Table of Contents
Watch the video: HOW TO MONOGRAM A CAMP CHAIR by Cara Sorella Tutorial
A store-bought camp chair is fine. A monogrammed camp chair is yours. This project shows how to remove the fabric from a folding chair, place and stitch a name, then reassemble everything so it looks clean and intentional.
What you’ll learn
- How to choose a chair you can actually take apart and put back together
- A reliable way to mark center and placement for a name or monogram
- How to float the chair back on tear-away stabilizer and secure it without gumming your needle
- Machine alignment checks to keep your design straight and right-side up
- Reassembly steps so the chair functions exactly as before
Choosing the Right Camp Chair for Embroidery Not every camp chair is a candidate for machine embroidery. Before you ever leave the store, pull back the packaging and check the fasteners where the fabric joins the frame: you want screws, not rivets. Rivets mean the fabric panel won’t come off the frame, and that’s a deal-breaker for this method.
Screws vs. Rivets: A Crucial First Step If the chair has screws, you can detach the fabric panel, stitch it, and reattach it. If it’s riveted, choose another chair. The video example uses an Ozark Trail chair from Walmart, but any brand with removable screws works.
Watch out - Don’t assume. Pull back the fabric at the attachment points and look closely for screws.
- If the chair is riveted, it’s not suitable for this approach.
Recommended Brands and Types The tutorial shows an Ozark Trail chair, but no specific brand is required—only that it has screws. The color or extras (like a cup holder) don’t change the process.
Step-by-Step Disassembly of Your Camp Chair The chair fabric is secured at four points: two screws on the back near the posts and two more on the arms. A screwdriver is all you need to remove them.
Locating and Removing Screws Safely Work on a flat surface so the chair doesn’t wobble while you loosen screws. Take your time to avoid stripping them.
Tips for Keeping Track of Small Parts As each screw comes out, drop it immediately into a magnetic bowl. This small step prevents the most common headache of the whole project: missing hardware.
Marking the Fabric for Correct Orientation Once the fabric is off the frame, it can be surprisingly hard to tell top from bottom. The presenter uses a clip on the bottom edge to label the side that won’t be embroidered. That simple cue keeps you from stitching the wrong panel.
Pro tip If you remove caps at the ends of the frame when reassembling later, keep them attached during disassembly so they don’t roll off and disappear.
Preparing Your Fabric for Machine Embroidery Accurate Pattern Placement and Marking Lay the fabric panel flat. Measure between the stitching lines for the chair posts; in the video, it’s about 14 inches across, so center is at 7 inches. Use that measurement to center your name or monogram. The presenter marks with paper reinforcements to identify center and end points.
Quick check
- Verify your center point twice before committing. If your name is long, mock it up with a paper pattern to confirm spacing.
Hooping Stabilizer and Floating the Fabric Hoop tear-away stabilizer by itself, then transfer the same center marks onto the stabilizer so the panel aligns to your hoop. Float the chair back onto the hooped stabilizer, matching marks. The panel material is fairly stiff, so it doesn’t need heavy securing—just enough to prevent creep.
Securing the Fabric: Sprays, Tapes, and Pins Use a light touch with 505-style temporary adhesive at the outer edges so you don’t gum the needle. Supplement with small pieces of double-sided tape, a bit of blue painter’s tape, and a few pins at the edges. The goal is firm but minimal hold.
Watch out
- Too much spray adhesive can collect on the needle and affect stitch quality.
- Plan your hoop orientation so the bulk of the seat can’t end up between the hoop and the machine.
From the comments
- Software and fonts: The creator uses Embrilliance Essentials with BX fonts and noted the font used was Stitchtopia Austin.
- Stabilizer: Tear-away was used for this project.
Embroidery Machine Setup and Stitching Aligning Your Design on the Machine Screen Mount the hoop on the machine and select your design. Use your machine’s screen to nudge the design so it lands over the marks you made. Confirm orientation—right-side up and centered—then step the needle around the design’s extents to ensure it stays within the area you expect.
