DIY Pocket Embroidery Shirt

Hey, guys, it’s Katie here! Have you ever had a piece of clothing you find yourself neglecting because it just feels boring? Well, how about customizing it with a little embroidery? Customizing clothing can be a fun way to bring new life to a basic piece. I chose songs lyrics to a song I love to put a little extra pep in my step!

Supplies:
-needle and embroidery floss
-scissors
-basic shirt to stitch on (stiffer fabrics are a little easier)

Step One: Gather your supplies and draw your quote on your shirt. I didn’t use an embroidery hoop for my shirt because I was sewing onto the pocket, but if your shirt doesn’t have a pocket, I fully recommend using one.

Step Two: It’s time to embroider. There are many types of stitches you can use for embroidery, but I chose a very basic backstitch for my design. As you can see above, every time your needle exits the fabric you will take the tip of the needle back into the end of the last stitch. Your needle will come out where you want your next stitch to end.

A few tips that helped me:

• Thicker embroidery floss can be a little easier, but choose a phrase with fewer words, as it will take up more space.
• Iron your design once you are finished. It helps the letters lie flat.
• Just like any embroidered piece, don’t pull your thread too tight. An embroidery hoop can really help with this.
• If you aren’t confident in your own handwriting, create a stencil on your computer or buy letter stencils at your local craft store.

Sure, clothing embroidery is nothing new to the crafting world, but I think it’s a tried and true way to give clothes a little extra personality… and I’m all about that! Happy stitching! xo. Katie 

Credits // Author and photography: Katie Shelton. Photos edited with Valentine from the Signature Collection and Petal from the Fresh Collection.