How to Machine Embroider Christmas Stockings

Machine embroidery can make a plain stocking a personalized Christmas heirloom.

Machine embroidery gives Christmas stockings a professionally personalized look. If you have a home embroidery machine, you can get the same look that the professionals create. Embroidered stockings make great gifts or you could even earn extra holiday money by embroidering stockings for others. You need a flat, hoopless frame, and when using this type of frame, you rely on sticky back stabilizer to hold the stocking in place.

Things You'll Need

• Sticky back stabilizer
• Flat, hoopless machine embroidery frame
• Scissors
• Christmas stocking
• Small head straight pins
• Selected embroidery design
• Embroidery machine
• Clear, water-soluble stabilizer
• Selected embroidery thread
• Spray bottle of water

Instructions

Framing the Stocking

1. Cut a piece of sticky stabilizer the size of the flat frame with a pair of scissors. Use the outer edges of the flat frame to determine the size, not the opening in the middle.

2. Peel the backing off the sticky stabilizer and adhere it to the back of the flat frame. Press around the edges of the frame to be sure the stabilizer is secure. The open area of the frame should have sticky stabilizer exposed on the top side.

3. Unfold the stocking cuff.

4. Place the flat frame with sticky stabilizer against the stocking at the fold of the cuff.

5. Fold the cuff onto the sticky stabilizer and press gently into place. The stocking will still hang down.

6. Pin each side of the frame with a small head straight pin for added security. The pin should be long enough to hook the stocking and frame, plus extend outside the frame.

Embroidering the Stocking

1. Apply the flat frame to your machine according to your specific machine's requirements.

2. Select and set the design to be stitched on your embroidery machine.

3. Preview the design using your machine's trace or preview feature. Pay careful attention to make sure the design fits inside the flat frame area without hitting the frame. Depending on your machine setup, you may have to rotate the design so it will not be upside down or sideways. Adjust as necessary.

4. Set the design when editing.

5. Fold a sheet of clear, water-soluble stabilizer in half and place it on top of the stocking area to be stitched. This gives stitches extra stability and keeps the embroidery from getting lost among fluffy cuffs.

6. Press the machine's start button and stitch the design.

7. Remove the frame when the design is complete.

8. Pull the stocking away from the sticky stabilizer gently. While holding fingers across the stitches, carefully pull away the excess water-soluble stabilizer. Remove small pieces of water-soluble stabilizer by spritzing with water from a spray bottle, then allow to dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Use more pins to secure large stockings to the flat frame.

• If embroidering more than one stocking, simply patch the hole in the sticky stabilizer remaining on the frame and continue with the next stocking.

• Pay close attention to the direction of the embroidery design so it does not stitch out upside down.

• Use caution with scissors and when operating an embroidery machine.

References

• Embroidery: Embroidering Finished Christmas Stockings
• Embroidery: Embroidering a Fur-Cuffed Christmas Stocking