Embroidery Machine Guide

Design size guide

Pillow cover embroidery size

Pillow cover designs usually run about 3 to 10 in (76 to 254 mm). A centered 6 × 6 in (152 × 152 mm) motif suits many 14 to 20 in pillow forms and fits a 6 × 10 hoop. Keep corner designs 1.25 in (32 mm) from the finished edge.

Typical size6 × 6 in (152 × 152 mm)
Width range3–10 in (76–254 mm)
Height range3–10 in (76–254 mm)
Smallest hoop6 × 10 in (160 × 260 mm)
Machines that fit it50 in our guide
6 × 10 hoopDesign
A typical pillow cover design inside a 6 × 10 in hoop, drawn to scale.

Where to place it

Find the center of the cover front by measuring each side, halving it and drawing lines between the marks. The point where the lines cross is the center. Measure from the finished edge, not the cut edge. Embroidery Library cuts fronts 1/2 in (13 mm) larger than the pillow form for the seam, for example 19 × 19 in for an 18 in form. When you add corner designs, keep them at least 1.25 in (32 mm) from the edge of the finished shape, and leave about 1 in (25 mm) between neighboring designs. On a pillowcase, center the design side to side and between the opening and the decorative hem. Print a paper template for each design, mark its center and axis lines, and line the lines up with the marks on the hoop.

Pillow covers are usually embroidered flat before they are sewn together, so size is limited by the hoop, not by the pillow. One hoop chart pairs decorative pillows with the 6 × 10 in (160 × 260 mm) hoop, with a stitch field of 6.2 × 10.2 in, and pillowcases with either an 8 × 8 in (200 × 200 mm) or a 6 × 10 in hoop. Embroidery Library's pillow projects use 14, 18 and 20 in square forms (356, 457 and 508 mm) often with one design in the center and smaller designs around it, so a motif of about 6 in (152 mm) leaves plenty of fabric around it. Check your machine's stitch field in millimeters and leave a little space inside the hoop.

Most covers use medium-weight (2.5 oz) cutaway stabilizer. Spray the stabilizer with temporary adhesive and smooth the fabric on top. Slippery fabric such as satin needs that adhesive to stop it shifting. Textured fabric such as a knit sweater needs a water-soluble topping on top as well, so the stitches do not sink in. Percale pillowcases are lighter, and Embroidery Library suggests a soft cutaway such as a no-show mesh, or a soft tear-away, with a 75/11 embroidery needle so the stabilizer does not show through.

When you add more than one design, print a paper template for each, lay them out on the fabric and mark the center point and both axis lines of each. Hoop the fabric and stabilizer together, line up the marks, move the hoop until the needle sits over the center point, then re-hoop for each design. Trim the extra stabilizer from the back when you finish.

A pillowcase is a different job from a cushion cover. The design usually goes near the open edge, often by the hem, and the case has to be hooped so that only one layer sits in the hoop. Open the hem seam first, roll the extra fabric away and clip it, and avoid stitching through two layers, which causes puckering.

Tips

  • Embroider the cover front flat before you sew the pillow together.
  • Measure placement from the finished edge, and remember the seam allowance, which is 1/2 in (13 mm) on Embroidery Library's covers.
  • Spray the cutaway stabilizer with temporary adhesive so slippery fabric like satin cannot shift.
  • Add a water-soluble topping on knits and other textured fabrics.
  • Print a paper template for each design and mark the center and axis lines before you hoop.

Check this size on your machine

Machines that can stitch a pillow cover design

These machines hold the typical 6 × 6 in size in one hooping.

And 26 more. See all machines.

Frequently asked questions

What size embroidery design should I use on a throw pillow?

A centered motif of about 6 × 6 in (152 × 152 mm) works on many 14 to 20 in pillow forms. Designs from 3 to 10 in (76 to 254 mm) are normal, and corner designs are usually smaller than the center motif.

Which hoop do I need for a pillow cover design?

A 6 × 10 in (160 × 260 mm) hoop covers most pillow designs, and an 8 × 8 in (200 × 200 mm) hoop suits square designs and pillowcases. Check the stitch field of your machine in millimeters first.

How far from the edge should the embroidery be on a pillow?

Keep corner designs at least 1.25 in (32 mm) from the edge of the finished cover, and measure from the seam line, not the cut edge. Embroidery Library leaves about 1 in (25 mm) between neighboring designs.

What stabilizer should I use on a pillow cover?

Medium-weight cutaway stabilizer with temporary adhesive for most fabrics. Add a water-soluble topping on knits or other textured fabric. For a light percale pillowcase use a soft cutaway or soft tear-away so the stabilizer does not show through.

Sources