Can You Machine Embroider on Mesh?

Yes, you can machine embroider on screen, as long as it's a fine, soft nylon mesh rather than metal wire screening. Hoop the mesh with wash-away stabilizer, stitch your design, and rinse the stabilizer away. The finished piece is see-through, so the stitching stands out when light shines behind it, friend, which is why it looks so different from the same design on fabric.

Embroidery has a reputation for being dense, tidy, and firmly attached to fabric. Screen mesh breaks all three rules. Stitch a design onto it and the thread seems to hang in midair, then put a light behind it and the whole piece glows. Sandra showed one off on 3 Things Live, and it's an easy project to want to try the same day.

Which screen works for machine embroidery?

One clarification before anyone heads to the hardware store. Sandra's advice was to skip the standard screening used in windows. Embroidery mesh is finer, and that fineness is what lets it hold the stitches. Fine mesh from a hardware or craft store can work, and mesh made for embroidery takes the guesswork out. Kimberbell's Embroidery Screen Mesh is one option, with five 12 x 18 inch sheets in Honeydew, Bubblegum, Grapefruit, Candy Apple, and Champagne. It's described as soft and sheer, with small holes that catch the stitches.

The one hard rule is no metal screen wire in an embroidery machine. It can damage the machine, and that's the kind of shortcut that ends in a service appointment.

How do you stabilize and hoop screen mesh?

Mesh has no body of its own, so it leans on stabilizer. Sandra hooped a sticky-back wash-away stabilizer, pressed the mesh onto it, and skipped the topper. The stitches stood out well without one. You can also add a second layer of wash-away for extra support, and a test on a scrap will tell you which approach your design wants.

What thread and tools work best?

Polyester thread is a dependable pick. Metallic thread is the one to leave in the drawer, since it's hard to see against mesh and can be rough on the material. Slowing the machine to 400 stitches per minute or less can help the mesh settle in naturally. Keep craft scissors nearby for trimming, because some screen can be hard on good fabric scissors.

How do you finish embroidered screen?

Trim the excess stabilizer, then rinse away what's left following your stabilizer's directions. The iron stays in the closet for this one, since some screen material melts under direct heat.

How do you display embroidered screen?

This is where the project pays off. Sandra put her finished screen in a hoop, stood it on an easel, and set a light behind it. She had a spooky Halloween table in mind, but the idea works in any season. To hoop a finished piece, pull the mesh tight and trim the extra close to the frame so no edges show from the front.

Customers have mentioned they've embroidered the screen on their fifth wheel. Sandra pictured a welcome sign you could swap for each season, with a different screen for each holiday. Her caution still applies: use a fine mesh made for embroidery, not standard window screening.

Start with a small design on a scrap of mesh and see how the light plays with it!

Ready to try something see-through? Kimberbell's Embroidery Screen Mesh (5) comes with five sheets in five colors, ready to hoop and stitch.

See It in Action

Sandra shows her finished screen piece, how it looks with a light behind the hoop, and how she set up the stabilizer. Check out the full segment here:

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you embroider on window screen?
Yes, if it's a fine nylon mesh. Regular window screening isn't as fine as embroidery mesh, and metal screen wire should never go in an embroidery machine.

What stabilizer works best for embroidering on screen mesh?
Wash-away stabilizer is the usual choice. Sandra used a sticky-back wash-away and no topper. Some guides recommend a second layer, so test on a scrap first.

Do I need a topper on screen mesh?
Not necessarily. Sandra skipped the topper on her screen sample, and the stitches stood out well.

What thread should I use on screen mesh?
Polyester thread works well. Avoid metallic thread, which is difficult to see on mesh and can damage the material.

How do you display embroidered screen?
Sandra put hers in a hoop on an easel with a light behind it. To hoop a finished piece, pull the mesh tight and trim the extra close to the frame.

P.S. Have a design in mind for your first screen project? We would love to help! Reach us at info@mygirlfriendsquiltshoppe.com or 435-213-3229.