Felt Embroidery - suggestions or tips?
 

Hi,
I've been asked to machine embroider a name on a piece of felt so it can be added to a Christmas stocking... I've never done embroidery on felt, so I'm looking for any tips or hints....
Also, is it better to do a more open design vs a denser one?
The friend who asked me to do this asked on behalf of someone else (which I didn't know when I agreed to help my friend). So while I have two pieces of felt, I have no guidance re size or font or anything... except that it be "loopy" if possible.....
Kicking myself for not realizing this was not a favour for a friend but something else....

You want to use a topping to prevent the letters sinking down into the felt. It is a clear product usually just tear away from the letters. I use tweezers to get any small pieces. It’s water solvable too. I don’t know if you want to wet felt. It may stain.

You may want to stitch out the letters on a sample first. Try them for size. I like about an inch for stockings but it can depend on name.

Can you ask for pictures of the stocking? Who is the stocking for?

The font would depend on the stocking style. Rustic, elegant, or child would take different ones.

PS There are usually local shops that can accommodate small projects. Font samples and color selection would be quick and easy for your friend.

You also want to use a bit larger needle. Than you usually use because of the density of the felt. Only one size difference should do the trick.

My suggestion is to tell your friend you can't do this project. My neighbor just made some Christmas stockings, she went to Wal-Mart and purchased puff paint in the craft section and used that to write the names on. It's in a little bottle, squeeze gently and let it dry completely before touching it or moving it. I helped her and it was quite easy, mine wasn't dry enough when I carried it home and it did smear a little.

I'd probably choose this idea, too.

Those of you who responded with technique tips, I thank you very much! I have some clear cover stuff, and larger needles. I did plan to do a test sample. And I will not press it! I think I'll leave that to the stocking crafter.

Suggesting she goe elsewhere is not an option once I agreed to do it. My friend is a person who helps everyone with everything....

I find felt to be stable, inexpensive and easy to embroider on. A dense design is fine.

Felt Embroidery outcome
 

Hello all,
Well I found time yesterday to do the felt stitchery that I was asked to do. That felt stitched so wonderfully easy!
Here are the two pieces - one was to have the name centred but near the bottom of the felt, the other was to have the name centred but more to the middle.
On to other things!
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Thanks! It was easy to embroider on and my design was satin stitch letters that were about 1 - 1 1/2 inches high, so fairly dense.

FYI, There are many digitizers that test sew their designs on felt as you really don't need a stabilizer for a test sew out - way cheaper. I believe that Embroidery Library does there stitch outs on felt too. I love to stitch projects with felt. Did Christmas ornaments for DGD to give to her classmates, did beautifully.

So glad you were able to get the names done for your friend. I just found this thread - I embroider on felt a lot because I make bookmarks for my daughter's students. She teaches 5th grade and as a Christmas gift every year I make the bookmarks as an encouragement for them to read over the break. It embroiders so easily. I do use a tear away stabilizer underneath because the ones I make have a satin stitch edge.

A friend wanted the make an Accuquilt Hallowee train for a bag for her daughter and it was too hard to sew them directly onto the bag, so we put the various cars on felt, cut them out as if they were patches, glued them on the bag with Fabric Fusion and tacked them down with a few stitches for a bit more securing and they looked fantastic.