07/21/2025
I saw this smiley hat going viral on Etsy — it’s cute, it’s simple... and it costs $40? So I challenged myself to digitize the exact same design in Institch — from scratch, with $0 spent on paid software, no outsourcing, just a little doodling and stitch settings. In this video, I’ll show you exactly how I did it — step by step.
⏱ In this video, I start with a quick intro, then import and position the smiley face image. I walk you through drawing the outline using a fill stitch, followed by digitizing the mouth and eye details. After that, we preview the 3D stitch-out, export the embroidery file, upload it to the machine, and start stitching. Finally, I’ll show you the finished product in all its smiley glory.
And just like that, we turned a $40 viral Etsy hat into a custom design you can create yourself, for free. Free. No paid software, no outsourcing — just Institch Doodle, your ideas, and a few stitches. You’ve got everything you need to design your own embroidery.So go ahead — start drawing, and make it yours.
🧵 About institch Doodle Digitizing
Institch is a beginner-friendly digital doodle software that’s completely free and works online. You can use it on your PC, laptop, or iPad—just click 👉 cloud.institch.com to start creating and kick off your embroidery journey today!
Useful Links:
Our doodle software website: https://cloud.institch.com
Our co-creation platform website: https://www.100horse.com/co-create
🔧 We’re Growing, and We Welcome Your Participation! Institch is an ever-evolving creative tool, and we’d love to hear from you! If you encounter any issues or have feature suggestions and creative ideas, feel free to visit our co-creation platform website:
👉 https://www.100horse.com/co-create Here, you can find real user feedback and inspiration. We’re always open to hearing your thoughts and will respond promptly.
