Always use an unstructured cap for your embroidery projects. Structured hats are really hard to stitch over and work with. Pull along the edges of the hooped fabric to make sure it’s nice and taut. You don’t have to use an embroidery hoop, but it makes the process a lot easier. Embroidery hoops keep the fabric tight and allow your stitches to look more consistent and uniform. [2] X Research source
A white pencil crayon can come in handy if you’re working with a dark-colored hat. Just be sure to cover up your entire outline with embroidery stitches, as pencil crayon is pretty hard to wash out of fabric. You can also sketch your design on a small section of water-soluble stabilizer, which you can stick to the hooped surface of your hat. For extra security, use a basting stitch along the perimeter of the stabilizer to hold it in place. [4] X Research source Stick with a simple design when you’re first starting out, like a flower, heart, leaf, or another simple motif. For a more personalized project, embroider letters to spell out a name, initials, or a meaningful phrase.
Some people prefer to start along the outside of their projects and work their way inward. This is especially helpful with floral designs.
Securing your thread under your old stitches gives the underside of your embroidery project a cleaner, more organized look.
You may notice a ring indentation around the hat from where the embroidery hoop was. No worries—this will disappear over time.
Once the hat dries off, it’s good to wear or send off to your recipient.
You can also use a non-adhesive tear-away stabilizer for your project—you’ll just need to manually apply the adhesive later on.
If you’re using a non-adhesive stabilizer, apply 4 strips of painter’s tape along each edge of the embroidery hoop. Then, spritz over the flat surface of the stabilizer with quilt basting spray. [12] X Research source
You can also layer a rectangular gridded template over the stabilizer and use that as a guide. [14] X Research source
This gives you a flatter surface to embroider.
Place the pins on or below the line you marked above the brim.
You can also reference embroidery machine setup tutorials on YouTube if you’re having trouble navigating the manual.
Some machines let you upload custom designs to your machine for even more personalized options. [20] X Research source Snip off any leftover thread trails once the machine finishes stitching. [21] X Research source
Your hat is ready to wear or mail off at this point!
