Machine embroidery trapunto

Trapunto embroidery with an embroidery machine is super easy and adds a really cool, eye-catching touch to your handmade clothing with our free Trapunto embroidery file!

The most important things at a glance

• To do Trapunto embroidery with our free embroidery design, you need an embroidery machine
• In this guide, you will learn how the Trapunto technique works
• Embroidery expert Kasia Hanack will guide you step by step to the perfect Trapunto embroidery
• With the free Trapunto embroidery file, Kasia shows you two cool variations
• You can download a free Trapunto embroidery file in this guide
• Trapunto works best on stretchy fabrics like jersey or sweat fabric
• 🪡 Embroidery level: easy
• ⏰ Embroidery time: 15 min

What is Trapunto?

Trapunto is an exciting 3D embroidery technique. The motifs are simple and quick to embroider and achieve an elegant three-dimensional effect. Usually, embroidery foam or batting is placed underneath to enhance the embossed, relief-like look of the embroidered fabric. You can perform Trapunto with hand embroidery, a sewing machine, or an embroidery machine.

With our super sweet Trapunto heart freebie, you can try out the technique and see for yourself how well it works.

Trapunto works best on stretchy materials. However, it is also possible to embroider this technique on woven fabrics and soft faux leather. The 3D effect will be smaller, but it still looks great, of course.

Reading tip: Embroidery on jersey with an embroidery machine

YouTube sewing tutorial: Doing Trapunto with an embroidery machine

What does Trapunto embroidery look like?

Kasia and I are huge fans of this simple and very effective embroidery method. Kasia has developed many embroidery motifs that are perfectly suited for Trapunto. She often combines the Trapunto motifs with iron-on vinyls and foils. It looks incredibly good but is completely uncomplicated.

You can, for example, also embroider Trapunto on faux leather. It looks like this:

You can see further examples from Kasia's embroidery workshop below in this guide.

What do I need for Trapunto embroidery?

All you need is a prepared (or purchased) piece of clothing made of stretchy fabric, temporary spray adhesive, some embroidery foam, stabilizer (tear-away), and an embroidery needle. And then you are ready to go!

How do I get the embroidery file onto the embroidery machine?

If you are embroidering for the first time, you might be wondering how it all works, right? No problem, I will explain it to you step by step.
By the way: If you enjoy embroidering, it is sensible to save all embroidery files in a separate folder so you can always find them again quickly whenever the urge to embroider strikes. And that might happen more often than you might imagine: Embroidery is pure magic!

• Download the embroidery file
• Save the file on your device
• Unzip the file, e.g., with the free 7Zip
• Transfer the unzipped file to a USB stick
• Plug the USB stick into your embroidery machine
• Select the file on your embroidery machine
• Let's go!

What should I pay attention to when embroidering with the embroidery machine?

Perhaps you have already read our basics post "Embroidery with the embroidery machine"? Then you surely know the general idea of how it works. Here are a few extra tips for you.

Are you ready to unleash your creativity and create magical designs with your embroidery machine? Great, because I have a few tips here for you to get the most out of your embroidery adventure:

1. Choose the right material: Start with a stable fabric like cotton or linen. These materials are ideal for embroidery projects as they hold stitches well and are easy to embroider.
2. Stabilize the fabric: You can stabilize elastic or non-elastic fabrics in advance with spray starch. You can also iron the spray starch dry.
3. Prepare your fabric: Before you start embroidering, it is important to properly prepare the fabric. Iron it to remove wrinkles, and then stretch it firmly into the embroidery hoop. A smooth, tautly stretched fabric ensures clean and precise stitches.
4. Do not overstretch the fabric: The fabric should be taut, but not stretched, when placed in the embroidery hoop.
5. Choose the right embroidery thread: Opt for high-quality embroidery thread in colors matching your design. You can also work with specialty threads.
6. Use the correct stabilizer: Different stabilizers for different fabrics – that's actually self-explanatory. My tip: Grab a stabilizer starter set^* to find out which types of stabilizer you prefer working with.
7. Use a specific bobbin thread: So-called bobbin-fill threads^* ensure that the embroidery looks nice and doesn't get too thick.
8. Adjust the thread tension: A slightly loosened thread tension can make the embroidery look even neater. If you notice that the bobbin thread is appearing on the top side of the embroidery, the thread tension is too high.
9. Experiment with different options: Why not try out what happens if you simply use your favorite colors instead of the suggested embroidery thread colors.
10. Keep your machine clean: Regular cleaning and maintenance of your embroidery machine are crucial for achieving optimal results. Remove excess threads and dust particles to avoid blockages and ensure that your machine runs smoothly.
11. Oil your machine: This only applies to embroidery machines that need to be oiled anyway, of course. A few drops of oil on the small felt reservoirs ensure that my Bernina 770 runs like a charm.
12. Insert a fresh embroidery needle: Embroidery works best with fresh embroidery needles that are perfectly suited to the fabric.
13. Have fun and be patient: The most important thing when embroidering is to enjoy the process and gradually improve your skills. Be patient with yourself and don't be discouraged if not everything works perfectly the first time. Each embroidery project is an opportunity to learn and grow. And: have fun, of course!

