10 Tips for Embroidering on Placemats

What could be a better compliment than a good-looking dining table due to embroidered placemats? They’re available in different shapes and you can even embroider them at your home with a machine.

In this article, we’ll talk about some tips to consider when embroidering on placemats so you can make high-quality embroidery designs yourself.

Let’s discuss them one by one.

10 tips for embroidering on placemats

10 Tips for Embroidering on Placemats

Tip # 1: Use Water Soluble Topping:

Textured, stretchy, thick, or furry fabrics are difficult to hoop. In the case of embroidered placemats, the fabric is thick and this makes it non-hopable. We recommend using water-soluble topping because it prevents stitches from being lost during the embroidery process.

use water soluble topping
Use Water Soluble Topping

If you’re embroidering on placemats we suggest testing the design on a spare piece to check how it will look after embroidery.

Tip # 2: Utilize Basting in the Hoop Function:

As we mentioned above, some fabrics are not hoop able but technology solves this problem. Some new embroidery machines feature basting in the hoop function that you can utilize while embroidering placemats.

utilize basting in the hoop function
Utilize Basting In The Hoop Function

This function stitches a box around the embroidery design according to its size and holds the fabric in place during the embroidery process. This feature is also helpful when you’re using a floating water-soluble stabilizer as a topping.

Tip # 3: Use a Sticky Water-Soluble Stabilizer:

When embroidering on placemats you should select a stabilizer that easily removes from the back of embroidered placemats. We recommend using a stabilizer with adhesive. But keep in mind that all stabilizers are not created equally.

Let us explain to you in detail why we said this.

You’re doing machine embroidery on placemats and suddenly needle sticks with fabric and it shreds or breaks the thread. Don’t blame your machine because it is not the machine’s fault. You just select a poor-quality stabilizer and its gum sticks with a needle and affect the quality of the end product.

Pro Tip: If you find any build-up on your embroidery design you can use a little alcohol on a cotton pad or paper towel and glide on the embroidery area.

Tip # 4: Choose the Right Bobbin Thread:

For Embroidered placemats, we suggest you choose the thread color for the bobbin the same as the placemat base color. If you’re working on monochrome embroidery designs you must choose a bobbin thread color and needle according to the type of fabric you are using.

choose the right bobbin thread
Choose The Right Bobbin Thread

When both sides of placemats will see the same color on the bobbin thread blend in fabric and give a professional finish to it.

Tip # 5: Frequently Change Embroidery Needles:

As you see in this picture this embroidery design has a high stitch count. If you change the needle frequently, this will avoid headaches and produce a perfect stitch out when you’re in a rush and cannot afford slip-ups during the process.

frequently change embroidery needles
Frequently Change Embroidery Needles

If you’re still unsure which embroidery needle is right for you, check out our blog on how to choose the best machine embroidery needles

Tip # 6: Test Colors Of Threads:

If you want to avoid unnecessary mistakes in embroidery design, we recommend testing thread colors on a small piece of fabric of a similar color. Therefore, if any thread doesn’t compliment the fabric color you can replace it with other colors that pop up.

You can also check thread color in embroidery digitizing software. Just change the background color to something similar to fabric and check the design again. 

Bonus Tip: If you hire EMdigitizing, we make machine embroidery designs for placemats while keeping in mind that every color complements the fabric and converts it into a stitch file that contains all information about stitch direction and thread color.

Tip # 7: Right-Sized Hoop Selection:

As technology evolves, some embroidery machines have recommended the size of the hoop according to design. So choosing the right size of the hoop will save stabilizer and give you a high-quality embroidery design.

right sized hoop selection
Right-Sized Hoop Selection

Tip # 8: Removing Stabilizer:

After completing embroidering on placemats, the most difficult task is removing the stabilizer without damaging the design.

Check out our guide on how to remove water-soluble stabilizers effectively. In this guide, we discuss some ways to remove it without damaging the fabric and design.

Tip # 9: Buy an Extra Placemat:

We suggest you buy extra placemats because you can use them if your machine embroidery placemats design is completely wrong. This saves you from having to go back to the store and purchase a new one. In some cases, you don’t even need an extra one but if needed you can use it and save your time to buy a new one.

Tip # 10: Straight Stitch Throat Plate:

Last but on least, when embroidering on placemats and you’re using thicker fabric, utilize the straight stitch throat plate of your embroidery machine. This is really helpful during the embroidery process because it keeps the needle from deflecting and gives your end product a high-quality finish.

Final Thoughts:

Embroidering on placemats allows you to show your creativity and bring a personal touch to your dining table. By following these tips and techniques, you can create beautiful embroidered placemats that will be cherished for years to come.

So gather your supplies, and let your placemats become a canvas for your imagination.

Happy embroidering!

EMdigitizing: #1 Spot For Embroidery Digitizing:

Are you in search of a top-notch solution for digitizing your embroidery designs? Look no further than EMdigitizing, your trusted partner in embroidery digitizing and vector art services, serving clients worldwide.

What’s great about EMdigitizing is they’re really fast and do a super job. You can get a free quote in less than 5 minutes. And guess what? If you’re a new customer, you’ll get a huge 50% discount on all their services.

This is an amazing offer; take advantage of this!

EMdigitizing will make your embroidery designs look incredible. The easiest way to improve your embroidery projects!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

You just want a little stiffness in placemats so we recommend using Pellon 926 extra-firm sew-in stabilizer. If you want your placemat heat resistant you can go with Pellon Insul-Fleece 975BX.

If you want durability then vinyl placemats are the best choice. They’re easy to embroider and resistant to extreme heat. You can also use silicone which is the best alternative to vinyl in terms of durability.

Placemats are available in different sizes and shapes. The most popular sizes of placemats are 4 inches wide by 20 inches long and 12 inches wide by 18 inches long.