How to Embroider a Shriner Fez

The Shriner fez can be embroidered just like any other hat.

Shriners are a branch of the Masonic fraternity that bands together for brotherhood and to help their community. They are often seen marching in parades wearing small red fez hats. Each Shriner wears their own personalized fez during meetings and public gatherings. These fez hats are made out of cloth and can be altered in different ways. Altering your fez with embroidery can let you include your particular Shriner branch's logo or your name on your hat.

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Pencils (regular and colored)
• Embroidery needle
• Embroidery thread
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Draw your design on a piece of paper using both your regular pencils and colored pencils. Create it as intricately as possible to reflect your Shriners' logo. Also design the letters of the individual Shriner's name. Take into account the shape of the fez, which is similar to a pillbox hat. Make sure your design conforms to this shape.

2. Place your embroidery thread into your embroidery needle's eye and tie it to the needle. Choose the color that will define the outline of your embroidered images.

3. Poke your needle into the fez cap at the point where you want to start embroidering. Push the needle down, forward a 1/16th of an inch and then back up to create your basic embroidered stitch.

4. Repeat your embroidered stitch and create the basic outline of your image on the fez. Consult your design image regularly to make sure you are following the design accurately.

5. Back stitch to end your outline stitch and cut off your thread. Add new colored threads for the colors that will make up the interior of your design.

6. Fill in your design using the same embroidering method that you used when you created your outline. Make sure you adapt your image to the curve of the fez. Failure to do so will distort your image, making it appear smaller or larger.

7. Tie off finished embroidered lines by back stitching. Add new colors to the design by adding new colored threads. Continue to add thread until your design is finished.

References

• Needlework Tips and Techniques: How to Embroider
• Ben Ali Shriners: Want to Be a Shriner?
• Kosair Shriners: Who are the Shriners?