How to Embroider on a Horse Halter

Embroidering is a good way to personalize a horse halter and enhances the horse's appearance at shows or trail rides. Most halters are made out of sturdy nylon webbing, which is generally too thick to embroider by hand. Instead, an industrial machine with a clamping device is preferred. In the absence of that, a home embroidery machine can be used, if run slowly and carefully. It is a good idea to practice first on a halter that is seldom used.

Things You'll Need

  • Embroidery machine
  • Needles
  • Polyester thread
  • Adhesive stabilizer
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Instructions

    • 1

      Unclasp the chin strap on the halter. This will allow you to lay flat the part of the halter to be embroidered.

    • 2

      Attach adhesive stabilizer to the back of the portion of the halter to be sewn. This will prevent the material from stretching or skewing the design while being stitched.

    • 3

      Place the halter in the machine's spring-loaded clamping device. Regular hoops will not be sufficient to keep the halter taut.

    • 4

      Install a new embroidery needle that is size 10 to 12. Smaller needles are more prone to break when dealing with the tough nylon material in the halter. Thread the machine with thick polyester thread.

    • 5

      Check the position of the halter by manually lowering the needle and making sure its first contact point is accurate. Ensure that it matches the design grid. Do not embroider any closer than 1/8 inch from an edge, as this risks collapsing the edge. Operate the embroidery machine on a low setting. If it appears to be straining, increase the size of the needle.