Using Felt for Machine Embroidery

Hatch Blog | How to
April 4th, 2024 4 minute read

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Everything you need to know when embroidering on felt

Felt is a fantastic versatile material with many uses. It is a very popular material among machine embroiderers because it is really easy to work with. It does not fray when cut and it does not pucker. Felt provides a sturdy base, yet is flexible enough to be used in a variety of different projects including clothing, accessories, decorative and home wares.

Felt is also great to work with if you are just starting out, or even if you are a seasoned embroiderer, because working with felt is just so hassle-free and enjoyable! So if you want to start working with this fabric, read on to learn about the things you should keep in mind.

About Felt

Felt differs from most other materials because it does not consist of any threads that are woven, sewn or knit together. Instead felt has a similar consistency to steel wool. It is made up of many tiny fibers that are tightly packed together. Felt can be constructed out of either wool, polyester or acrylic. Wool felt is the most popular because it does not have a tendency to unravel, is much sturdier, less prone to pillage and will hold its shape. Wool felt is considered a little more luxurious and is pricier. Many embroiderers choose to combine different types of felt, for example, wool for accents and acrylic for the main body. This is a great way to maintain a reasonable budget while also getting to test out different types of material!

Stabilizers for Felt

Because felt is a fairly stiff material, you might feel that there is no need for stabilizers. For best results we do recommend using a middle-weight tear-away stabilizer for a regular embroidery design as felt is strong enough to withstand the tearing motions. For larger designs with a lot of stitches or lighter weight felt, a middle-weight cut-away will work well. Sprinkle the the stabilizer with a temporary spray adhesive and smooth the felt over it.

If the felt you are using is a denser, plusher material, you may need to use a stabilizer over it (topping) to prevent stitches from sinking in. Water-soluble stabilizer is a good option as this will leave little to no trace of residue on your design.

Embroidery Needles for Felt

It is generally recommended that you use a sharp needle when embroidering on felt. A fairly common size would be about an 11. This will give you a neater, clearer stitch. The durability of the felt will also compliment the sharpness of the needle, meaning that the needle will not cause excessive distress to the fabric as would happen with fabrics like cotton.

Read our earlier article on machine embroidery needles here.

Felt Project Ideas

There are so many things you can create with felt and machine embroidery. We listed a few here to start you off and give you some inspiration.

Personalized Gift Tags

Why not personalize your gifts and make them really special. Here is an in-the-hoop project we prepared earlier. 🙂 Click to visit the post and download the free project.

Christmas Ornaments

Why buy ornaments when you can make you own? Here is an in-the-hoop project we created last Christmas. Click to visit the post and download the free project.

Halloween Ornaments

Hang these figurines up around the house to get everyone in the festive spirit. Click to visit the post and download the free project.

Finger Puppets

These adorable finger puppets by Embroidery Online will provide hours of entertainment for the kids.

We appreciate your feedback. Please let us know how useful you found this article in a comment below.

Happy Embroidering!

Bernadett and the Hatch Team

Hatch Embroidery software products are in popular use in over 100 countries. It is time to join the global trend and give Hatch a try! The 30-day Free Trial grants you unlimited use of all the amazing features and the 30-day Money Back Guarantee ensures that there is absolutely no risk involved.

The definite choice when selecting embroidery software

Hatch Embroidery software is a comprehensive embroidery design solution that offers a range of tools and features for both beginners and seasoned embroiderers.

Here’s why it's a great choice:

User-Friendly Interface: The software is designed with a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for anyone to start creating beautiful embroidery designs, regardless of their experience level.
Powerful Editing Tools: It provides powerful editing tools that allow users to resize, edit, and adjust embroidery designs with precision. This is essential for businesses that need to customize designs according to specific customer requirements.
Wide Range of Formats Supported: Hatch Embroidery supports a wide range of machine file formats, making it versatile for use with different embroidery machines. This flexibility is crucial for businesses operating with multiple machine types.
Professional Quality: The software generates professional-quality stitches, ensuring that the end products are of high quality, which is vital for maintaining customer satisfaction and business reputation.
Extensive Design Features: With features like auto-digitizing, lettering, monogramming, and even special effects, businesses can offer a wide range of embroidery services, increasing their market appeal and potential revenue streams.
Regular Updates and Support: Hatch provides regular software updates and robust customer support, ensuring that businesses can always access the latest features and get help when needed.

Overall, Hatch Embroidery software equips you with the tools necessary to create stunning, high-quality embroidery designs efficiently and effectively, enhancing productivity and customer satisfaction.

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