Melco Summit Embroidery Essentials: The Must-Have Tools for a Successful Business
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Melco Summit Embroidery Essentials: The Must-Have Tools for a Successful Business

Updated: Jan 11

If you're diving into the world of embroidery with the Melco Summit, having the right embroidery tools and accessories is just as important as having a great machine. Whether you're stitching custom logos, personalizing gifts, or producing bulk orders, setting yourself up with the right supplies can make all the difference in efficiency and quality.



In this post, I'll break down the essential items you need to run a successful embroidery business, from hoops to software. Plus, if you're a Mac user, I'll share how you can run DesignShop on your computer using a simple app to keep your workflow smooth and your workspace less cluttered.


If you're ready to start shopping for your embroidery accessories and get your business up and running, check out allstitch.com. They carry everything from hoops to backings and even embroidery blanks. I'm thrilled to be an affiliate for their site and share how they helped me get myself started in embroidery.



Embroidery tools to help you get started with your Melco machine:


  • Essential Hoops – Best hoop sizes for different projects

  • Threads & Colors – Recommended brands for durability and vibrancy

  • Needles – I'll help you understand the labels on your needles and understand what needles work best with what fabrics. Plus, great places to buy your machine embroidery needles.

  • Backing & Stabilizers – Choosing the right one for different fabrics

  • Software (DesignShop) – Features and why it's essential

  • Running DesignShop on a Mac – How to make it possible with the help of the Parallels app

  • Wholesale Distributors – Where to buy your embroidery product essentials (shirts, hats, blanks, etc.)

  • Bonus Tips – My personal workflow tricks and troubleshooting advice



1. Hoops: The Right Size for the Right Job



Hoops are crucial for stabilizing fabric during embroidery. Investing in a variety of sizes ensures you can handle different projects with ease.


Some key hoops to consider:

  • Standard hoops for everyday embroidery

  • Mighty Hoops for thicker fabrics or tough-to-hoop materials. Honestly, this brand hoop is my favorite for most materials because the hoops are magnetic and will help you set up for embroidery quickly!

    • I've found that I use the 5.5" Mighty Hoop for my projects the most! It's great for left chest logos, small towel designs, and more! You can get one here.

    • You can get something a little larger (8"x9") from Mighty Hoop. Check it out here.

  • Cap frames if you plan on embroidering hats, you'll definitely need a special frame for the hats.



2. High-Quality Thread: Durability and Vibrancy

Thread choice impacts the look and longevity of your designs. Opt for polyester thread for durability or rayon thread for a soft, high-sheen finish. In my book, there's only one option when it comes to embroidery thread and that's Madeira:

  • Madeira Polyneon Thread is my go-to thread for embroidery projects. They have an incredible assortment of colors and different styles, too. Check them all out here.

  • Did you know they also make glow in the dark thread? YUP! It's real and I love it. Check it out here.

  • PRO TIP: Order a color book so that you can see the colors in person and pick from there.



3. Machine Embroidery Needles: Not Every Needle Can Be Used On Just Any Fabric

One of the most common mistakes that can ruin a perfectly good blank is using the wrong needle for your fabric. Machine embroidery needles aren’t one-size-fits-all. The needle size, type, and point shape all affect how your design stitches out. If you try to push the wrong needle through a fabric, you can end up with thread breaks, skipped stitches, puckering, holes, or even machine damage.


Here’s what you need to understand so you can pick the right needle every time.


📌 Decoding Needle Labels

Most embroidery needles will be marked with two numbers, like 75/11 or 90/14. These numbers tell you the needle size:

  • First number (European) — indicates the diameter of the needle in hundredths of a millimeter.

  • Second number (American) — the U.S. size equivalent.

    👉 A smaller number means a finer (thinner) needle, and a larger number means a heavier (thicker) needle.


So, for example:

  • 75/11 — mid-weight needle for everyday machine embroidery.

  • 80/12 — slightly stronger for denser fabrics or threads.

  • 90/14 and up — heavy needles for thick fabrics or specialty threads.


Quick Tips So You Don’t Mess Up Your Blank ✅ Always change your needle before a new project — a dull needle can do more harm than you think. ✅ Test stitch on a scrap of your blank fabric and stabilizer combination before you start. ✅ Match your needle type to fabric and thread — not just fabric weight.

🪡 Needle Types You’ll See

In addition to size, embroidery needles can differ in point type and design:

  • Embroidery needles have a larger eye and special scarf to accommodate decorative thread without shredding.

  • Ballpoint / Jersey needles have a rounded tip that gently slips between knit fabric loops without tearing.

  • Sharp needles are best for tightly woven woven fabrics.

  • Metallic or specialty needles have an extra-large eye to reduce thread breakage when using metallic or rayon threads.


