Embroidery Tips

Get the Best Embroidery Results

For clean, accurate, and professional embroidery, follow our recommended guidelines when using ready-made designs or custom digitizing services. Proper fabric, stabiliser, needle, thread, and machine settings can make a major difference in the final result.
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01

Keep the Fabric Secure

Make sure the fabric is firmly hooped and properly tensioned so it does not shift or loosen while the machine is stitching.

Use a Sharp Embroidery Needle

Always use a sharp embroidery needle with a larger eye. The sharp tip passes easily through tightly woven fabrics and felt, while the larger eye allows embroidery thread to move smoothly and reduces thread breakage.

Fabric Type	Recommended Needle	Recommended Thread	Recommended Stabilizer
Cotton (light/medium)	75/11 or 80/12 Embroidery Needle	Rayon or Polyester (40 wt)	Use a tear-away stabilizer; it works well with most designs.
Linen	80/12 Embroidery or Universal	Rayon, Cotton, or Polyester	Use medium-weight stabilizer; adjust tension as needed.
Silk	70/10 Microtex or Embroidery	Fine Rayon or Polyester (60 wt)	Use a cut-away stabilizer; test design to prevent puckering.
Denim / Heavy Cotton	90/14 or 100/16 Embroidery	Polyester or Heavy Cotton Thread	Use a strong stabilizer (cut-away); reduce speed slightly.
Knits / Stretch Fabric	Ballpoint 75/11 or Stretch Needle	Polyester or Rayon (40 wt)	Use a cut-away stabilizer to prevent distortion.
Fleece / Terry Cloth	90/14 Embroidery Needle	Polyester (40 wt) with topper	Use a water-soluble topper to prevent sinking stitches.
Organza / Sheer Fabrics	65/9 or 70/10 Microtex	Fine Polyester or Rayon (60 wt)	Use a light cut-away or wash-away stabilizer.
Leather / Vinyl	90/14 Leather Needle	Polyester or Nylon Thread	Use tear-away stabilizer; slower speed to prevent tears.
Velvet / Pile Fabrics	80/12 or 90/14 Embroidery	Polyester with topper	Use a water-soluble topper to lift the design above the pile.
Jersey / T-Shirts	Ballpoint 75/11 Needle	Polyester or Rayon (40 wt)	Always use a cut-away stabilizer; avoid dense designs.

Check the Bobbin and Thread Tension

Proper bobbin tension is essential for clean, consistent embroidery. If the tension is too tight, the bobbin thread may appear on the front of the fabric and cause frequent thread breaks.

For best results, keep the bobbin tension between 18–22 grams for standard fabrics and up to 25 grams for caps.

Use Full-Hoop Backing

Backing, also known as stabiliser, provides essential support during embroidery and helps prevent the fabric from shifting, stretching, or puckering. For the best results, make sure the backing fully covers the entire hooped area behind the fabric.
05

Choose the Correct Backing for the Fabric

Backing, also known as stabiliser, is placed behind the fabric to support the stitches and prevent puckering, stretching, or shifting during embroidery. Most machine embroidery projects require backing for a clean and professional finish.Choose the backing according to the fabric and design:

Cut-away backing: Best for stretchy, knitted, soft, or frequently washed garments such as polo shirts, T-shirts, and sweatshirts.
Tear-away backing: Suitable for stable, woven fabrics and designs with light to medium stitch density.

Also consider the fabric’s stability, stitch density, and washability. Stretchy or loose fabrics and dense designs usually require stronger backing, while firm fabrics may only need light or medium support. Backing is generally available in different weights:

Lightweight: 1–1.5 oz
Medium weight: 2–2.75 oz
Heavyweight: 3–3.5 oz

For the best results, always select a backing that provides enough support without making the finished embroidery too stiff.

Choose the Right Hoop Size

Always select a hoop that closely matches your design size and placement. For example, a design under 3.9 inches should be stitched in a 4 × 4 hoop rather than a larger hoop. Using an oversized hoop may leave the fabric too loose, which can cause shifting, puckering, and poor stitch quality.

Use Double Backing for Cotton Fabric

For cotton fabrics, use two layers of backing to provide extra stability and help prevent shifting or puckering during embroidery.

Use Water-Soluble Topping on Caps

Place a layer of water-soluble topping over the cap before embroidering. It helps keep the stitches clean, smooth, and clearly visible on the surface.

