What Embroidery Supplies Do I Need To Get Started?

Diving into machine embroidery for the first time as a beginner can be daunting. Between choosing your first machine, getting it set up, and searching for the best prices on embroidery supplies, it's easy to become quickly overwhelmed.

The good news is that, with a little guidance and practice, machine embroidery is relatively easy to learn.

We're here to help you figure out the essential supplies you need to get started on the right foot.

High Quality Embroidery Supplies

Ensuring you have the right embroidery supplies will save you time, money, and effort on your journey.

The first rule of thumb is to look for high-quality supplies from a respectable supplier.

Embroidery has a lot of specialty supplies. You'll want to make sure what you're buying is geared specifically towards machine embroidery and that your supplier will support you after your purchase.

Settling for cheap thread, questionable backing, low-quality bobbins and just any old pair of scissors can cost you more money down the road, and create unnecessary headaches, especially as a beginner. 

Learning machine embroidery is much more satisfying without cut-rate supplies fighting against you.

An Embroidery Machine

Many people start out with a single-needle home machine from one of the major brands like Brother, Baby Lock or Viking.

These machines are a great place to start and will help you develop the skills you need to create professional-looking embroidery.

Apart from the price tag, one thing to consider when buying your first machine is the size of the designs you want to embroider.

Many of the lower-cost entry level machines have limits when it comes to the size of the design they are able stitch out.  This is called the sewing field. 

Look for an embroidery machine with a minimum of a 5" x 7" sewing field. A good, versatile first machine will be able to sew an area up to this size or larger.

RELATED: Downloadable Embroidery Supplies Guide

Stabilizer, the Foundation of Embroidery

Embroidery stabilizer, also referred to as backing, provides the stabilization you need to embroider garments. There are two main categories of embroidery backings, cut away and tear away.

With a cut away backing, when you are finished with your embroidery, you cut away whatever backing is left outside of your finished design. With tear away, you guessed it, you tear it away.

Cut away backing should be used on all stretchy, flexible knit fabrics, like t-shirts, polos, sweatshirts and performance wear, because they are inherently unstable and need the stability a cut away provides.

Tear away can be used on woven fabrics that don't stretch, like oxford shirts, twill, denim, etc. 

As long as they are wovens, tear away is particularly helpful on items where you can easily see the back like guitar straps, golf flags, towels and linens , and will leave a neater appearance after embroidering.

Backings come in different weights, usually advertised as ounces per square yd.

  
The heavier the backing, the more stability it usually provides. A good backing supplier will sell many different weights, types and sizes of stabilizer in both precut sheets and on rolls.

As a beginner, it's best to stock up on small rolls or packs of several different backings until you figure out what works best for you.

We recommend the following backing SKU's so you are equipped to handle a variety of projects. 

• AllStitch ASCWR
• AllStitch ASCW
• AllStitch RS20WR
• AllStitch RS20W
• AllStitch SH15B
• AllStitch CSA300WR
• AllStitch CSA300W

Embroidery Thread

Cheap embroidery thread is usually just that – cheap embroidery thread. Using a high-quality thread with a good reputation like Madeira, will ensure that your machine stitches correctly and trouble-free.

Annoyances like frequent breakage or bird nesting is more trouble than you should have to deal with.

Of course, a variety of factors like thread tension and needle issues can contribute to this, but when you choose a high-quality thread,  you reduce the probability of thread quality being the culprit.

Madeira thread is available in both polyester, rayon, as well as specialty and metallic but if you are just starting out and do not have a strong preference, we recommend polyester.

Do yourself a favor and buy a thread color card with your first order. It will contain the actual thread swatches on the card and you will refer to this every time you purchase thread.

Thread comes in both smaller 1,100-yard mini snap cones and large 5,500-yard cone sizes.

You will get an average of about 200,000 stitches out of the small size and 1,000,000 stitches out of the large cones.

In order to use the larger cones with home machines, you may need to buy an external thread stand, as the large cones will not fit directly on your machine. It's important to keep your threads organized for a neat and orderly embroidery working space. 

Bobbins, the Bottom Thread

Bobbins play a crucial role in embroidery, as they hold the top thread stitches in a matrix on the underside of your embroidery.

The quality and reliability of the bobbin can significantly impact stitch consistency and the look of your finished projects.

By using good quality bobbins, you can avoid pesky issues like thread looping, bird nest tangles under the throat plate, and uneven stitching.

You can buy bobbins already wound on disposable cores or large cones of bobbin thread that you wind yourself.

Pre-wound bobbins save time and effort and are much easier to use than bobbins you wind at home.

There are 3 common sizes of bobbins available for embroidery machines. From smallest to largest, they are Style L, Class 15 (Style A), & Jumbo M. Most home machines use either a Style L or Class 15 (Style A).

Most commercial machines use a Style L, but occasionally you'll encounter a machine that takes a Style M. Consult your user manual or ask your machine manufacturer if you are unsure.

Scissors & Accessories

Scissors are an embroidery room essential, and are used for everything from snipping threads to trimming and cutting backing and fabric.

The right pair can make a big difference in your ability to cut precisely and prevent hand fatigue.

There are many different types of specialty scissors used in machine embroidery.

At the bare minimum you will need a good pair of general use scissors to cut stabilizer, and a sharp pair of thread snips. 

An additional mid-size pair for trimming away excess cut away backing from finished embroidery work is strongly recommended. 

Some pairs of scissors come with a spring-action that helps reduce hand strain, can be used by both right- and left-handers, or people with larger hands or fingers. 

Always keep your scissors and snips separate from household shears, and use them only for embroidery backings and threads to keep them sharp and long-lasting.

For new embroiderers, keeping fabric stable during stitching is one of the most important steps to achieving professional-looking results. That’s where 505 Temporary Fabric Spray Adhesive comes in.

This odorless, colorless adhesive is specifically designed for tasks like securing fabric to stabilizers without leaving residue or gumming up your machine needles.

Its temporary hold allows you to reposition your fabric as needed, making it especially helpful for intricate designs or quilting projects.

By using 505 spray, you can prevent frustrating fabric shifts, puckering, or misalignments, ensuring your embroidery turns out smooth and precise, particularly on slippery or slick fabrics.

Practice Continuously

Our final piece of advice is to practice continuously. Nobody becomes an expert embroiderer overnight. 

Every veteran embroidery started at the beginning and made their share of mistakes before becoming competent, and so will you.

As you are learning and experimenting, go through your closet and pick out all different types of old clothes you no longer wear, pair them with the recommended backings, try a variety of designs, and practice, practice, practice. 

Never be afraid to ask questions.

We've created a web page exclusively to help those who are beginners to machine embroidery.

Here you will find FAQ's, helpful guides, tutorials, and videos that will help you  navigate your machine embroidery journey and teach you to create professional-looking designs!