Can you also do Trapunto with a sewing machine?

By the way, Trapunto embroidery also works with a sewing machine. In that case, you don't need an embroidery file. Here is a short guide on how you can handle Trapunto embroidery with a sewing machine:

1. Project preparation: Choose a fabric for your project. Trapunto embroidery works best on light to medium-weight elastic fabric.
2. Draw the desired motif onto the foam stabilizer. For lettering, you must mirror the letters.
3. Creating the Trapunto effect: Use a thicker thread, such as embroidery thread, to stitch the desired contours or patterns onto the marked areas.
4. Glue the foam stabilizer onto the back of the fabric at the desired location.
5. Sew along the marked lines to create the design.
6. Cut away the excess stabilizer around the embroidered areas to ensure that the Trapunto motif is beautifully highlighted.

Doing Trapunto embroidery with a sewing machine might require some practice to find the right balance between stitch length and the thickness of the foam stabilizer. However, it is a great way to add an eye-catcher to your sewing projects even without an embroidery machine.

If you haven't embroidered with an embroidery machine very often, you can also first inform yourself in our comprehensive basic article on materials and embroidery technique.

Reading tip: Embroidery with an embroidery machine

Which needle for Trapunto embroidery?

For Trapunto embroidery, you should insert an embroidery needle into your embroidery machine. A universal embroidery needle size 75 to 80 works very well. Because embroidery foam is used in this technique, the needle should be fresh and sharp.

Which thread for Trapunto with an embroidery machine?

Trapunto embroidery works best with high-quality embroidery thread. For example, Polysheen by Mettler, which has a smooth, tightly twisted surface and a great sheen, is very suitable here. It is perfect for home embroidery machines and available in many colors.

How does Trapunto embroidery with an embroidery machine work?

You can recognize Trapunto by the fact that the embroidery appears particularly sculptural due to the incorporation of embroidery foam. It practically "pops" out of the fabric. For this, a piece of embroidery foam is simply placed underneath while embroidering. Another variation is embroidering along with a contrasting colored fabric, which also emphasizes the whole thing in color.

Required material:

• 3 mm embroidery foam
• Stabilizer (tear-away) – e.g., Weblon Stable by Madeira
• Spray adhesive^*
• Embroidery thread weight 40^*
• Embroidery bobbin thread^* (Bobbinfill weight 60 or 70)
• Needle: Universal embroidery needle^* (ballpoint) size 75 to 80
• Appliqué scissors^*
• Optional: Jersey for variation 2 (embroidery pattern H2) of the embroidery
• Optional: Avalon Film^* for high-pile material (e.g., ribbed jersey, velour, or terry cloth)

Ready-made material packages with 2 x 20 x 30 cm embroidery foam and 50 x 50 cm Weblon Stable can be ordered from Kasia's online shop. You can also find further embroidery patterns in the shop. It is, of course, also possible to order a personalized embroidery file with lettering.

Download Trapunto embroidery file for free

You can download the free Trapunto embroidery file here.

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Guide: Trapunto embroidery with an embroidery machine

Everything ready? Then let's get started. First, you need the PDF template to place your heart embroidery motif correctly. For this variation, you need embroidery file H1.

Select the embroidery format that is suitable for your embroidery machine. For my Bernina, for example, that is EXP.

Variant 1: Embroidering with foam under the fabric

Variant 2: Embroidering with foam on the fabric plus applique fabric (fringe applique)

For this slightly more eye-catching and color-contrasting variant, you additionally need a small piece of jersey and the embroidery file H2. This technique takes place only on the right side of the fabric.

Image 11

So, are you now in the mood to embellish your clothes with the ingenious Trapunto embroidery technique? Then grab one or two of Kasia's embroidery designs and get started! You can see more examples of this technique here. All motifs are from Kasia's hand:

Have fun making this!

Best regards, Kasia & Sabine