How to Embroider on Vinyl

eHow may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.

Things You'll Need

  • Vinyl fabric

  • Medium weight cut-away stabilizer

  • Temporary spray adhesive

  • Embroidery hoop

  • Sewing embroidery machine

  • 7/11 needle

  • Scissors

Embroidery can be added to faux leather vinyl to create design details.

Vinyl fabric is usually made of PVC -- like plumbing pipes -- that is adhered to a knit fabric. This makes vinyl flexible and slightly stretchy. There are many types of vinyl fabrics; some are shiny, some are molded to look like leather and some are thin. The thicker vinyls are better for embroidery and it is a good idea to select a design that has a lot of open space to retain the fabric's stability. Adding embroidery to the vinyl takes a few minutes to prepare and then it is just a matter of stitching the design.

Advertisement

Step 1

Determine the area where you want to embroider. Turn the vinyl face side down and spray the back with temporary spray adhesive. Press medium weight cut-away stabilizer fabric large enough to cover the area of the embroidery plus 2 to 4 inches on each side. Allow the adhesive 15 minutes to dry.

Video of the Day

Step 2

Place the vinyl and stabilizer inside an embroidery hoop. Tighten the hoop so that the fabric is taut.

Step 3

Position the hoop in the sewing/embroidery machine in the position and orientation you want for the design.

Advertisement

Step 4

Install a 7/11 size sewing needle to reduce the size of perforations. Thread the machine and embroider the vinyl.

Step 5

Remove the vinyl. Remove the hoop. Turn the fabric upside down and pull up the edges of the stabilizer. Trim the stabilizer close to the design.

Tip

You can hand embroider using a smaller sharp needle. Follow the same process with the stabilizer.

Advertisement

Video of the Day

references