How to Machine Embroider a Polo Shirt
Professional and home embroidery machines are amazing tools, but even for people familiar with sewing machines, learning the best methods for machine embroidery can be challenging. Most user manuals that come with embroidery machines teach the mechanical steps, but they cannot address questions of backing material/stabilizer, positioning, how to hoop items like polo shirts. Regardless of machine make or model, the basic steps to machine embroider a polo shirt are the same.
Instructions
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Embroidering a Polo Shirt
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1
Cut your backing material for your hoop size. For this method, self-adhesive tear-away backing/stabilizer is highly recommended. By using self-adhesive stabilizer, you can hoop the stabilizer without having to hoop the polo shirt.
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2
Hoop the stabilizer, and peel away the adhesive paper.
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3
Insert the hoop through the collar and position using the stitching around the buttons as vertical and horizontal guides. When the position is chosen, press the shirt material to the adhesive stabilizer.
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4
Pin the shirt to the stabilizer to further secure the fabric position. You can also choose to cut and pin water-soluble top stabilizer at this time.
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5
Raise the presser foot on the machine and place the hoop into position. You will essentially turn the shirt inside out to position the hoop with no back, sides or sleeves underneath. Allow the excess material to fall over the top of the hoop as you place it. Then you can pull the material through and under the presser foot to keep it out of the way.
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6
Select your embroidery image; lower the presser foot and allow the hoop to center to position on the machine.
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7
Position the pattern electronically on the machine as needed, and press the "Go" button to start stitching.
After Stitching
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8
When the pattern is complete, lift the presser foot; exit the pattern; move the hoop position out and remove the hoop from the machine. If this is not done automatically by the machine, you may need to cut the thread from the needle.
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9
With the hoop removed, trim strings as needed. Remove pins, and if you used it, remove the water-soluble top stabilizer. Use water and a lint-free cloth to remove spots that cannot be pulled.
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10
Remove the hoop from the backing material, and remove the backing material from the shirt.
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11
Turn your shirt right-side out and let it dry.
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Tips & Warnings
For some fabrics and embroidery patterns, water-soluble top stabilizer is effective. Experiment to determine its use for your purposes. If you do not use self-adhesive, tear-away stabilizer, adjust the steps accordingly to iron, pin and/or cut the backing stabilizer according to manufacturer's instructions.
- Photo Credit Photos by Sherry Snider
