EMBROIDERY CARE GUIDE
How to Care for Embroidered Clothing
Embroidery lasts far longer than printed graphics — but only if you wash it right. Here's exactly how we recommend caring for every piece we stitch.
The short version
Turn it inside out. Wash cold, gentle cycle. Tumble dry low or hang dry. Never iron directly on the stitching.
Washing
Turn the garment inside out first. This is the single most important step. It keeps the stitched surface from rubbing against the drum and other garments, which is what causes thread fuzzing over time.
Use cold water on a gentle or delicate cycle. Hot water is what shrinks cotton unevenly around the stitched area and causes puckering — the fabric shrinks, the thread doesn't.
Use a mild detergent. Skip bleach and skip fabric softener. Bleach breaks down thread fibers; softener leaves a residue that dulls the sheen of the stitching.
Wash with similar fabrics. Avoid washing embroidered pieces with zippers, hooks, or anything abrasive that can snag a thread loop.
Drying
Tumble dry low, or hang dry. Low heat is safe. High heat is the second most common cause of puckering, after hot water.
Take it out slightly damp and let it finish air drying. This keeps the fabric around the design from over-shrinking.
Don't wring or twist the garment. Press water out gently if it's soaked.
Ironing
Never place a hot iron directly on the embroidery. It flattens the raised texture that makes the design look good in the first place, and can scorch the thread.
To press an embroidered garment:
- Turn it inside out
- Lay a thin cotton cloth or pressing cloth over the back of the stitched area
- Iron on low-to-medium heat, in short passes
- Let it cool flat before folding or hanging
A steamer held a few inches away is a safer option for removing wrinkles.
Storage
Fold, don't hang, heavy sweatshirts. Hanging a heavyweight fleece for months stretches the shoulders.
Store in a dry place. Humidity can cause mildew spotting on cotton thread.
For hats: stuff the crown with tissue paper to hold its shape, and never store them under heavy items.
What not to do
- ❌ Bleach or chlorine-based stain removers
- ❌ Hot water washes
- ❌ High-heat drying
- ❌ Ironing directly on the design
- ❌ Dry cleaning solvents (harsh on cotton thread)
- ❌ Scrubbing a stain on the stitched area — blot instead
Why our embroidery holds up
We stitch with genuine French DMC threads, which are colorfast and won't bleed onto the garment. Every design is backed with stabilizer to keep the stitching flat and prevent the fabric from distorting. With the care above, your piece should look sharp for years, not seasons.
Shop the collection: embroidered sweatshirts and hoodies, embroidered hats, and embroidered tote bags.