Tutorial · 6 min read
How to Transfer an Embroidery Pattern onto Fabric (4 Easy Ways)
Tracing, stick-and-stitch stabilizer, transfer paper and iron-on transfers, and how to choose the right one for your fabric.
Before you can stitch a design, you need to get it onto the fabric. There is no single best method. The right choice depends on how light or dark your fabric is, how thick it is, and how detailed the pattern is.
1. Tracing with a window or light pad
This is the simplest method and the one the Beginner Guide uses for the Spring Wreath. Print the pattern at 100% (actual size), tape it to a sunny window or an LED light pad, tape your fabric over it, and trace the lines with a water-soluble or heat-erasable pen.
Best for: white, cream and pastel cottons and linens. Not great for: dark fabric, towels, or anything thick.
2. Stick-and-stitch stabilizer
Stick-and-stitch is a printable, sticky-backed stabilizer that dissolves in water. You print or trace the design onto it, peel off the backing, stick it to your fabric and stitch straight through it. When you are done, soak the piece in cool water and the stabilizer melts away.
Best for: dark fabric, towels, sweatshirts, denim, tote bags and anything textured. It is the method we recommend for most personalized gifts.
3. Dressmaker's transfer paper
Carbon-style transfer paper goes between the pattern and your fabric. Trace firmly over the pattern with a pencil or stylus and the lines appear on the fabric. White and yellow papers are available for dark fabrics.
Tip: press firmly and evenly, and test on a scrap first. Some papers are harder to remove than others.
4. Iron-on transfers and transfer pencils
Iron-on transfer pens and pencils let you draw a reversed design on paper and iron it onto fabric. Pre-printed iron-on transfer patterns work the same way. The lines are usually permanent, so your stitching needs to cover them completely.
Which pen should I use?
- Water-soluble pens rinse out in cool water. Never iron over the marks before rinsing, because heat can set the ink.
- Heat-erasable pens disappear with an iron, but marks can reappear in the cold and may leave faint traces on some fabrics. Test before using on a keepsake.
- Pencil works in a pinch on light fabric. Use light pressure, since graphite can smudge.
