton-linen blend, calico (unbleached muslin) or linen. The weave should be tight enough that stitches do not slip between threads and loose enough that the needle passes without force.
Pick a light, solid colour so drawn lines show. Hold it up to the light. If you can clearly see your hand through it, knots and carried threads on the back will show through on the front. Use a second layer of cotton behind thin fabric.
Leave these until later
- Stretch knits such as T-shirt jersey. They need stabilizer or the stitches pucker.
- Very loose weaves. Stitches sink and shift.
- Slippery fabrics such as satin, and very thick fabrics such as heavy canvas.
- Fabric with pile, such as velvet or towelling.
Prepare the fabric
- Wash, dry and press cotton or linen first if the finished piece will be washed. Both can shrink.
- Cut the fabric at least 2 in (5 cm) bigger than the hoop on every side.
- If the edges fray badly, run a zigzag stitch or a line of masking tape along them.