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Watch the video: “Adding Words and Letters to Embroidery Projects | Embroidery 101” by Missouri Star Quilt Company
If you can write it, you can stitch it. In this beginner-friendly lesson, Natalie shows how to quickly personalize any project with names, monograms, and favorite words—without fuss or fear. The magic is in simple transfers, adjustable placement, and a handful of outline stitches that make text look clean and confident.
What you’ll learn
- Where to find printable alphabets, numbers, and days-of-the-week words for easy transfers
- Two ways to transfer text: direct tracing on fabric or tracing/printing onto Peel-n-Stick
- How to cut, place, and reposition Peel-n-Stick before you stitch
- Which outline stitches make letters look neat, textured, or bold
Why Add Text to Your Embroidery Projects?
Personal Touch for Gifts Names, initials, and short sayings turn small makes into keepsakes. Natalie shares a tiny tooth fairy bag with a monogrammed “J” to show how a single letter instantly personalizes a gift.
Customizing Home Decor Hand towels, napkins, and small linens love a little lettering. Days-of-the-week tea towels are a classic—print, transfer, and stitch one word at a time for a satisfying set.
Creating Keepsakes Pair words with simple motifs and you have heirloom-ready projects. A “Sunday” tea towel stitched with a floral motif keeps it cheerful and timeless.
Pro tip: Think small phrases—“bake,” “stitch,” “rest,” or a family name. One or two words can be the whole design.
Essential Resources for Embroidery Lettering
Free Printable Alphabets and Words Natalie points to the Embroidery 101 resources, which include alphabet printables (she shows a cut-out “J”), numbers, and a days-of-the-week set ready to go. Alphabet pages are handy for monograms, tags, and labels.
Quick check: A commenter mentioned finding uppercase letters and numbers in the free downloads but not lowercase. The video doesn’t specify whether lowercase printables are available. If you need a lowercase style, you can type your own in a document and print at size.
Using Your Computer for Custom Text Open a document, type your word or name, pick a font, resize, and print. It’s fast—and it ensures your spacing and proportions are tidy before you ever pick up a needle. You can print on regular paper for tracing or print directly onto Peel-n-Stick.
Online Design Inspiration Search printable coloring pages for simple, bold shapes and letters. These outlines are easy to trace and great for beginners.
Watch out: Choose fonts with clear lines and not-too-tiny details. Super-thin or ultra-ornate scripts can be fiddly to stitch cleanly.
Transferring Your Design: Peel-n-Stick vs. Direct Tracing
Tracing with a Light Box Place your printed word under your fabric. With a light box (or a bright window), trace the letters using a pen. The light helps you see exactly where your lines are going so your stitches follow smoothly. Secure your fabric so it doesn’t shift as you trace.
Quick check: If lines look faint, move to a brighter window or increase your light box brightness for better visibility.
The Magic of Peel-n-Stick Natalie demonstrates tracing onto Peel-n-Stick, a printable, wash-away transfer sheet. Stick it to the fabric, stitch through it, and wash it away later—no guesswork on placement. You can nudge and reposition before you commit, which is great for curves, angles, or wrapping text around a motif.
From the comments: Viewers asked how to remove Peel-n-Stick. The channel confirms it’s wash-away—stitch right over it, then launder to dissolve once you’re done.
Combining Text and Graphics Layer your word with a small motif for a complete composition. Natalie shows a bee paired with the word “kind” on a sweatshirt—a simple combo with lots of heart.
Pro tip: Arrange everything on the fabric before stitching. Check spacing, baseline alignment, and the relationship between the word and the motif. A phone photo helps you compare options quickly.
Cutting and Applying Peel-n-Stick: A Mini Walkthrough
- Trace your word (Natalie writes “Quilt”) onto Peel-n-Stick using a light source. Keep your pen lines smooth and decisive so stitching is easier to follow.
- Cut out the word with small scissors for clean curves and sharp corners.
- Peel the backing and place your word on the fabric. Adjust the angle or curve until it looks just right.
- Combine with a second element (Natalie positions a butterfly with the word) and press in place. Now you’re ready to hoop and stitch.
Watch out: If you stick a piece down and change your mind, Peel-n-Stick can be repositioned—but avoid stretching the fabric as you lift and re-place the design.
Top Stitches for Outlining Words
Running and Backstitch for Basics Running stitch is quick and simple, great for airy, casual text. Backstitch makes a smooth, continuous line that reads clearly even at small sizes—ideal for crisp monograms or tidy block letters.
