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How To Hand Embroider A Shirt (Free DIY Embroidery Designs)

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There are so many cool inspirations for a DIY embroidery shirt that you can easily wear. Learn how to hand embroider a shirt and also put together a fun outfit for back to school or a casual workday.

In addition, I demonstrate how to embroider a shirt for beginners. Master these basic embroidery skills with these easy to follow tips and tricks. With a few basic hand embroidery stitches, the sky is the limit to what you can embroider.

If you are looking for a quick clothing upgrade, embroidery is one of the easiest t-shirt upcycle ideas. There are many embroidery design motifs that only require one or two of the beginner hand stitches.

This clear step-by-step hand embroidery tutorial and instructions makes it pretty simple to understand how to hand embroider a shirt. Good news! This easy sewing project for beginners also comes with free DIY embroidery designs for you to download.

diy anatomical heart embroidery tutorial

How To Hand Embroider A Shirt

Check out the short videos for a clear idea how to hand embroider a shirt. This is easy to do, the materials are basic and the embroidery only requires a few minutes of time.

When you are finished, you will have a new stylish outfit to wear. In addition, you will be extremely proud of your new DIY embroidery design patterns.

Basic Embroidery Tools

These are the basic embroider tools need for this project. Learn how to hand embroider a shirt with the basic embroidery tools before you advance further.

If hand embroidery skills are something you enjoy and are having fun with, then there are certainly a few additions that can be made to the basic embroidery tools.

diy hand heart sign embroidery tutorial

10 Best Hand Embroidery Stitches You Must Know

Hand embroidery stitches take practice. But once you get the hang of them, you will be able to make quick work with your DIY embroidery designs and easily follow how to embroider a shirt.

Follow this detailed step-by-step guide for how to preform each of the hand embroidery stitches.

  1. Running stitch
  2. Backstitch
  3. Split stitch
  4. Stem stitch
  5. Satin stitch
  6. French knot
  7. Chain stitch
    1. Lazy daisy
    2. Feather stitch
    3. Seed stitch

These hand embroidery stitches are the most commonly used and are plenty enough for a beginner sewing project. Develop your skills with the basic hand embroidery stitches before you advance on to learning more.

diy hanging houseplants embroidery tutorial

How To Draw Embroidery Designs On Clothes

There are many different ways to transfer your embroidery designs on clothes easily. Understand how to draw embroidery designs on clothes before you jump into how to embroider a shirt.

  1. Dressmaker’s carbon paper and an iron can easily transfer temporary computer printed design onto fabric.
  2. A hot-iron transfer pencil, so you can draw a design onto tracing paper, then iron it onto fabric
  3. A disappearing-ink marker can be used for drawing directly onto fabric.

I show how to use a disappearing-ink marker in the how to embroider a shirt tutorial videos. For more instructions, watch the embroidery tutorial videos to help you with an embroidered shirt for beginners.

Anatomical Heart Embroidered Shirt Tutorial for Beginners (Free DIY Embroidery Pattern!)

Anatomical Heart DIY Embroidered Shirt Tutorial (For Beginners) | Fashion Wanderer
diy anatomical heart embroidery step by step tutorial

The anatomical heart embroidery pattern is everywhere! This Tumblr inspired DIY embroidery pattern is also perfect for beginner level.

FIY, if you are new to hand embroidery stitches, master the backstitch techniques before you start this easy sewing project. This embroidery tutorial covers how to hand embroider a shirt with an anatomical heart pattern.

free anatomical heart embroidery pattern

Hand Heart Sign Embroidered Shirt Tutorial for Beginners (Free DIY Embroidery Pattern!)

Hand Heart Sign DIY Embroidered Shirt Tutorial (For Beginners) | Fashion Wanderer
diy hand heart sign embroidery step by step tutorial

The hand heart sign is so Instagram worthy and this DIY embroidery pattern is easy for you to download! Resize the DIY embroidery pattern so that it fits on a pocket or keep it as the original size.

If you are also new at how to hand embroider a shirt, practice the backstitch technique with this DIY embroidery pattern. This embroidery tutorial shows you how to hand embroider a shirt with a hand heart sign pattern.

free hand heart embroidery pattern

Hanging Houseplants Embroidered Shirt Tutorial (Free DIY Embroidery Pattern!)

Hanging Plant DIY Embroidered Shirt Tutorial (For Beginners) | Fashion Wanderer
diy hanging houseplants embroidery step by step tutorial

From real DIY hanging houseplants with macramé to decorative framing project ideas, I personally wanted to translate hanging houseplants into a tutorial for how to embroider a shirt. If you are looking for a houseplants DIY idea, there are so many fun and easy ways for you to master embroidery skills.

For this tutorial, it is a bit more of an intermediate skill level, so practice the satin stitch, French knot, and backstitch before you start this project. This embroidery tutorial also demonstrates how to hand embroider a shirt with a hanging houseplant pattern.

free hanging houseplant embroidery pattern

Final Thoughts On T-Shirt Embroidery

With these step by step tutorials for how to hand embroider a shirt, you can also easily upgrade your capsule wardrobe. Here are free embroidery designs for you to download and copy onto your plain t-shirts.

Even consider using similar patterns to make a DIY embroidered sweatshirt. As a result, recycle and upcycle t-shirts so that you don’t spend tons of money on new fashion.

Before start these fun embroidery projects for beginners, I also recommend practicing a couple of hand stitching techniques. As a result, your hands are comfortable with the basic embroidery stitches and so that it’s much easier for you to hand embroider a shirt.

What are your favorite hand embroidered shirt projects?
Share your embroidery designs for how to hand embroider a shirt with me!
#FashionWanderer

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