How to Embroider a Tank Top

Add a little bit of flair to a plain tank top with embroidered decals.

Embellish a plain tank top with a simple and elegant monogram or decorate an entire section of the shirt with an intricate embroidered decal or image. If you have fallen in love with a particular tattoo design, try it out first by embroidering the design onto the shirt. Wear it for a few days and see if you love it just as much. You can also embroider homemade or store-bought tank tops to give as customized gifts to the special people in your life.

Things You'll Need

• Tank top
• Tracing paper
• Tracing pencil
• Sewing pins (optional)
• Temporary adhesive spray
• Tear-away stabilizer
• Embroidery floss
• Embroidery needle (or medium-size sewing needle)

Instructions

1. Create a template of the image, letters or design you would like to embroider onto the tank top. You can trace the image onto a piece of tracing paper with a tracing pencil or print the design onto the paper from the computer.

2. Lay out the tank top with the good side facing outward and pin the template onto it. If the tank top is made from a delicate or unforgiving fabric, such as satin, spray the back of the template with a temporary adhesive spray and place it on the top.

3. Spray a piece of tear-away stabilizer with the temporary adhesive spray and slide it into the shirt so that the stabilizer sits underneath the fabric that will be embroidered. Smooth the stabilizer against the fabric.

4. Slide the bottom of the embroidery hoop into the shirt and place the top of the hoop on top of the template. Close the hoop and tighten gently. Be sure not to tug on the tank top fabric when closing the hoop.

5. Prepare the embroidery floss by separating the strands and inserting one or two through the eye of the embroidery needle. Tie a double knot in the ends of the floss.

6. Make the first stitch by inserting the needle from underneath the fabric and through one edge of the stenciled or printed template. Use small stitches as you follow along the template to create the image on the tank top. End the embroidery on the underside of the tank top and knot the floss.

7. Remove the hoop and cut away the stabilizer and template from around the embroidered image. Pull the remaining pieces of the stabilizer and template from the tank top. Be sure to tug gently to avoid disturbing the embroidery stitches.

References

• Singer: Tank Top Tattoo Embroidery
• Living With Lindsay: Teach Me Tuesday: Hand Embroidery How-To

Resources

• Craftown: Embroidery