Embroidering Knits: Techniques for Beautiful Designs

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 11 July 2023 5 min read

Embarking on the journey of embroidering knits can be an exciting venture, adding a unique and personal touch to your knitwear. With the right tools and techniques, you can transform ordinary knitted items into works of art. Whether you're a seasoned pro or you're picking up a needle for the first time, this guide will walk you through the process, offering tips and techniques to create beautiful designs on your knits.

Select the Right Materials

Before you begin embroidering knits, it is important to choose the right materials. This includes understanding the types of fabric that work best, the types of threads to use, and selecting the right needle for the task. Let's break it down:

Choosing the Right Fabric

The fabric you choose can significantly impact your embroidery process and the end result. When embroidering knits, look for a fabric that is stable and doesn't stretch too much. Some good options include cotton, linen, and wool. These materials are easy to work with and can handle the stress that embroidery can put on fabric.

Understanding Thread Types

Thread choice can also make a huge difference in your embroidering knits project. Embroidery threads come in different types, including cotton, silk, and rayon. Cotton thread is a great choice for beginners due to its durability and ease of use. Silk threads, on the other hand, are perfect for projects that require a luxurious finish. Rayon threads are known for their vibrant colors and sheen, making them a favorite for decorative stitches.

Picking the Perfect Needle

Lastly, the perfect needle can make your embroidering knits project go smoothly. For this task, the tapestry needle is most recommended. It has a large eye—making it easy to thread—and a blunt point that can slide through knit fabrics without splitting the yarn. Remember, the larger the knit fabric's weave, the larger the needle you should use.

Prep Your Fabric

Now that you have your materials, let's get your fabric ready. Prepping your fabric involves washing, ironing, and marking your design on the fabric.

Washing and Ironing

Before you begin embroidering knits, always remember to wash and iron your fabric. Washing eliminates any dirt or oils that might interfere with your embroidery. It also pre-shrinks the fabric, ensuring that your design won't distort after a wash. After washing, iron your fabric to get rid of any wrinkles that might affect the smoothness of your embroidery.

Marking Your Design

After your fabric is clean and smooth, it's time to mark your design. You can use a simple pencil to lightly sketch your design onto the fabric. If you're worried about making mistakes, use a water-soluble marker. This type of marker will disappear when you wash your fabric. Just remember to keep your design simple, especially if you're a beginner!

Master the Basic Stitches

Embroidering knits is an art that requires mastery of basic stitches. With just a handful of stitches, you can create an array of beautiful designs. Let's take a closer look at the running stitch, the back stitch, and the satin stitch, which form the foundation of most embroidery work.

The Running Stitch

The running stitch, the most basic of embroidery stitches, is a great place to start. It's simple: just push your needle up through the fabric, then down again — like you're making a dotted line. Keep the stitches and spaces between them as even as you can for a clean, professional look.

The Back Stitch

Next, let's tackle the back stitch. This stitch is perfect for outlining designs or adding details. Start by making a single stitch. Then, bring your needle up a stitch length ahead and bring it back down into the hole at the end of the previous stitch. It's like you're stitching backwards — hence the name "back stitch".

The Satin Stitch

Finally, we have the satin stitch. This stitch is used to fill in shapes, creating a smooth, satin-like finish. It's a series of flat stitches that cover an area completely, typically used to fill in hearts, leaves, or petals. Just be careful not to pull your thread too tight, or the fabric will pucker. Remember, practice makes perfect when it comes to embroidering knits!

Work with Knit-Specific Techniques

Now that you've mastered the basic stitches, it's time to dive into some techniques specific to embroidering knits. Knitted fabrics can be tricky to work with because they tend to stretch and have loose ends. But don't worry, with a few tips and tricks up your sleeve, you'll be embroidering knits like a pro.

Dealing with Stretch

Knitted fabrics are loved for their stretchiness, but this feature can also pose some challenges in embroidery. To maintain the shape of your design, you can use an embroidery hoop to secure the fabric. But remember, do not pull the fabric too tight in the hoop. The aim is to keep the fabric flat, not stretched. This will help to prevent distortion in the finished design.

Securing Loose Ends

Loose ends can be a common sight when embroidering knits, especially when you're dealing with materials like wool. To keep those pesky loose ends in check, make sure to secure your thread properly at the start and end of your stitching. A simple way to do this is by leaving a tail of thread on the backside of your work and stitching over it as you start. When you're finished, simply weave the end of your thread back through your stitches before cutting it. This way, the loose ends stay tucked away, keeping your work neat and tidy.

Show Off Your Finished Piece

Great job! Now that you've put in all that hard work embroidering your knit, it's time to show it off and take care of it, so it continues to look amazing for years to come.

Washing and Caring for Your Piece

Embroidered knits can be delicate, and you want to make sure your beautiful design stays intact. When washing, opt for hand washing in cool water with mild detergent. Always lay your piece flat to dry instead of hanging it up — remember how knits love to stretch? We don't want that happening to your embroidered design! As for ironing, always iron on the reverse side of your embroidery to prevent any damage to the stitches.

Displaying Your Work

Now for the fun part — showing off your handiwork! There are numerous ways to display your embroidered knits. You can wear them, of course, or use them as decoration. Think embroidered knit pillows on your living room couch or an embroidered throw blanket at the end of your bed. You could even frame your work and hang it on the wall. The important thing is to place it somewhere where it can be admired, because you put a lot of time, effort, and creativity into embroidering your knit, and it deserves to be seen!

If you're looking to enhance your embroidery skills on knitted fabrics, don't miss the workshop 'Creative Ways to Use Traditional Hand Embroidery Techniques' by Irem Yazici. In this workshop, you'll learn innovative and creative ways to apply traditional hand embroidery techniques to create stunning designs on knits. Elevate your embroidery projects and broaden your skillset with this helpful workshop.