Tip: If a needle packet has codes you don’t recognize (like DBxK5, HAx1, 130/705, etc.), those are needle system codes that tell you which machines the needle is compatible with. As far as the Melco Summit and Melco commercial embroidery machines are concerned, they use the DBxK5 needle system — that’s the code you’ll see on the needle packaging that tells you the needle shank type and compatibility with these industrial-style machines.


Here's what the DBxK5 needle pack indicates:

  • A round shank industrial needle designed for multi-needle commercial machines (not the flat shank needles used in home machines).

  • Larger needle eye to better accommodate embroidery threads without shredding — especially important when running multiple needles and complex designs.


Needle Recommendations

If you want to stock up or try the right needles right away, check out these embroidery needles (affiliate links, thanks for supporting my content):

  • Groz Beckert GB-DBXK5FG | Round Shank | Large Eye | Ball Point | Commercial Embroidery Needle | Chrome | 100/bx: These Groz-Beckert DBxK5 needles have a large eye with a medium ball point. They are great for high speed machine embroidery. FG/SUK, medium ball point needles are great for loose knits, stretchy fabric, elastic material, pull overs, lace, curtains, performance wear. (Available in sizes: 70/10, 75/11, 80/12, 90/14)

    👉 Order Here!

  • Groz Beckert GB-DBXK5RG | Round Shank | Large Eye | Sharp Point | Commercial Embroidery Needle | Chrome | 100/bx: These Groz-Beckert DBxK5 needles have a large eye with a universal point (AKA: Sharp). They are great for high speed machine embroidery. RG, universal point needles are great for knitted and tightly woven fabric, micro-fiber, upper and outer wear, jeans, etc. These needles can also be used for chain stitch embroidery. (Available in sizes: 70/10, 75/11, 80/12, 90/14)

    👉 Order Here!

  • Groz Beckert GB-DBXK5FFG | Round Shank | Large Eye | Light Ball Point | Commercial Embroidery Needle | Chrome | 100/bx: These Groz Beckert DBxK5 needles have a large eye with a ball point. They are great for high speed machine embroidery. FFG/SES ball point needles are great for loose knits, stretchy fabric, elastic material, pull overs, lace, curtains, performance wear. (Available in sizes: 70/10, 75/11, 80/12)

    👉 Order Here!



4. Backing & Stabilizers: Support for Clean Stitches

Using the right backing and stabilizer ensures your designs hold up over time. Some must-haves include:

Madeira has a really helpful guide on backings and stabilizers. Check it out here.



5. Software: DesignShop for Digitizing & Editing

Melco’s DesignShop Professional software is essential for digitizing and editing embroidery files. The first thing I noticed about the software was that it was very similar to the software I use for my silhouette and my laser engraving machine. So, if you have experience in other design programs, you will pick up the software in no time. Keep in mind, you'll also have a lot of training resources from Melco to help you get started. YouTube is a great tool for educating yourself about the machine and software.

DesignShop features include:

  • Lettering tools for custom text

  • Advanced digitizing for detailed designs

  • Auto-digitizing for quick file conversion



6. Running DesignShop on a Mac with Parallels

If you're a Mac user, you might be wondering how to run DesignShop. The best solution is Parallels, which allows you to run Windows-based software on your Mac. Melco is working on a mac version... so for now, this subscription app is worth it until that happens. Learn more about it here.


Here's a quick overview:

  1. Install Parallels Desktop on your Mac

  2. Sign up for a subscription (they do offer a military discount with military email verification)

  3. Install DesignShop as you would on a Windows PC with your software key

  4. Optimize settings for smooth performance



7. Where to Buy Product Inventory: Shirts, Hoodies, Koozies, Hats, etc.

Finding quality supplies at wholesale prices is crucial for maximizing your embroidery business’s profitability. With a Sales Use Tax Certificate, you can purchase from reputable wholesale suppliers, including:

  1. AllDayShirts – AllDayShirts sells wholesale blank t-shirts and apparel for you to crank out your embroidery or heat transfer orders. They can also create DTF transfers for your heat transfer creations.

  2. FashionGo – FashionGo sells wholesale clothing and accessories and you can find some great blanks that are also trendy and fresh on their site.

  3. TheParkWholesale – Owned by Faire, this company has great prices on apparel and accessories.

  4. Amazon – A convenient option for bulk purchasing embroidery essentials

    1. Check out the list of items I created on my Amazon storefront.

  5. Epic Sports – Great for wholesale athletic wear and team apparel. They also have some great pricing on popular hats.




Final Thoughts

Having the right accessories, tools, and software can take your embroidery business from frustrating to flourishing. Investing in quality hoops, thread, stabilizers, and the products you customize will help set you up for a thriving embroidery business. If you have any questions about the tools that I use or need some help with your setup, feel free to reach out. I'm happy to help!



Are you using a Melco embroidery machine for your embroidery business? Let me know in the comments what your must-have accessories are!



Some links in this article are affiliate links. That means, at no cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you purchase an item from those links. Thank you for your support. These affiliate links help me continue to share my story and experience as a craftpreneur!





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