Use Topping on Fluffy Fabrics

For fluffy or textured fabrics, such as towels or fleece, use water-soluble topping over the fabric. This prevents stitches from sinking into the material and creates a cleaner finish.

Use Topping for Small Lettering

When embroidering small text or fine details, place water-soluble topping over the fabric. It helps improve stitch definition and keeps the lettering sharp and readable.

Tips to Achieve the Quality of Small Letters

For optimal quality when working with small letters, use a 65/9 needle paired with 60wt thread. Adjusting the machine to a slower speed can also improve the results.

Fabric	Needle	Backing	Stitch Count / Design Type	Notes
Aida Cloth	75/11 sharp point	2.5 oz. cutaway	Any stitch count; both solid and open designs work well.	Pre-laundering is recommended on cotton fabrics to avoid puckering caused by shrinking.
Denim	75/11 sharp point	2.5 oz. cutaway	Medium to high-stitch-count designs. Both open and solid, stitch-filled designs appear well.	Tearaway stabilizer may be used to avoid backing showing through. Choose simple designs with low to medium stitch counts if using tearaway.
Felt	75/11 sharp point	2.5 oz. cutaway	Any stitch count; solid designs appear best.	Felt is a good choice for embroidering patches, as the edges don’t fray.
Flannel	75/11 sharp point	2.5 oz. cutaway	Any stitch count; both solid and open designs work well.	Pre-laundering is recommended on cotton fabrics to avoid puckering caused by shrinking.
Fleece	75/11 sharp point	2.5 oz. cutaway or tearaway	Any design will work well with cutaway; light, open designs work best if using a water-soluble stabilizer.	Heavyweight, water soluble stabilizer may be used in place of regular backing if you don’t want backing to show through on blankets.
Leather	75/11 or 80/12 ball point on stiff or spongy leather; 70/10 or 80/12 sharp point on soft leather	1.5 oz. tearaway or cutaway	Low-stitch-count designs; open designs work best.	Consider slowing down the speed of the machine.
Linen	75/11 sharp point	2.5 oz. cutaway	Low to medium-stitch-count designs.	Open, light designs work best on linen shirts.
Mesh	75/11 sharp point	3.5 oz. water-soluble stabilizer	Low to medium stitch count designs; solid designs appear best.	Consider using the same color bobbin thread as the top thread since the mesh is transparent.
Canvas	75/11 sharp point	2.5 oz. Cutaway or tear-away	Any stitch count; both solid and open designs work well.	Choose simple designs with low to medium stitch counts if using tearaway.
Chiffon	75/11 sharp point	Heavyweight, water-soluble stabilizer	Light, open designs with lower stitch counts. High-stitch-count designs will cause puckering.	Heavy stitches, such as satin stitches, will work well as long as the design is open. Too much fill will cause stiffness.
Chenille	75/11 sharp point	2.5 oz. cutaway or tearaway stabilizer	Medium to high stitch-count designs. Solid, stitch-filled designs appear best.	Avoid light stitches such as running stitches that may get lost in textured fabric.
100% Cotton	75/11 sharp point	1.5 to 2.5 oz. cutaway	Low to medium stitch-count designs, depending on thickness. Light, open for t-shirts; heavier, solid for sweats.	Pre-laundering is highly recommended to avoid puckering caused by shrinking.
100% Polyester	75/11 sharp point	2.5 oz. poly mesh no-show cutaway backing	Low to medium-stitch-count designs; open designs with simple stitches are best for clothing.	Avoid high-density stitch-filled designs that will compromise performance qualities of the garment.
Velvet	75/11 sharp point	2.5 oz. cutaway	Any stitch count; stitch-filled designs appear best.	Avoid open designs and light stitches such as running stitches that may get lost in textured fabric.
Wool	75/11 sharp point	2.5 oz. cutaway	Any stitch count; stitch-filled designs appear best.	Avoid open designs and light stitches such as running stitches that may get lost in textured fabric.
Toilet Paper	75/11 sharp point	2.5 oz. cutaway backing	Low to medium-stitch-count designs; both stitch-filled and open designs work well.	Slow down the speed of the machine. Fold toilet paper three times for best results.
Terrycloth	75/11 sharp point	2.5 oz. cutaway or tearaway	Any stitch count; choose stitch-filled designs.	Avoid open designs and light stitches such as running stitches that may get lost in textured fabric.