Table of Contents
Watch the video: “How to embroider letters and monograms by hand.” by AroundTheYear
Hand-stitched letters are the small detail that make everyday textiles feel personal. In this tutorial, Maggie from AroundTheYear shows how to design a monogram, outline it in chain stitch, and then refine it with a gentle looping pass for an elegant, fuller look that’s neat even from the back.
You’ll work slowly, keep your stitches tiny—especially on curves—and let the technique do the polishing.
What you’ll learn
- How to plan and transfer a simple monogram design to fabric
- How to outline text using chain stitches with consistent loops
- How small stitch size keeps curves smooth and readable
- How to neaten and “plump” the outline by looping under existing chain stitches without piercing the fabric
- How to fasten off and check your finish from both front and back
Why Embroider Letters and Monograms? Hand embroidery is accessible, portable, and warm. A small set of hand tools and a calm pace let you add initials to napkins, bags, or tees with a finish that feels truly handmade. Maggie’s approach focuses on simple design and precise technique so your result looks polished without requiring advanced skills.
- Personalize Your Items
Add initials to gifts or household linens so they’re easy to identify and delightful to use. If you keep your design simple and your stitch scale small, the letters read cleanly at a glance.
- Handmade Charm
Chain stitches have a soft, slightly raised texture. The optional looping pass adds refined fullness without overworking the fabric. This pairing reads as elegant rather than bulky, perfect for a crisp letterform.
- Unique Gifts
An embroidered monogram turns a basic item into a keepsake. Keep the curves smooth and the tension even, and the finish will look tidy on the front and impressively neat on the back.
Pro tip If your design includes tight curves, plan to take more, smaller chain stitches there. Tiny links are what keep the round sections of letters from looking boxy.
Essential Tools and Materials Maggie keeps the supply list minimal and beginner-friendly. The video shows these essentials:
- Fabric: A plain, stable fabric works well. The exact fabric type isn’t specified.
- Embroidery thread: Standard 6-strand embroidery cotton, used as three strands (half a strand) for monograms.
- Needle: A hand-sewing needle suitable for embroidery cotton.
- Scissors: For trimming thread.
- Paper and pencil: For sketching the monogram before transferring.
Watch out The video does not specify a particular fabric type or brand of floss. If you’re experimenting, start with a smooth, tightly woven fabric so your tiny stitches are easier to control.
Fabric Choice The tutorial doesn’t name a specific fabric. Choose something you can see needle holes in easily and that supports small, consistent stitches. If your fabric is loosely woven or very stretchy, keeping chain links even will be harder.
Embroidery Thread Explained Maggie recommends using three strands from a standard six-strand embroidery cotton. Separating your floss to exactly three strands balances visibility and delicacy—thin enough for crisp detail but thick enough to read as a letter.
Quick check Before stitching the real piece, work a short test line with three strands on a fabric scrap to confirm your stitch size looks clean.
Basic Stitching Kit You’ll need a needle, thread, scissors, paper, and pencil. That’s it. The video doesn’t show hoops, stabilizers, or other extras, and none are required for the demonstrated technique.
Designing Your Monogram Maggie sketches the letters S and M joined together as an example. Keep your design simple—clean strokes and clear junctions make the stitching easier and the final letters sharper.
- Simple Lettering
Decide on initials and a straightforward style. Bold, blocky shapes or classic serif outlines both work, but limit tight corners until you’re comfortable with tiny stitches.
- Combining Initials
Maggie links S and M. If you’re combining, ensure overlap areas are obvious at sketch scale. This will help when you stitch so the eye follows the right shape.
- Transferring Your Design
The video implies transferring the sketch to fabric but doesn’t show how. However you transfer, make sure the line is visible yet light enough to cover with stitches.
From the comments One viewer praised the clarity and wanted to connect as a fellow creator. The takeaway: this approach resonates with people who already embroider, as well as beginners.
Mastering the Chain Stitch Base Chain stitch creates a neat, continuous outline of interlocked loops that follow your letter’s path.
Starting Your Stitch Maggie begins with a tiny securing knot: a backstitch with the needle passed through the loop before tightening. This anchors your thread without bulk.
Creating Consistent Loops
- Bring the needle down close to where it came up, then resurface a short distance ahead along your letter’s line.
- Before tightening, pass the working thread loop behind the needle and then pass the needle through the loop; now pull to form a tidy chain link.
- Repeat: Go down right next to where you emerged within the previous stitch, come up a little farther ahead, and pass the needle through the loop before pulling tight.
Watch out Don’t yank the thread. Consistent, gentle tension keeps the chain links uniform and prevents puckering.
Tips for Curves The secret to smooth curves is tiny stitches. Maggie suggests small, consistent lengths—especially on the “curvy bits.” The video gives practical size guidance: less than 1/8 inch, and even closer to 1/16 inch (approximately 3 mm). If a curved section looks angular or “wonky,” unpick just that area and restitch with smaller links.
Quick check After each few links, pause and view the curve from arm’s length. If the arc looks stepped, shorten your next few stitches and even them out.
Continue the outline along each letter until you return to your starting point or finish a stroke; then fasten off neatly at the back.
Neatness benchmarks as you go:
- Link size and spacing look consistent.
- Curves read smoothly without corners.
- The line looks neither too tight (puckered) nor too loose (gappy).
When the base outline is complete, trim the excess thread.
