How to Make Custom Badges
- 1). Measure the width and length of your badge with a clear graph ruler. Most badges are relatively small, such as 1 3/4 by 2 inches. Keep in mind your embroidery machine’s hoop attachment size.
- 2). Trace your badge design onto tracing paper using the specifications from step 1.
- 3). Draw a thick outline with a marker. Keep in mind that the line thickness will represent your badge’s embroidered rim, or frame. The rim generally has a high stitch count, resulting in a slightly raised surface.
- 4). Cut out the badge design.
- 5). Trace the badge and design details onto your fabric. Make sure to trace the badge in the center of the hoop attachment’s embroidery field. Tracing the badge close to the hoop’s frame will result in broken or skipped stitches as well as broken needles.
- 6). Stabilize your fabric with a stabilizer sheet that suits your fabric's weight. These sheets are available in a variety of forms, such as tear-away, cut-away and water-soluble, which dissolves after several washings. Follow the stabilizer’s instructions for hooping the fabric.
- 7). Hoop your fabric onto your machine’s embroidery frame, making sure that the tracing is centered and the fabric is taut.
- 8). Choose your embroidery stitch from the selector wheel or LCD screen. For example, if your design is a military badge with military stripes and you have changed the shape and kept the stripe position, choose an embroidery stitch that resembles the military-stripe pattern. Add a motif such as a star in a complementary color.
- 9). Choose your frame’s stitch type. Computerized embroidery machines offer built-in frame types. Consult your manual for resizing the frame if necessary.
- 10
Embroider the inner details of the badge by following the markings made in step 5. - 11
Embroider the badge’s frame by encasing the stitches made in step 10. Avoid stitching directly onto the embroidered inner details. - 12
Remove the fabric from the hoop attachment and cut away all loose threads. Place your fabric on a cutting board. Cut as close to the embroidered frame as possible with a rotary cutter, avoiding cutting into the frame and unraveling the badge.
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