Embroidering socks
Welcome to the Selflove Club. A club where absolutely everyone is welcome. To validate your club membership and act as a little ambassador for self-love, you can also simply have the message embroidered on your socks.
It doesn't just look cool, it also makes a clear statement: love yourself! Because spoiler alert – you're going to be with yourself for the rest of your life ;)
What is required?
Shopping list
- Embroidery hoop
- Embroidery needle set
- Water-soluble fabric marker
- Embroidery scissors
- Embroidery floss
- adhesive or iron-on embroidery stabilizer
What else you need
- Socks
Step 1 - Trace the template
Cut a small piece of embroidery stabilizer (approx. 5x5cm) from the roll. You can now trace the template onto it as follows.
Option 1 without a printer: Open the template on your laptop/tablet/PC and place your embroidery stabilizer over the screen. Now you can simply trace it.
Option 2 with a printer: Print out the template and tape it to the window using painter's tape. Now tape the embroidery stabilizer over it. You can now trace the template.
Step 2 – Hoop the sock in the embroidery frame
Loosen the screw on the embroidery hoop and separate the inner and outer rings. Now place the inner ring into a sock. Place the outer ring over it and tighten the screw again. Pull the back part of the sock downwards and wrap it around the embroidery hoop (see image on the right). After all, you don't want to sew both sides of the sock together, just embroider on one side.
Step 3 – Iron the template onto the sock
The template previously prepared on the stabilizer is now positioned on the hooped sock and carefully ironed on. Ensure that the motif is in the desired position and does not shift while ironing.
Step 4 - Thread the needle
Separate the 6-strand thread into 2 strands each. Also, make sure that you pull enough thread (approx. 5-10 cm) through the eye of the needle so that it does not slip out. The thread should also be about 30-40 cm long in total. If it is longer, it can easily get tangled. You should always tie a small knot at the end of the thread so that the first stitch does not slip out of the fabric.
Step 5 – Start stabbing!
For this template, you only need two simple embroidery stitches. You can see them here in the videos for the whipped backstitch and satin stitch. In the template, you will also see which stitch you need to use for which part and which colors were used.
Just make sure to secure your thread on the back once you have finished a stitch. Before cutting it on the back, tie a knot as close to the fabric as possible.
Satin stitch
For satin stitch, you are basically just stitching several lines next to each other. It is always recommended to stitch in the direction of the shorter side. I always stitched from left to right, meaning horizontally.
Step 6 – the heart
If you like, you can embroider a small heart onto the other sock. To do this, simply repeat steps 1-3 for the second sock. You just swap the motif. If you prefer, you can also embroider the heart onto the sock freehand. However, the advantage of the embroidery stabilizer is that it also provides a stabilizing effect.
You also embroider the heart using a satin stitch from left to right.
Step 7 - Wash out embroidery stabilizer
You can now easily remove the embroidery stabilizer. Either simply put the socks in the washing machine or dip them in a bowl of cold water and wait until the stabilizer has dissolved. With the second method, you can also gently rub the motif to help the stabilizer dissolve faster.
Theresa - Get.stitch.done
Hello! I'm Theresa from Cologne, and during the first lockdown, I didn't just learn how to juggle, but also how to embroider. Sound strange? In a way, it is. My day job is as a project manager, which has little to do with balls and even less with needles.
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