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Running out of ideas for embroidery projects?
Welcome to my master list of fun things to embroider to sell or to make for yourself!
While most items listed here are things to embroider with a computerized machine, there’s a lot of overlap for blanks that can also be hand embroidered.
I’m always looking for new things to embroider, so let me know if you have any other ideas to add to this list!
Table of Contents
Huge List of Things to Embroider
I will split many of these project ideas up by theme to make it easier to search through. In the end, I have a big section of random ideas!
I’ve also tried linking to tutorials for some of the project ideas if you need a little extra help.
For the Home (Kitchen, Bathroom, Living Spaces, Etc.)
Here are embroidery projects for your house, including the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and even your craft room.
Just make sure any things you embroider can be spread in a single layer if you don’t have a machine with a free arm.
Towels
Embroidering towels is easy using a tear-away or wash-away stabilizer with a layer of water-soluble topping. They make great gifts, and there are lots of varieties, as shown below.
Look no further than your own closet when searching for things to embroider on!
Just remember, you can use a seam ripper to temporarily take apart seams and remove pockets if you need to isolate a single layer for embroidering. Then, serge or sew the pieces back together after you’re done.
Denim Jeans and Jeans Pockets: You need a seam ripper for these unless you have an embroidery machine with a small free arm that can fit inside pockets or legs.
Leggings or Yoga Pants: Take them apart at the seams or embroider before construction to get embroidery along the legs. However, if you use a sock hoop, you can embroider the hem area easily!
Vests: Be it a vest that makes a fashion statement or a puffer vest that’s meant to keep you warm.
Tie-Up Shoes: You can pull out the tongues from Converse, Keds, or Vans shoes to embroider on shoes.
Boots (Make sure they can unzip for flatbed machines.)
Flip Flops: Find flip flops that have removable parts.)
Cosplay (I made Harry Potter robes for Halloween and embroidered patches on them just recently.)
Belts: Leather and webbing belts, especially, are reasonably easy to embroider.
Baby Blanks Ideas for Embroidery
Of course, many things to embroider in an adult’s closet will work for babies, too, but here are more things to embroider that also make great baby shower embroidery gifts!
Hooded Towels: Sew your own hooded towel or purchase one to embroider a character or funny face on the hood.
Onesies or Body Suits: Stitch months, monograms, or even favorite saying on onesies. Check out some of these places to buy embroidery blanks for side-snap options that are easier to hoop!
Other Baby Clothes (Dresses, Shirts, Shorts, Rompers, Etc.)
Baby Gowns
Diaper Bags
Knot Top Hats or Other Baby Caps
Lovies
Bottle Bag Holders
Headbands
Baby Blankets or Quilts
Sleep Sacks: Pick sacks with zippers for easy access.
Swaddles or Swaddle Blankets: Make sure the embroidery isn’t too rough for newborns if it’s going to go against their skin.
Bloomers and Diaper Covers
Changing Pad Covers or On-the-Go Changing Pads
Dolls: Grab a doll that’s easy to seam rip, or use a doll with a built-in dress that you can hoop to add embroidery to.
Seatbelt Covers or Car Seat Strap Shoulder Covers: These are held together by hook and loop fastener and are easy to float and embroider.
Sun Shirts (UPF Clothing) or Swimsuits
Shopping Cart Covers
Zipper Sleepers, Night Gowns, or Other Pajamas
Bucket Hats
Christening Bonnets and Outfits
Nap Mats for Preschoolers
For Kids and For School
For bigger kids, here are other things to embroider for them that I haven’t mentioned.
Luggage Handles: Purchase ones with Velcro, or sew one from neoprene or quilted fabric.
Coasters
Bookmarks
Sanitizer Holders
Chapstick Holders: These are super easy to sew from fabric, vinyl, or even neoprene. Making them in-the-hoop is easy also with a good design!
Wristlets and Pouches
Koozies and Bottle Coolers: You can buy flat koozies and bottle coolers that you embroider and then sew up yourself. Some options also have zippers for easy access.
Coffee Koozies (Like the ones at Starbucks, but make these out of fabric or neoprene, and add a design!)
Water Bottle Insulators: Buy these also unsewn or use a multi-needle embroidery machine to stitch a monogram or fun saying on them.
Hanging Banners: Call it bunting, a banner, or pennant flag, creating one out of burlap, chalk cloth, or your favorite fabric is easy.
Costume Masks
Things to Embroider For Holidays
Whether it’s Easter, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, or another holiday, here are a few cute things to embroider for the occasion.
Stuffed Animals: Embroider an ear, belly, paw, or even foot of a stuffed animal for a fun holiday embroidery project. (Here’s how to embroider bunny ears.)
Ornaments (Felt, free-standing lace, or many other options!)
Tree Toppers
Stockings: Add a name or saying to the top.
Tooth Fairy Pillow
Gift Bags or Sacks
Santa Sacks
Gift Card Holders
Christmas Cards
Gift Tags
Christmas Cookie Bags
Fabric Easter Baskets (or embroider a fabric liner to place in a wicker Easter basket.)
Here are things that you carry but can also embroider to add personalization!
Fanny Packs
Messenger Bags with Flaps that Open
Purses
Clutches with Flaps that Opens
Beach Bags
Clear Vinyl Bags: Embroidery can decrease waterproof qualities, though.
Glasses Cases: Neoprene cases with zippers are easiest to embroider, but you can embroider as you create your own from cotton fabric.
Sunglasses or Reading Glasses Straps (Just get them wide enough!)
Weekender Bags
Luggage (Zipper pouches on the outside are easiest to access.)
Bible Cover Carrying Bags: You can sew your own or purchase one from Sew for Less.
Duffel Bags
Fabric Coolers: Embroidering a top that unzips or a front zipper pocket is a “cool” thing to embroider!
Makeup or Cosmetic Bags: Round, square, or rectangular, just make sure you can hoop it in a single layer.
Drawstring Backpacks: Ripstop and lightweight fabrics are more difficult to embroider without puckering or issues, so choose a simple design, and make sure you can isolate a single layer of the backpack to embroider.
Garment Bags: Heavier fabrics like canvas are foolproof to embroider.
Embroidering For Pets
Pets need embroidered items also! Here are some fun things to embroider for pets that also sell well. You can purchase leashes and collars at Dollar Tree, for instance, and mark them up over 10x.
Jewelry Cases (Choose a soft one that unzips easily.)
Other Fun Things to Embroider and Interesting Techniques
Here are some miscellaneous machine embroidery project ideas that didn’t fit into the above categories. Some are techniques, and others are project ideas.
Phew, that’s it for now! Any other embroidery blanks ideas or things to embroider and sell or keep that you love?
2 Comments
You’re a God-sent angel. I can’t express enough my appreciation for the knowledge you have.
It has been a while since I started to google for embroidery ideas, just today, Google presented your website.
Thank you,
You’re a God-sent angel. I can’t express enough my appreciation for the knowledge you have.
It has been a while since I started to google for embroidery ideas, just today, Google presented your website.
Thank you,
Thanks for the sweet note! I’m glad you’ve found my site helpful 🙂