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How to Embroider Letters Onto Shorts

Monogramming is a fashionable way to personalize clothing. While sweaters and shirts are the most commonly monogrammed articles of clothing, you can customize any pair of shorts by embroidering your initials on one leg. Embroider a simple set of block initials on the hem of one leg of your favorite chino shorts for a preppy look, or add embroidered initials to camp clothing or school uniforms to help your child keep track of his clothes.

Things You'll Need

Shorts
Transfer paper and ballpoint pen or fabric pen
Printed monogram or initials
Embroidery hoop
Embroidery floss
Embroidery needle
Scissors

Instructions

- 1
  Choose the initial or monogram style and size you would like to embroider. You can use a word processing program to print out a monogram in a specific font or draw the initials yourself.
- 2
  Trace the initials onto the desired location on the shorts. Layer a piece of transfer paper between the fabric and printed initials and trace the initials with a ballpoint pen to transfer the design to the fabric or use a fabric pen to draw the initials directly on the shorts.
- 3
  Place the part of the fabric with the traced initials in an embroidery hoop and secure the fabric in the hoop. Make sure the fabric inside the hoop is stretched taut.
- 4
  Stitch over the transferred initials with embroidery floss, using a series of side by side straight or diagonal stitches to completely cover the transfer or fabric pen. Do not knot the end of the embroidery floss; instead, stitch over the loose end of floss to secure.
- 5
  Continue stitching until the initials are embroidered. Backstitch to secure the last end of embroidery floss or secure it by threading it through several stitches on the inside of the shorts.
- 6
  Trim any loose ends.

Sewing