The Looping Technique for a Fuller Look You can stop at the chain stitch outline, but Maggie demonstrates a second pass that “polishes” the lettering. This looping pass gives the monogram a fuller, more refined edge.
Adding Volume to Your Monogram Fasten a new thread at the start of the design with a small knot. The goal now is to glide the needle under the existing chain stitches and around them, gently nesting the thread to visually tighten and round the links.
Looping Around Chain Stitches
- Insert the needle under the chain stitch—not through the fabric—then wrap around the link to snug it.
- Keep moving forward along the letter, looping under the chain stitches to subtly draw them together.
- Maggie suggests two or three loops per chain stitch before advancing.
The critical rule is to avoid piercing the fabric during this step; you’re only interacting with the chain stitches you already made.
Achieving a Neat Finish Maintain light, even tension so the line looks smooth without compressing the base stitches. The effect should be subtle: a crisp, unified outline with slightly more body.
Watch out If you accidentally catch the fabric, you can create bumps or uneven tension. Unpick that spot carefully and re-loop without entering the fabric.
Quick check Tilt the fabric so the light rakes across the stitching. This low-angle view reveals any uneven loops or tension changes you might miss straight-on.
Finishing Strong and Enjoying Your Creation When the looping pass is complete, fasten off at the back and trim ends neatly. Maggie highlights how tidy the back looks when you avoid piercing the fabric during the second pass. That clean reverse side is a hallmark of careful technique, especially on items where the back may be visible.
Securing Your Threads Securely fasten the working thread on the back, then trim. The video shows this as the final move before the reveal.
Final Inspection Look at the front and back:
- Front: The letters should read crisply, with smooth curves and even coverage.
- Back: Threads should be secure, with no stray loops or bulky knots.
Showcasing Your Work The video ends with finished monograms that look elegant and composed. This approach is beginner-friendly but results in a professional finish that suits gifts and everyday textiles alike.
FAQ Q: What thread thickness should I use? A: The video recommends half a strand of standard 6-strand embroidery cotton—so three strands—for a delicate, well-defined line.
Q: How small should the stitches be? A: Keep them very small on curves—less than 1/8 inch, ideally closer to 1/16 inch (about 3 mm). Smaller links produce smoother arcs.
Q: Why do the extra loops after the chain stitch outline? A: The looping pass glides under and around the chain stitches to neaten and subtly plump the outline—without piercing the fabric.
Troubleshooting at a glance
- Wonky curves: Your stitches are too large; restitch with smaller links.
- Bumpy finish after looping: You likely pierced the fabric; unpick and re-loop only under the chain stitches.
- Gappy chains: Increase your stitch count along that segment and keep tension even.
From sketch to stitch: a quick recap 1) Sketch and transfer your letters. 2) Outline with chain stitch, keeping links tiny and even—especially on curves. 3) Loop under those chains to refine and add fullness, avoiding the fabric. 4) Fasten off and admire both front and back.
A note on tools not covered in the video This tutorial is entirely hand-stitched and does not cover machine equipment. If you work by hand as shown here, you don’t need any specialty frames beyond your regular setup. If you do use machines for other projects, you might encounter terms people search for—such as magnetic embroidery hoop—but those are outside the scope of this video’s hand-embroidery method.
Planning your next project Monograms look beautiful on napkins, tote pockets, or garment hems. Keep your letters simple and let the tiny chain links do the shaping. If you like a bolder look, repeat the looping pass, keeping it gentle and even so the outline stays smooth.
Pro tip Pause after each letter to evaluate from a distance; it’s easier to correct spacing before you move too far along the line.
Optional reading for machine users (not covered in the video) This hand tutorial doesn’t require machines. If you later explore machine embroidery on separate projects, you may see general phrases like magnetic embroidery frames or magnetic embroidery hoops. These terms refer broadly to accessories used with embroidery machines and are unrelated to the hand-only approach demonstrated here.
Choosing projects with curves and straights Letters such as S, C, and G are great practice for curves; letters with straights like H and M help you refine spacing and tension. Varying stroke types builds confidence with both micro-adjustments and consistent link spacing.
Watch out Shortcuts on curves show immediately—resist the urge to lengthen stitch size to go faster. The smoothness you want depends on those tiny, consistent links.
Finishing mindset Treat the last 10%—the looping pass and the final fasten-off—as crucial. These steps make your monogram read “finished,” not just “stitched.”
If you’re curious about equipment beyond hand stitching Maggie’s method uses only a needle, thread, and scissors. For machine-curious crafters researching elsewhere, phrases like embroidery machine for beginners or best embroidery machine for beginners often come up in buying guides. Again, none of that is part of this video; the technique here is fully hand-sewn.
Care and longevity With small, evenly tensioned stitches and secure fastening, a monogram will withstand gentle wear. If an area loosens over time, you can re-loop the chain stitches without dismantling the entire letter.
Quick check Run a fingertip lightly over the outline. It should feel even—no sharp rises, no flat gaps. If you detect a ridge, examine that spot’s loop tension and adjust.
A final word Clean design, tiny chain links, and a careful looping pass are all you need. Maggie’s approach is thoughtfully paced and precise, making it ideal for beginners who want heirloom-looking results.
Additional note for machine-only readers If your crafting routine is machine-first for separate projects, you might come across product names or categories like snap hoop monster or retailers that stock accessories commonly searched under "embroidery hoops uk". Helpful context for those machine paths is outside this hand tutorial, but the hand principles—small, even stitching and patient refinement—still inspire the same tidy finish.