How to Customize Your Favorite Cap by Decorating It With Embroidery

October 5, 2021

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Baseball caps will always be in style. Maybe you’re rooting for a sports team, or maybe you just like how they look. But if they’re feeling a little flat for you, you’re in luck; there’s a crafty trend that is reimagining these everyday caps. Embroidery—particularly flowers—are adorning cotton baseball caps and offering some stitchy flair to the accessory.

While many wearers of embroidered caps chose to buy them already stitched—and that’s perfectly fine—you might want to try and make your own. After all, it’s easy to find the materials needed for this DIY project. You can get everything you need at a local craft store. And because embroidery is a forgiving craft, if you’re not happy with how your hat looks, you can remove the stitches and start again.

Scroll down for a supplies list, patterns and tutorials, and buy-it-now options for embroidered hats.

Embroidered Hats Supplies List

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This craft requires very little in the way of supplies needed. In fact, if you already embroider, you might only need the hat!

Cotton cap — Baseball caps are the most popular type of hat to use, but you’ll be able to easily stitch onto any hat that’s made of cotton. Look for a “washed” cap for a vintage look.
Embroidery floss — When it comes to embroidery thread, the brand DMC is the most popular. It’s not hard to see why—they have over 400 hues to choose from. You’ll want to select five to 10 colors (depending on your design) and use those in your stitching.
Embroidery hoop — A hoop will hold your stitching surface taut and make it easier to sew. Look for something that’s on the smaller side, as your hat won’t be that big. Get looped into embroidery when you check out our guide all about embroidery hoops.
Embroidery scissors — If you’re investing in embroidery, look for a good pair of scissors. A pair with short, sharp blades will ensure your thread is easy to cut and won’t fray on the ends, making it harder to thread a needle. Check out our comprehensive guide to embroidery scissors.
Needle — Because you’ll be stitching through a stiffer fabric, you’ll want to secure a sharp needle. Look for needles that are specifically geared towards embroidery.
Disappearing ink pen — There are several ways to transfer a design onto a cap, but the most effective might be the disappearing ink marker. This special pen contains ink that will disappear after a couple of days or when it comes in contact with water. Either way, it’s not permanent, so no one will see your marks when your stitching is done.