How to Embroider Stocking Caps
Applying machine embroidery to sweater knit fabrics such as stocking caps can be a challenge. But with practice and a good cut-away stabilizer you can decorate and personalize stocking caps for children, teens or adults. This technique works best on solid-color caps or subtle patterns that won't overwhelm the embroidery design.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Stocking cap
- Embroidery machine
- Machine embroidery hoop
- Lightweight cut-away stabilizer
- Heavyweight cut-away stabilizer
- Thread
- Scissors
Instructions
-
-
1
Cut a piece of heavyweight cut-away stabilizer large enough to mount into your machine embroidery hoop. Lay the stabilizer over the bottom hoop and lightly stretch the knit cap over the stabilizer, then mount the top hoop and tighten to secure both layers. Adjust as needed to be sure the fabric isn't skewed.The fabric of the cap should be stretched out about as far as it will be when the hat is worn.
-
2
Lay the lightweight cut-away stabilizer over the section of the hoop where the embroidery design will be. Hand or machine baste the lightweight stabilizer in place so it won't shift and pucker during the embroidery process.
-
-
3
Embroider your design onto the knit fabric sandwiched between the two layers of stabilizer. Once the embroidery is complete, carefully cut away the stabilizer from first the front, then the back of the cap fabric without removing from the hoop. If you wish, you can outline the embroidery with a tight zig-zag stitch to cover any of the stabilizer still visible.
-
4
Remove the hoop and stretch the fabric a few times, then trim any last edges of stabilizer still visible.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Turn embroidered caps inside-out before machine-washing to preserve the embroidered design. Line dry to prevent puckering.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty Images
