How I Transfer Embroidery Designs onto Felt

There are several ways to transfer embroidery designs onto your stitching cloth.  When it comes to quilting cotton, I favor a light source and a Micron Pigma Pen.  However that won't work for felt because you can't SEE through it.

In Alicia's pattern, she tells you how to use dressmaker's chalk pencil, carbon paper, fabric marker & and iron-on transfer pencil.  I confess I've never tried that method.  For me old habits die hard because I'm still happy using the way my mom taught me when I was little using cheap and cheerful tissue paper.

You need:

• a pencil
• a few pins
• a sheet of tissue paper large enough to accommodate the design you are transferring (I just dug out a wrinkly used piece from my gift-wrapping supplies & ironed it smooth). 

Here's how:

Step 1 - Trace the design onto tissue paper.

I also trace parts of the outline as registration marks so I can line up the design accurately onto the felt.

Step 2 - Pin the tissue paper to the felt exactly where you want the embroidery to be situated.

Step 3 - Embroider your stitches through both layers of felt and tissue.

Step 4 - Remove the pins and GENTLY tear away the tissue paper.

You may find a pair of tweezers helpful for picking out some of the little stubborn bits of paper ...

especially within enclosed stitches or underneath satin stitches.

I just eyeballed the few sequin placements.

That's it!  Easy peasy.

I wrote a similar post last year when I was making this other felt ornament set, if you don't mind listening to me repeat myself repeat myself.

Comments

[Camille]

Skin a cat? Oh my goodness, I am so offended. ;)

I think I would feel better if you would make me a set of Christmas ornaments. Because good heavens these are darling! That red coat? Sheesh!

Carry on. :-)

[Lindsey]

That is a great idea! I've only embroidered on felt once and I winged it by poking holes through my original design with a thumb tack, and then making dots with a little white pen that would be covered up with the stitching, but that wouldn't really work with such a small design.
Beautiful work!

[Jeanne Shakespeare]

I have used Glad Press and Seal in the same way. It sticks to the fabric til you are done.

[Jeanne Shakespeare]

I have used Glad Press and Seal in the same way. It sticks to the fabric til you are done.

[Cyn in S. Calif]

Great idea! Thank you for explaining it all... and the many pictures. I appreciate the time it took you to write this up and share it. Super.

[Bonnie Nyquist]

That was a total revelation to me! I do remember last yesr,but somehow,that green tissue threw me,now I totally get it,genious! Your mom was a great teacher,my Mom never embroidered. It is looking awesome,as everything you do does!! That red coat is beyond wonderful!!!! Love what you do always. I appreciate that turorial.I will passit on and use it myself!!

[Keri in CA]

Love it! Of course, you have PINK tissue paper in your stock pile. LOL. I will try tissue again, but I seem to swear a ;little bit when it comes time to use the tweezers. Maybe a small bottle of wine should come with her kit, then the ornament will look great to me no matter what I do. :) Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

[Cindy]

This is such a good idea. I have been stitching on felt for a long time and I always just eyeball it. But I have been thinking of doing one of these patterns and they are very detailed. I want to do them right, so thanks for the tutorial.

[Kerry]

Well aren't you the smartest smartie in the box! The pink one of course!

[Bari Jo]

YOU. ROCK. Seriously. And - THANK YOU XOXO for the side bar post... thanks, mom!

[lori]

Awesome suggestuon, kristyne. Love the randomly placed sequins on the polar bear.

[Helen Philipps]

I love your tutorial, it's so clear and well put! What an adorable polar bear too...love the cute face and the sparkling sequins :)
Helen x

[andrea]

this post couldn't have come at a more perfect time. I've been trying to figure out how I was going to transfer the embroidery pattern. I used sewing chalk on the cup of cocoa pattern, and now there's a lovely blue line on part of my ornament, before I figured out that the embroidery wouldn't completely cover it.

[Dawn]

Please help...I tried following the link "Wanna Tag Along?" but it says I must login, however, I don't see anywhere that allows me to login, so I am confused.

I love this blog!
Thanks much,
Dawn

[Jeanie]

Super awesome tutorial! Thanks:)

[Sharrieboberry]

Repeat? Yes, please! I can't remember a darn thing!

So thanks for the rerun!

[Jennifer O.]

What a good idea! I've made a bunch of her ornaments (I bought the kits every year but only started making them a couple years ago) and I was stumped at how to best transfer the markings for the teacup. I used disappearing pen for the others but that wasn't going to work, and the heat transfer wasn't working right either. It's been sitting in pieces for at least a year now.

[Kay]

Love it, thank you so much.

[Helen]

What a great tutorial! Thank you!

[Mollyhall]

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[Beverly]

Thank you for writing this tutorial. I thought I new how to transfer markings using the transfer pen!! I coincidentally am working on this exact ornament!!! I tried using my pen and it did not work...probably user error, but I like this method better and I am going to try it first thing tomorrow.

[Diane]

Thank you very much. I'm going to give this a try. I made a felt Christmas decoration yesterday, and wasn't happy with the position of the beads and topstitching, having failed to transfer them accurately from the template. I've got another identical decoration to make, so I'll try using your method

[Pam]

just wanted to say thanks for such a simple solution!!

[Jayne]

Oh, thank Heavens! You did a great tutorial & now I feel more confident in doing my project! Mine isn't much, it is a stick christmas tree with the words " Oh, Christmas Tree". I was finding transfer pens, and special computer paper, and I just wanted a simple & easy way to do this. Thank you so much! Merry Christmas!

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[Kate]

You are brilliant! Thanks for this idea. I must admit that I'm wondering why I couldn't have come up with this idea rather than struggling all these years .... :)

[San]

Just loved mom taught and true easy way to transfer. Thanks

[Lily]

Goodness thank you for this tip! I've been going up the wall trying to find a way to put my design on felt without staining it. I would've bought some useless product if it hadn't been for this page! I feel so silly for for thinking of this, thank you!