Adding Embroidery to Polaroids to Create One-Of-A-Kind Works of Art by Jennifer Stamps

Written by Jennifer Stamps

Calling all experimental photographers and artists!

In this article, I will give a step-by-step guide on how to add embroidery to your Polaroids and list the tools you need to get started.

What is Embroidery?

This technique is called a few different things: sewing, needlework, and stitching. It’s the act of sewing or stitching designs onto something.

Usually, that means people sewing or stitching designs onto clothing or other fabric mediums like tote bags and baseball caps. But why not add it to your photographs?

Why Would You Add Embroidery to a Polaroid?

Because it’s fun!

By nature, in the digital age, film photographers are a bit more experimental. The act of putting film in your camera and going on a photoshoot proves that you are at least a little experimental.

And chances are, if you’re a Polaroid photographer, you really enjoy experimenting with photography. If you’re a Polaroid photographer, you also enjoy holding your photographs.

So taking that experimental, hold-in-yours-hands vibe to the next level seems like a natural next step.

You can see all of my embroidered Polaroids in my Etsy shop here.

Items You’ll Need to Embroider a Polaroid

• Polaroid camera or Polaroid Lab
• Sewing needle (I don’t use a special needle, but I have found that the thicker sewing needles work better than the super thin/fine sewing needles)
• Thimble*
• DMC six strand embroidery floss
• Foam needle felt block*
• Tracing paper*
• Pencil*
• Washi tape (or other tape that you can use to stick but won’t ruin your piece when you pull it off)
• Acid-free tape for the back of the piece.

* Technically, you don’t have to have these items, but it will make your life a lot easier.

Step-by-Step Guide to Adding Embroidery to Your Polaroid

There are two approaches you can take when starting this project: a well-thought-out, planned, sketched attempt; or a rough idea and some flexibility.

Both approaches are great; it mostly depends on your personality and what you want to embroider on your piece.

If You Want to Plan Out Your Design

1. You will start by using your washi tape to adhere your Polaroid and tracing paper together. The Polaroid should be facing up. You should see your photo through the tracing paper.
2. Using your pencil, sketch out your design.

3. Once you’re happy with your design, keep the Polaroid and tracing paper taped together. Place it on top of your foam needle felt block, with your thimble on your index finger hold your needle pointing down towards your tracing paper and Polaroid. Poke holes along the lines of your pencil. Keep in mind that the more holes you poke, the more sewing you’ll be doing, but the smoother the lines will look.
4. Remove the tracing paper and washi tape making sure you don’t rip the Polaroid or the tracing paper.
5. Take your embroidery floss, gently pull apart one or two strands, and thread the needle.
6. Take your threaded needle and poke it through the bottom of the Polaroid.
7. Bring the needle through the top leaving about 2 inches of floss on the back of the Polaroid.
8. Tape the excess embroidery floss with your acid-free tape.
9. Follow your pattern of pre-made holes until the piece is finished. Cut the excess floss and tape the remaining piece down with your acid-free tape.

If You Don’t Want to Plan Out Your Design

If you don’t want to plan out your design and just roll with it, follow steps five through nine.

5. Take your embroidery floss, gently pull apart one or two strands, and thread the needle.
6. Take your threaded needle and poke it through the bottom of the Polaroid.
7. Bring the needle through the top leaving about 2 inches of floss on the back of the Polaroid.
8. Tape the excess embroidery floss with your acid-free tape.
9. Continue until the piece is finished. Cut the excess floss and tape the remaining piece down with your acid-free tape.

Tips and Reminders

• Always poke your holes on top of the photo so that the little pucker the print makes is on the back of the image.
• Hang on to your tracing paper as you embroider. Sometimes I forget what word I’m spelling – especially if it’s in one of the languages I’m learning. It can be hard to decipher what the pattern is when you’re just looking at a Polaroid with a bunch of holes in it. The tracing paper with the pencil design will help you.
• Use one or two of the six strands in your floss. Anything thicker can get knotted easily and can make the design feel bulky – especially if your pattern or words are small.
• If you run out of thread, just tape it down and start again with a new piece.

Take Your Polaroid Embroidery Art to the Next Level

Want to add a little extra to your embroidered photos? Try adding additional elements. My favorite extras:

• Embroider your Polaroids onto a large acid-free watercolor paper to turn it into a larger piece you can hang in a larger frame.
• Collage an old, found photo and combine the elements with embroidery.
• Add tiny glass beads that match the colors of your embroidery (just know that it will make framing the piece a little more complicated.

Experimenting and adding mixed media to Polaroids is such a fun way to reconnect with a photograph.

If you print an old family photo using your Polaroid Lab or take a photo from a recent vacation, adding embroidery is a wonderful way to turn your memories into actual artwork you can display in your home.

Thank you so much, Jen! Jennifer is a regular contributor here at Shoot It With Film, and be sure to check out her other articles, like Polaroid Art Project: Adding Watercolor Paint to Polaroids and Experimenting With the Polaroid Now+ Lens Filters.

You can also check out more of Jennifer’s work on her website and Etsy shop.

Leave your questions about embroidering Polaroids below in the comments!

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Jennifer Stamps

Jennifer Stamps is a toy camera and travel film photographer and a regular contributor for Shoot It With Film. Find her other articles here, such as Olympus OM-1 35mm Film Camera Review and 5 Film Cameras Under $50.

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