HUGE Winter Sale - 60% off Frosty Favorites

Save Now

❄️ Celebrate the start of Winter with a FREE Snowflake! ❄️

Fabrics 101: Embroidering on Nylon Screen

machine embroidery design of a chickadee and flowers stitched on nylon screen in a gold geometric frame

Stitching on something like screen material may sound too good to be true, but it's a fun and easy project that can be turned into doors, beach totes, and more. Follow along with the steps below to learn more.

Supplies & Materials:

Project Materials or Supplies

  • Nylon or Pet Screen (can be found at most local hardware or fabric stores)
  • Vilene Water-Soluble Stabilizer
  • 75/11 Sharp Sewing Needle
  • Temporary Spray Adhesive

Gather Materials:

Nylon screen is a fiberglass/ polyester mesh that's coated with vinyl. The vinyl addition makes it seven times stronger than regular fiberglass screen. It's pliable, dent-proof, and is tear-resistant. Designs that are medium to high in complexity show up best on screen. Light designs get a little lost in the mesh.

Using a heavier and more porous water-soluble stabilizer such as Vilene works well when stitching onto screen.

A hand holding nylon screen

Start Embroidering:

Spray a small amount of temporary spray adhesive onto the stabilizer, then smooth the screen over the top.

A piece of water soluble stabilizer

Hoop the screen and stabilizer together. Make sure that they are hooped tightly.

A piece of water soluble stabilizer with nylon screen on top of it with one corner folded to show the stabilizer

Load the embroidery design onto your machine and embroider the design.

An embroidery machine embroidering a chickadee with flowers design on nylon screen

After the design has finished stitching, unhoop the design and trim the stabilizer close to the design. Then soak the screen, stabilizer, and design in water until the stabilizer has completely dissolved.

A machine embroidered chickadee design with flowers soaking in a glass bowl of water

Let the screen and design airdry, then use it for any project you have in mind. One easy way to turn it into decor is by trimming and adding the screen to a frame or embroidery hoop.

A machine embroidered chickadee design with flowers in glass hexagon frame with gold outlining


Turn your screen into a tote bag by visiting our tutorial here

A black nylon tote bag with machine embroidered fish stacked on the front center