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How to Embroider a Name on Fabric

Embroidering a name by hand gives a custom look to gifts, such as shirts, blankets and towels. Before making that first stitch, draw the name on paper to help you size the letters and the spaces between the letters. Experiment with block letters, cursive writing or tiny symbols worked into the fonts. Try embroidering with the satin stitch, a variation of the straight stitch, to display the name with a subtle sheen.

Things You'll Need

Tailor̵7;s chalk
Embroidery hoops
Embroidery needle
Embroidery floss
Embroidery cutters

Instructions

Marking the Fabric
- 1
  Use a pencil to print the name on a sheet of paper. Create the letters to fit the desired space, if necessary. For example, to embroider a name on a pocket, print the letters to fit within the pocket̵7;s width.
- 2
  Place the fabric on a flat surface.
- 3
  Draw the letters on the fabric with a washable pencil or tailor̵7;s chalk.
Satin Stitch
- 4
  
  Embroidery hoops help keep the fabric surface smooth and taut.
  
  Insert the fabric between the two rings of an embroidery loop. Fit the larger hoop over the smaller hoop.
- 5
  Cut approximately 12 to 15 inches of embroidery floss with embroidery cutters or scissors.
- 6
  Thread the embroidery needle with embroidery floss. Moisten one end to keep the strands together so they can pass through the eye of the needle.
- 7
  Bring the needle up through the underside of the fabric. The first stitch starts slightly outside the edge of the letter. Leave a 2-inch tail on the underside.
- 8
  Insert the needle down into the fabric across the letter̵7;s shape to form one straight stitch.
- 9
  Bring the needle up next to the start of the first stitch.
- 10
  Insert the needle down through the fabric so the two stitches are parallel and worked close together.
- 11
  Continue these straight stitches to cover the marked lines of each letter. The stitches may be long or short, depending on the shape of the letter. If one long stitch looks misshapen, try stitching two shorter stitches. For example, the top of the letter ̶0;T̶1; may require shorter stitches to create one longer stitch. The stitches will show a satin sheen.
- 12
  Finish the stitching by bringing the needle to the fabric's underside. Turn over the embroidery hoop to show the fabric's underside. Pass the needle and thread under the last stitch on the underside. Repeat passing the needle and thread under each of the next two stitches. Cut the embroidery floss close to the fabric with the embroidery cutters. Do not cut the stitches. This secured tail does not need a knot.
- 13
  Remove the embroidery hoops.

Sewing