Intro to Machine Embroidery & Design

A 4-week beginner-friendly course on machine embroidery, design, garments, and production.

Where: 2940 16th St, San Francisco
Dates: Mondays; July 13, July 20, July 27, and August 3
Time: 6:00–8:00 PM
Class size: 4 people
Price: $375

Learn the fundamentals of machine embroidery in this 4-week hands-on course. We’ll cover how to create embroidery designs from scratch, how to set up and operate an industrial multi-needle embroidery machine, how to choose and source garments, and how to stitch out finished pieces.

This course is open to true beginners. No sewing, design, or embroidery experience is required.

By the end of the course, you’ll understand the full embroidery workflow: creating a design, preparing the file, choosing the right blank, setting up the machine, hooping your garment, selecting thread colors, and running a clean stitch-out. You’ll leave with a completed embroidered piece, the confidence to use a multi-needle embroidery machine, and the foundation to keep producing your own designs.

Because the course is limited to 4 people, everyone will get direct support, machine time, and space to work through their own project.

What’s Included

Your purchase includes:

• 4 weeks of instruction

• Access to embroidery design software during the course

• Studio time outside of class, bookable and supported by an instructor

• Access to our embroidery tools, materials, and thread library

• 120+ thread colors

• Heavy-duty fabric scissors, rulers, sewing chalk, stabilizers, hoops, and other studio tools

• Heavily discounted blanks, including sweatshirts, hoodies, bags, and more

• Support sourcing garments from brands like Gildan, Comfort Colors, Independent Trading Co., and LA Apparel

Course Schedule

Week 1: Embroidery Design Software
We’ll start with the basics of embroidery design and digitizing. You’ll learn what makes a design stitchable, how embroidery files are built, how to work with text and simple graphics, and how to prepare a design for the machine.

Week 2: Machine Setup & Operation
We’ll move into the machine itself. You’ll learn how to thread and operate an industrial multi-needle embroidery machine, load your design, select thread colors, prepare stabilizer, hoop your garment, and start a stitch-out.

Week 3: Blanks, Garments & Sourcing
We’ll cover how to choose the right garment or object for embroidery. You’ll learn what makes a good blank, how different fabrics behave, what to avoid, and how to order blanks for personal projects, small batches, or future production.

Week 4: Final Project & Production
You’ll bring everything together and produce a finished embroidered piece. This session will focus on setup, troubleshooting, finishing details, and helping you feel confident continuing on your own after the course.

Blanks

You are welcome to bring your own garment or choose from discounted blanks available through the studio. We’ll have access to a rotating selection of sweatshirts, hoodies, tote bags, hats, and other embroidery-friendly items.

Available brands include Gildan, Comfort Colors, Independent Trading Co., and LA Apparel. We’ll also talk through how to choose blanks based on quality, price, fit, fabric weight, and stitch compatibility.

Who This Is For

This course is for anyone who wants to learn how to make custom embroidered pieces from start to finish. It’s a good fit for artists, designers, small brand owners, crafters, hobbyists, and anyone curious about machine embroidery.

No experience necessary. Just bring an idea, a willingness to learn, and something you’d be excited to make.

Email Jacob Ramirez at baysidedesignlab@gmail.com if you have any questions.