All Instructions

Puffy foam fonts

Tips for Using Puffy Foam Fonts

A finished, 3D puffy foam embroidery design on a baseball cap.

Materials and Preparation

  • Embroidery Puffy Foam: This is required for 3D designs. For the projects shown, I used 3mm Gunold foam.
  • Cut a piece of foam slightly larger than the design area. You can secure it with tape, but it doesn't need to be extremely tight; the initial stitching will adequately attach the foam to the fabric.
  • Foam Color: Using foam that matches your thread color can enhance the final appearance of your design.
  • Stacking Foam: For a more pronounced 3D effect, you can stack multiple layers of foam. You can bond them together with a temporary spray adhesive like 505 or KK100.

Machine and Stitching Tips

  • Stabilization: Puffy designs are typically dense, so good stabilization is necessary. A single layer of medium-weight stabilizer is usually best, depending on your project.
  • Needles: Opt for ballpoint needles, as they make a slightly larger hole than sharp-tip needles, which allows for a cleaner cut through the foam as it stitches.
  • Tension: Slightly loosen your top thread tension to provide more flexibility and ensure the thread has complete coverage over the foam.

Finishing

  • After the design has stitched and you have torn away the excess foam, I recommend passing over the design with steam. This helps ensure that any small "fringe" of foam disappears, giving a cleaner and more professional finish.

Care Instructions for Puffy Foam Embroidery

Washing

Puffy foam is non-toxic, water-resistant, and machine washable.

Dry Cleaning or Stain Removal

DO NOT dry clean, as Puffy Foam can absorb dry-cleaning fluid, which would make it flammable.

Ironing

Use steam only. Do not press directly with an iron.

Drying

Machine dry at a low temperature.

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