Our Guide for DIY Embroidery on Clothing – Add Unique Designs by Hand

Embroidered clothing has become a huge trend, and there’s no need to rely on store-bought pieces when you can create your designs right at home. Whether personalizing your favorite jeans, a t-shirt, or a jacket, embroidery adds a creative and unique touch to your wardrobe. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the process of creating your own embroidered designs on clothing. It’s surprisingly simple, even for beginners. Follow these steps and tips, and you’ll be able to customize any clothing item with ease.

When I first saw simple line drawings of faces popping up everywhere, I knew I had to try it out myself. After giving it a go on a pair of jean shorts, I fell in love with how they turned out. I’m excited to share the tutorial and a simple trick that makes embroidered designs virtually foolproof. This method is perfect for anyone just starting out with embroidery. You can use it to create any design you want. I’m including a free downloadable face design to help you get started.

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Materials You’ll Need for Embroidery

The best part about this project is how affordable it is. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Embroidery thread/floss
  • Embroidery needle (or any needle with a large enough eye for floss)
  • Clothing item (jeans, t-shirt, jacket, etc.)
  • Scissors
  • Straight pins
  • Tracing paper or thin printer paper
  • (Optional) Free downloadable design for tracing

Step 1: Create or Print Your Design

Start by drawing a design onto a thin paper (tracing paper works best). If you’re unsure where to start, you can download a free face design I’ve included, which is perfect for this project. Print it onto thin paper to use as a guide.

Step 2: Cut Around the Design

Once your design is ready, cut around it, leaving a little space around the edges. You don’t want too much extra paper, which may be harder to sew around. Keep the area manageable but not too tight.

Step 3: Pin the Paper to the Clothing

Place the paper with the design onto the clothing where you want the embroidery to go. Pin it in place. Tracing paper makes this process easier because you can see through it and adjust the placement to fit around seams, pockets, or other details on the garment.