Machine embroidery guides
Practical guides from our studio: file formats, hoops, stabilizers, threads and how digitizing really works.
Basics & supplies
Getting started with machine embroidery: what you need, how it works and the supplies that matter.
- Machine embroidery for beginners: the complete starter guideHow machine embroidery works, which machine type you need, the supplies that matter and a first project step by step, with the mistakes to avoid.10 min readUpdated Oct 3, 2026
- Embroidery thread guide: polyester vs rayon, weights and colour matchingPolyester or rayon, which weight, bobbin thread and needle: what thread makers' data sheets say, plus how to match colours between thread brands.7 min readUpdated Oct 2, 2026
File formats
Embroidery file formats, which machine reads which, and how to convert between them.
- Embroidery file formats explained: which format your machine usesPES, DST, JEF, EXP, VP3, XXX, U01 and HUS explained: what each format stores, which machine brands read which, and how to convert without surprises.10 min readUpdated Oct 2, 2026
- How to open a PES file (and DST, JEF and other embroidery files)PES, DST and JEF files don't open with Windows or macOS alone. Here are the free and paid ways to view them on a computer, a phone or the machine.5 min readUpdated Oct 2, 2026
Hoops & stabilizers
Hoop sizes, hooping and choosing the right stabilizer for every fabric.
- Embroidery hoop sizes: 4x4, 5x7, 6x10, 8x8 and more, by machineWhat 4x4, 5x7, 6x10 and 8x8 hoops really stitch in mm, which hoops each machine brand uses, and how to pick a design size that fits your hoop.8 min readUpdated Oct 3, 2026
- Embroidery stabilizer guide: tear-away, cut-away, wash-away and toppingsTear-away, cut-away, wash-away, heat-away and toppings explained, with a fabric-by-fabric stabilizer chart built from manufacturers' own recommendations.7 min readUpdated Oct 3, 2026
Machines & software
Getting designs onto your machine and working with embroidery software.
Techniques & fabrics
Stitching on T-shirts, towels and other fabrics, monograms and placement.
- How to embroider T-shirts and knits without puckeringThe stabilizer, hooping, needle and design choices that keep T-shirt and knit embroidery flat, plus fixes for puckering, rippling and holes.7 min readUpdated Oct 3, 2026
- How to embroider towels: topping, stabilizer and design tipsEmbroider bath, hand and kitchen towels so the stitches sit on top of the loops: topping, stabilizer, hooping or floating, design choice and placement.6 min readUpdated Oct 2, 2026
- Monogram embroidery: styles, letter sizes and placementHow to order monogram initials, the smallest letters that stitch cleanly, and where to place monograms on towels, shirts, cuffs, napkins and pillowcases.6 min readUpdated Oct 2, 2026
Digitizing
How embroidery designs are digitized: stitch types, underlay, pull compensation, sizing and sewing order.
- Can you resize embroidery designs? Why native sizes beat scalingHow far you can scale an embroidery file before it sews badly, what happens to density and stitch length, and why designs digitized per size sew better.7 min readUpdated Oct 3, 2026
- How embroidery digitizing works: stitch types, underlay and sewing orderWhat digitizing decides for every shape: running, satin or fill stitch, underlay, pull compensation and sewing order, plus how we layer outlines cleanly.8 min readUpdated Oct 3, 2026
Licensing & business
Design licenses, selling stitched items and running a small embroidery business.