Preventing Issues with Chair Arms Keep all chair arms and loose fabric safely out of the hoop’s path. A binder clip can help hold the fabric away from the machine so nothing sneaks underneath while stitching.
Executing the Embroidery Design Once you’re satisfied with alignment, remove the temporary marking dots and start stitching. When the machine is finished, remove the hoop.
Quick check
- Confirm the needle is centered right before you begin; this is also the moment to remove any reinforcement dots, per the creator’s advice.
- The creator noted using an 80/12 embroidery needle.
Watch out
- Always verify orientation one more time on-screen to avoid upside-down stitching.
From the comments
- Needle size: 80/12 embroidery needle.
- Thread: Metallic thread wasn’t specified in the video or replies.
Reassembling Your Newly Monogrammed Chair Putting the Frame and Fabric Back Together Tear away the stabilizer from the back of your stitch-out. For reassembly, the straight frame posts align with the back of the seat; the curved posts go at the front. Removing plastic caps briefly can make sliding parts into place easier. Start with the seat bottom piece on the straight back posts, then slide on the armrest side (cup holder oriented up), and finally the segment with the screw hole.
Ensuring All Screws are Secure Feel for the screw hole through the fabric, insert the screw, and tighten. Repeat on the opposite side. Continue at the front, sliding the curved frame through the loops and replacing any caps. Tighten the remaining screws.
Final Checks for Stability and Functionality Open and close the chair to confirm smooth operation. Verify that all screws are snug and the design looks centered and flat. You’re done.
Caring for Your Custom Camp Chair Cleaning Embroidered Fabric The video does not specify cleaning instructions. As general care, treat the embroidery gently and avoid harsh scrubbing on the stitched area.
Storage Tips to Preserve Your Design The video does not specify storage conditions. Keep the chair dry and avoid crushing the stitched area when packing if possible.
From the Comments: Your Questions Answered
- What stabilizer worked best here? Tear-away.
- What needle size was used? An 80/12 embroidery needle.
- When do I remove the reinforcement dots? After the hoop is on the machine and the needle is centered—right before stitching.
- My machine is limited to a small field—now what? If your stitching field is about 4 inches, consider a compact monogram, or stitch longer names in segments a few letters at a time, aligning carefully at a shared center point.
- Metallic thread? Not specified in the video or replies.
Pro tip Use a small binder clip to keep any stray panel edges from wandering under the hoop while stitching—it’s a simple safeguard that helps prevent needle collisions and mis-stitches.
Troubleshooting quick hits
- Design off-center: Recheck that your hoop marks match your fabric marks before mounting the hoop. On-screen, run a trace or move corner-to-corner using your machine’s cursor to confirm placement.
- Needle gumming: Reduce temporary spray and keep adhesive at the outer edges.
- Holes won’t line up on reassembly: Manipulate the fabric around the post to feel for the hole; don’t overtighten until both sides are started.
Notes on tools seen in the video
- Measuring with the existing stitch lines between posts makes centering straightforward; the example measurement was about 14 inches across, so center at 7 inches.
- The demonstration shows an Innov-is NQ1400E embroidery machine on-screen when positioning the name.
Resource pointers (contextual) If you’re researching accessories beyond what’s shown in the video, consider reading about hoop options and constraints for your specific machine. For example, some crafters explore brother embroidery machine compatibility with different hoop styles or look into a magnetic embroidery hoop for floating thicker items. If you own a model with a smaller stitch field, such as those that typically use a brother 4x4 embroidery hoop, planning segmented names can help. Those who use compatible models sometimes compare standard frames to brother embroidery hoops and even brand-specific add-ons like a snap hoop for brother innovis nq1400. Others look at universal magnetic solutions like mighty hoop or broader categories such as magnetic hoops for embroidery machines; note that this project in the video uses a standard hoop with tear-away stabilizer and does not rely on a magnetic hoop.