There are so many different fabrics that you can choose to embroider. But the best fabrics most suitable for embroidering are made from natural fibers rather than synthetic ones. Synthetic fibers can be too stretchy to embroider on, resulting in a distorted design or loose stitches. But for you to decide which fabric to embroider, you must consider what type of embroidery you will work on. If you are making something that is decorative, you do not need to pre-wash your fabric. But if you will embroider something that needs to be washed often, it would be best to wash and dry your fabric before stitching. Below are a few tips and guides in choosing the right embroidery fabric for your project. Thread Count In choosing your embroidery fabric, thread count is important. A good fabric to embroider is one with a lower thread count so that it will not be too tough to stitch on. Fabrics with thread count under 150 like cotton, linen, Aida, muslin, flour sack, and Osnaburg are fabrics that are excellent for embroidery because the weave on the fabrics is not too tight. Choose natural fibers Fabrics made from natural materials are also the best ones to embroider. They are soft but strong enough to support decorative stitches. The best examples of fabrics from natural fibers are linen, cotton, silk, wool, or a blend of these fabrics. Synthetic fibers tend to fray when perforated by needles. Pre-wash your fabric To avoid puckering of stitches, you might want to wash your fabric first before embroidering. Laundering your fabric tightens up the weave making it uniform throughout the fabric. Washing your fabric before stitching pre-shrinks it. This step prepares your fabric for future washes after embroidering. Add a stabilizer If you are making heavy designs or attaching beads or buttons to your embroidery, it would be a great idea to add a stabilizer at the back of your fabric. This added interfacing will support the heavier stitching on the right side of the fabric. Stitch on sample fabrics You may try stitching on different fabric samples to determine which fabric would work best for your specific embroidery project. You will discover which one would look best on your particular project.