Whipped Backstitch for Texture Work a backstitch outline, then “whip” a second thread through the stitch path to add roundness and depth. Natalie’s “Sunday” tea towel uses variegated thread with whipped backstitch, creating a soft gradient effect without changing colors constantly.
Split and Chain Stitch for Clean Lines Split stitch gives a solid, slightly textured line that’s perfect for script. Chain stitch offers playful, looped texture—great for bold letterforms. Natalie’s monogram “J” is chain stitch, while the word “kind” is split stitch with a tiny French knot to dot the i.
Pro tip: If your letters look choppy, shorten your stitch length on tight curves so the line stays smooth.
Project Showcase: Inspiring Examples
Monogrammed Tooth Fairy Bags A tiny bag, one letter, big impact. Natalie’s chain-stitched “J” shows how a single initial can anchor a gift. Keep your stitches small on curves, especially on tight turns like the base of a J.
Days of the Week Tea Towels Printable words like “Monday–Sunday” make it easy to build a sweet set of towels. Pair each day with a simple motif—florals, fruit, or utensils—to create a cheerful rotation for your kitchen. Variegated thread adds a subtle ombré look on the lettering.
Motivational Wearables A simple word plus a tiny motif can change a garment’s vibe. The bee-and-kind combo Natalie shows is casual and kind-spirited—perfect for gifts or everyday wear.
Quick check: Planning to embroider on garments? Stabilize the fabric in your hoop and keep your letters away from bulky seams for smoother stitching.
Tips for Success and Confidence
Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment
- Write your word by hand for organic charm—or print it from your computer for a uniform look.
- Change font size until it feels right on your project. Print and audition multiple sizes on the fabric before you trace.
Repositioning Your Designs Peel-n-Stick gives you freedom. Try text at a slant, arc around a flower, or align along the hem. Stand back and squint to judge spacing and balance before stitching.
Seeking Support Natalie encourages questions and community—if you get stuck, reach out. Keep a sampler nearby with short lines of backstitch, split stitch, stem stitch, and chain stitch so you can quickly test which look you prefer on your current fabric.
From the comments: Quick Answers
- Where was the black sweatshirt purchased? The source isn’t specified in the video. If you’re customizing garments, choose stable knits and test your needle and thread on a scrap first.
- What light box is that? The brand isn’t mentioned. A sunny window works for tracing in a pinch.
- Machine or hand? This tutorial demonstrates hand embroidery. One viewer asked about sewing-machine stitching; the thread in the comments confirms hand stitching here.
- Lowercase letters? A commenter found uppercase and numbers in the downloads; the video doesn’t specify lowercase availability. You can always print your own lowercase from a document.
- How do you remove Peel-n-Stick? It’s a wash-away transfer sheet—stitch through it, then launder to dissolve.
Micro-techniques for Neater Lettering
- Start at a letter junction or corner so your start/stop knots hide neatly.
- On curves, shorten stitches to prevent faceting. On straights, lengthen slightly for speed.
- For dots and tittle accents, a tiny French knot adds clarity and charm.
Watch out: Don’t crowd letters. Leave consistent spacing between characters and words so your phrase reads easily at arm’s length.
Gear notes for cross-discipline stitchers While this lesson focuses on hand embroidery, many readers also explore machine embroidery tools. If that’s you, here are neutral, high-level terms you might encounter as you research:
- Some machine stitchers like the secure hold of a magnetic embroidery hoop for stabilizing fabric.
- If you’re shopping for a hybrid setup, you’ll come across the term embroidery sewing machine in reviews and guides.
- New to machine work? Buying guides often compare features to help you choose the best embroidery machine for beginners.
- You’ll also see discussions about magnetic hoops for embroidery when people want faster hooping on tricky items.
- Certain brands sell specialty frames; for example, you might hear about a snap hoop monster in forums discussing easy clamping.
- Accessory lines and clamp styles vary; a term you may spot is dime magnetic hoop when comparing magnetic frame options.
- Hooping aids like a hoop master can help with consistent placement on machine-embroidered garments.
Wrapping Up Lettering doesn’t have to be fussy. Use printables to jump-start your layout, trace with a light source, and pick an outline stitch that suits your style—playful chain, tidy backstitch, sculpted whipped backstitch, or sturdy split stitch. With Peel-n-Stick, you can test placements until it looks just right, then stitch with confidence.
From sampler to sweatshirt, tea towel to tooth fairy bag, words make it personal. Try one name, one word, one phrase—and watch your projects speak for themselves.