Can I use machine embroidery designs on fleece?

Yes, you can use machine embroidery designs on fleece, and fleece can produce beautiful embroidery when you use the proper stabilizer and choose a design that is not too dense. Because fleece is soft and slightly stretchy, it needs good support to keep the embroidery from becoming distorted.

Choose the Right Design

Simple to moderately detailed designs often work well on fleece. Very dense designs can make the embroidered area stiff and may cause the fleece to pucker.

Use the Proper Stabilizer

Fleece needs support while it is being embroidered. Using the proper stabilizer helps prevent the fabric from shifting or stretching and helps the stitches sit properly on the surface.

Consider the Fleece Thickness

Thicker fleece can hide fine embroidery details, so designs with clear, bold shapes often produce better results. Consider the thickness of the fleece when choosing your design.

Use a Topping When Needed

A water-soluble topper can help keep the stitches from sinking into thick or fuzzy fleece. It creates a temporary surface that helps the embroidery remain visible.

Test Before Stitching

Test the design on a scrap piece of the same fleece whenever possible. This allows you to check the design size, stabilizer, thread tension, and overall appearance before stitching the finished project.

Quick Checklist

  • Design: Choose a design with reasonable stitch density and clear details.
  • Stabilizer: Use the proper stabilizer for fleece.
  • Thickness: Consider how thick or fuzzy the fleece is.
  • Topper: Consider a water-soluble topper for thick or fuzzy fleece.
  • Test: Stitch a sample before embroidering the final project.

Best tip: Fleece can be an excellent fabric for machine embroidery. Use the proper stabilizer, avoid overly dense designs, and consider a water-soluble topper when the fleece is thick or fuzzy.

Source of information: With over 200,000 customers and a private Facebook group with more than 2,000 members, we have heard just about every embroidery question and troubleshooting problem you can imagine. This question has come to us directly from customers by email, through our Facebook page, and in our private Facebook group.

Have another question? See all the answers in our machine embroidery designs FAQ.