10 Must Have Machine Embroidery Supplies for Beginners

Are you ready to start your embroidery business and have purchased the embroidery machine?

Apart from the embroidery machine, there are various machine embroidery supplies, and before using your embroidery machine, you need to buy those basic embroidery supplies.

From stabilizers to machine embroidery threads, needles, hoops, and others, you will constantly need these supplies to keep up with your embroidery projects.

Let’s start with some basic and must-have machine embroidery supplies to achieve embroidery success.

Must-Have Machine Embroidery Supplies,

Check out this “must have” list of machine embroidery supplies, which are considered essential to getting started with machine embroidery.

Are embroidery hoops necessary?

Yes, because an embroidery hoop firmly holds the fabric while embroidering, which prevents puckering. The size of the embroidery hoop depends on the size of the embroidery design. The larger the hoop size, the larger the design can be embroidered.

However, for the best possible results, select a hoop size that closely matches the size of the design. Plus, if you are working on multiple projects at once, using active stitching time to set up for the next project in a new hoop is helpful.

Tip: Be sure the extra hoops you buy are compatible with your machine before purchasing them.

Typically, as part of the embroidery machine box, you can get one to several spools of embroidery thread. They, however, need to be more sufficient to run an embroidered business effectively.

Therefore, you should buy extra embroidery threads to ensure everything runs smoothly. Several branded embroidery threads are available. Nonetheless, we recommend comparing other brands' costs to see which offers the most value for money.

Tip: We advise using polyester, cotton, or rayon embroidery thread.

You will also require a bobbin thread for your machine, along with the top thread. The bobbin thread color is not important for the majority of embroidery designs. But if you decide to wind your own, think about getting more bobbins for your machine and specific bobbin embroidery thread. As bobbin thread is less expensive and used extensively during stitching, buy it in 3,000 to 5,000 yards cones.

Tip: Always check your embroidery machine manual to find the preferred weight and type of bobbin thread.

Although you may have received some embroidery needles with your embroidery machine packages, you are advised to buy a specialty selection of machine embroidery needles in bulk. This will ensure that you are prepared to take on any machine embroidery projects and always have backup inventory available in case of need.

In a nutshell, embroidery needles are available in sizes from 70/10 to 90/14 and greater. Also, there are many types of embroidery needles with different points, including universal, ballpoint, and sharp point needles.

Tip: If you are in doubt, go for A 75/11 universal embroidery needle, which is adaptable and meets the needs of the majority of machine embroidery projects.

The embroidery scissors are the next item on the list of necessary machine embroidery supplies. While you can begin by using conventional scissors, there is still a chance that the fabric will pucker and become harmed.

Thus, you are recommended to purchase multiple types of specialist embroidery scissors. Double-curved embroidery scissors, duckbill appliqué scissors, and embroidery snips are some of the more popular types of embroidery scissors.

Tip: Choose tiny scissors or snips with curved tips to trim thread tails properly. Plus, choose scissors with small serrated blades that hold the tail of the thread while cutting.

The embroidery stabilizer is the fabric that goes inside the hoop on the back of the item you wish to embroider. The stabilizer is one of the most essential elements of machine embroidery supplies, ensuring your fabric design precisely and effectively.

Without the right stabilizer, your fabric can be distorted, the design registration may be incorrect, and it can cause puckering. Your chosen stabilizer can “make or break” your embroidery design.

Embroidery stabilizers come in a wide variety, and each type comes with a specific application.

• Cut-Away Stabilizer
• Tear-Away Stabilizer
• Water-Soluble Stabilizer
• Heat-Away Stabilizer

Tip: Always choose high-quality stabilizers because this makes a clear difference in the final embroidered design. Poor-quality stabilizers make even the best-digitized design look bad. Furthermore, you must have at least one cut-away, tear-away, wash-away stabilizer, and water-soluble topping.

It is important to have various fabric marking tools in your embroidery kit, whether marking fabric for sewing or cutting. There isn’t always a single “best” marking tool for sewing or embroidery, but having a variety of choices lets you select the one that works best for your project.

