I've been teaching embroidery workshops for years. In my beginner's class, we cover several elementary techniques, like running stitch and how to prepare your fabric for embroidery. These classes are focused on embroidery on woven (non-stretchy) fabrics. Inevitably in each class, someone asks how to embroider on a t-shirt. I usually respond with a vague description of the process, which is slightly different than embroidering on woven fabric. I always feel a bit like I am not giving enough information, or that my students are left feeling a little confused.
This blog post is the answer to the countless questions I get about stitching on jersey (aka t-shirt or stretchy) fabrics. While it’s a lot of fun to embroider plain tees, I encourage you to experiment with vintage fabrics and novelty prints. In this tutorial, I embroidered on one of my favorite Jenny Lemons printed garments, our Eyes Boxy Tee!
In this article we will go over:
- how to use stabilizer sheets
- how to stretch your fabric without pulling
- how to tear away the stabilizer
Stabilizer Sheets
Embroider on difficult materials, like t-shirts, sweatshirts, and knits with ease and confidence
Without a stabilizer sheet, embroidering on knit fabrics would be extremely difficult. Knit fabric by nature is flexible. When you stretch it on a hoop the fabric is distorted, resulting in uneven stitching. A stabilizer sheet is a papery material that when layered with a knit fabric prevents it from stretching and provides support.
For more information on stretching fabric, check out our blog postGetting Started with Embroidery.
Your fabric is ready to stitch. You can embroider any design your heart desires without fear that your stitches will become misshapen.
Removing the stabilizer is a bit tricky. If you're not super careful, you can accidentally pull out your stitches, undoing all your hard work. Take a deep breath and be patient. Don't be afraid to use a small scissors to help! You don't have to only tear the stabilizer.
Embroidering plain tees is a super fun way to add some personality to your wardrobe! Try stitching a drawing, your name, or quote on your shirt. On this top, I stitched a favorite phrase "Jeez Louise."
What did you embroider on your tee? Share your questions and your work with us in the comments, on our instagram, or by emailing us at hello@jennylemons.com. We can't wait to see what you stitched!
By Jennie Lennick
Designer, teacher, and lover of crafts! Boss Lady at Jenny Lemons in San Francisco
