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Machine-Embroider a Tee with a Slogan: HTML Style!

June 28th, 2008 in restyle, embroidery

Jennifer Stern, contributor

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The front view.

Photo: Jen Stern

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One of my favorite parts of blogging for CraftStylish is that I'm constantly learning new stuff...some of which has nothing to do with embroidery. Last week, I learned a little "bit" about HTML code so I could post my projects in that format...and I LOVE it. Michaela thought it would be fun for me to come up with an HTML embroidery project, and I jumped all over it.

All those little symbols, punctuation, and words—very exciting! The first two "bits" of code that I learned are the ones that mean "make that caption green" and "stop with the green." I realized that I could use these little bits of code and have some fun recycling one of of my old tees. I designed my first HTML tee—Go Green! As I learn more, I'm sure I'll come up with more clever ways to express myself by embroidering HTML code...any ideas anyone?

So, if you're into programming, or just fiddle around with it (like me), you can embroider your own Go Green! tee. Here's how you do it.

What you'll need:

One of your favorite, gently worn tees
Customizing or lettering embroidery software program
Embroidery thread of your choice
Fusible stabilizer
Wash-away stabilizer
Temporary adhesive spray
Sharp thread snips
Embroidery machine and hoop

To create your HTML embroidery design, open your customizing/lettering software and choose a block font. I made it 9mm high. Then type in "Go Green!" (This means make the caption "Go Green!" a green-colored font.) Save the design and send it to your embroidery machine so you can stitch it out on the back of your tee. I then chose a fun decorative font and created a "Go Green!" embroidery design to stitch on the front of my tee.

My HTML embroidery design.

It's easier to get your design where you want it if you draw long lines when you are making your placement guide. It's hard to tell if you are hooping your tee straight if you draw a small "plus sign" for your placement guide!

To prepare your tee for embroidery, draw placement lines with a wash-away marker.

It's important to use a fusible stabilizer on the back to prevent the tee from stretching while you are embroidering...especially when you are doing small letters. Fuse a piece of stabilizer onto the back of your tee, making sure to use a large enough piece to support the area that will be embroidered.

Keeping the knit fabric stable will help prevent the letters from distorting as they are embroidered.

To get the embroidery design positioned where you want it, you have to be in agreement with your embroidery machine. Look closely at this hoop. (It's my stunt double for photography; my actual hoop is too gunked up to show up close!) Notice the raised markings in the center of each edge of the hoop. I have drawn cross hair lines connecting these markings to make it easier to see. The center point of the drawn lines is the center of the hoop. This is where your embroidery machine thinks the center of the design is going to be. You have to get the fabric in the hoop so that the center of your markings on the fabric match that point.

Hoop a layer or two of wash-away stabilizer—I like Aqua Mesh from OESD.

Spray the hoop with 505 Spray, and match the placement lines on your tee with the markings along the edges of the hoop. Gently press the fabric to the stabilizer. Notice how the tee is gathered up around the hoop so it won't get caught while embroidering.

Attach the hoop to your machine, making sure that the fabric is pulled around the hoop where you can see that it won't get embroidered to the back of the hoop (as shown in the picture above). Place a piece of clear wash-away stabilizer over the top of the hooped tee—I like Soulvy from Sulky. If you have a "baste in the hoop" feature on your machine, this is an excellent time to use it. In addition to keeping the stabilizer from shifting or getting caught, basting the stabilizer to the tee helps to keep the knit from stretching as you embroider. You can also use the basting lines to check whether the embroidery is positioned where you had intended to put it. (It's easy to take the basting stitches out and reposition your tee if you have to.)

See how the basting is centered over the placement lines. Now I'm sure that my "Go Green!" embroidery will stitch out where I want it!

After you are finished embroidering, take the hoop off the machine. Take out the basting stitches first—they come out easier if you work from the back. Then gently tear the wash-away stabilizer from the embroidery on the right side of your tee. Cut away the wash-away and fusible stabilizers from the back of the tee.

As a rule, you can gently tear clear wash-away stabilizer to remove it. All other types of wash-away, especially those that look like paper, need to be trimmed away.

The front view before it was washed to remove the placement lines.

The back view before the wash.

I had a great time designing this tee shirt—going green is something I'm mindful about every day, whether it's when I'm combining all my little errands into one trip or carefully recycling every bottle, can, and newspaper that I use. I hope you enjoy it!

If you're a techie who doesn't embroider and you want one of these tees, I will have them available on my website www.jsterndesigns.com soon.

As I continue to learn more about HTML code, maybe another "little bit" will inspire a new creation. Keep posted!

posted in: restyle, embroidery, html, geek craft

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Comments (5)

girlyo writes: I am starting an embroidery business in Florida. How do I find out where to get wholesale stylish tee shirts from? And does any one know a website I can get an machine embroidery design of (Angel Wings 6")I see a site but I cannot remember the name. The wings were like the ones you now see on the backs of tee shirts that are in the upscale shops.
Posted: 7:06 am on August 7th

vicky_north writes: My t-shirt has arrived and it is definitely even cooler in person than in the photos. Thanks Jen!
Posted: 11:32 pm on July 15th

JenniferStern writes: Thank you for the idea and the comments...don't worry, the ringer tees have arrived! I'll keep you posted.
Posted: 10:34 am on June 29th

vicky_north writes: You had better not be trying to steal my shirt Michaela. I will fight you for it if necessary. I am the geek around here thank you very much.

Awesome job Jen!
Posted: 5:56 pm on June 28th

MichaelaMurphy writes: This simply knocks my socks off Jen. I talked to you on Friday and twenty four hours later--this genius green tee! Expect a lot of orders from my geek friends in Seattle.
Posted: 10:29 am on June 28th

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