To maintain the accuracy of embroidery designs, temporary markers are necessary. You should ideally buy washable markers to remove the markings after the embroidery process. Alternatively, you can use chalk wheels or tailor’s chalk as temporary markers if you’re dealing with dark-colored materials.

Following are the different marking supplies:

• Tailor’s Chalk.
• Chalk Wheel.
• Fabric Marking Pens.
• Fabric Chalk Pencils.

Tip: Mark your design's horizontal and vertical centerlines on the fabric as it ensures proper design placement.

It is essential to store your machine embroidery threads in containers or boxes that keep the spools separated and free from tangling, thread storage boxes are perfect for cones and spools to keep frequently used colors handy, and the thread stand is a valuable addition to the machines. If you have a thread stand, you can use any cone or spool size with your embroidery and sewing machine.

Several spool thread stands make storing all the colors required for a design easy and make color swapping simple. They are made to pull the embroidery thread from the top of the cones, reducing tension, which makes for smoother embroidering. These embroidery thread stands add stability to your sewing or embroidery machine table and accommodate 1 to 20 spools.

Tip: Clean cans or thread boxes also work well as storage containers for thread since they keep the spool separate and untangled. Embroidery threads can also be held in small sections or dividers.

Alignment laser tools help you to hoop squarely and precisely. Straight hooping is much simple and easy with PAL and Vivilux lasers, which work with any domestic or commercial hoop. A placement laser is ideal for swiftly determining the center of quilt blocks, pockets, plackets, bags, and other items. They can also be used to light the path you go while stitching.

Tip: Always be very careful with lasers and your vision. Although this isn’t an intense laser, don’t take chances by staring into it!

A bobbin or thread tension gauge is ideal to ensure that the bobbin tension and upper thread on all your needles are set to the proper tension. Changing both the bobbin and upper tensions is now simple when using thread tension gauges. It's quick and simple and will help you eliminate thread breakage, looping top stitches, and unattractive bobbin thread showing on top. The best-looking embroidery is produced with consistent, controlled thread tensions.

Tip: Proper bobbin tension is important to good embroidery. Bobbin tensions must be 18 to 22 grams (up to 25 grams when embroidering caps).

Along with some must-have machine embroidery supplies, we also recommend some nice-to-have machine embroidery supplies, which, although they are not necessary to have. Still, these items are handy additions to your embroidery room or shop, even if you are a beginner or a pro.

The seam ripper is the easiest and cheapest tool to remove an embroidery design. This tool makes removing embroidery easy. Flip the garment inside out and use the sharp end to wiggle underneath the stitching. Gently lift along the stitching to rip the threads. With stitch erasers with their specialized thread-cutting blades, you can remove stitches from embroidery and all types of stitch patterns without any damage to the fabric.

Spray adhesive can be a very useful tool in machine embroidery if it is appropriately utilized. It helps prevent wrinkles, keeping slippery fabrics in place and preventing the fabric from creeping when embroidering. It helps position the stabilizer during hooping, creating a smooth and even surface.

Bobbin clamps or bobbin huggers are no way necessary to have, but they are really nice to have in your embroidery kit to keep your embroidery threads tidy and organized. Bobbin clamps hold bobbins tightly to keep the thread from unwinding, and it prevents the mess of thread if bobbins are dropped on the floor and makes the bobbins easier to store. They are super flexible, reusable, and designed to keep your threads neat and under control.

The needle inserter and threader tool is the answer to all your threading troubles. The needle inserter holds the needle steady for easy insertion and removal from the machine, reducing strain and allowing for quick threading. This affordable tool will put an end to all of your threading sufferings and is a helpful addition to your embroidery supplies.

If you are a beginner in machine embroidery and want to take your embroidery skills to the next level, keep any complete machine embroidery manual book in your embroidery kit to solve your queries at the right time with the right solution.

As you start your embroidery journey, hopefully, this list of necessary and desirable machine embroidery supplies has been helpful. Having these supplies in your machine embroidery kit, you'll be well on your way to embroidering stunning, expert-caliber designs.