How to Embroider a Spider Web on the Back Pocket of Your Jeans

A little hand embroidery can completely transform a plain pair of jeans into something special and few designs are as striking (and surprisingly easy) as a spider web. Whether you want a subtle nod to Halloween, a goth-chic vibe, or just a unique handmade detail, stitching a web on your back pocket will make your denim truly one of a kind.

In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know, from prepping your jeans to making neat stitches that will hold up through washes.

Supplies

• A pair of jeans (medium- to light-weight denim is easiest to stitch through)
• Embroidery floss (white, silver, or black are classic choices, but feel free to experiment)
• Embroidery needle (size 5–7)
• Water-soluble fabric pen or chalk pencil
• Small sharp scissors
• Optional: thimble (handy for pushing the needle through thicker denim)

Step 1: Prep Your Jeans

First, wash and dry your jeans if they’re new, this will shrink the fabric and remove any finish that might make stitching harder.

Slide a piece of thin cardboard or plastic inside the pocket to prevent stitching through both layers. This will also give you a smooth surface to work on.

Step 2: Mark the Spider Web

Using your fabric pen or chalk pencil, lightly draw your spider web design:

1. Draw a small dot or circle for the center of the web (this will be near the middle of the pocket).
2. Draw straight lines radiating outward from the center, think of them like the spokes of a wheel. Six to eight spokes look balanced.
3. Starting from the center, draw gentle curved lines connecting the spokes to form the rings of the web. These should get slightly wider apart as you move outward.

Tip: Keep the design a little smaller than the pocket so your stitches don’t get caught in seams.

Step 3: Thread Your Needle

Cut an 18 inch length of embroidery floss. For a bold look, use all 6 strands. For a finer, more delicate web, separate the strands and use 3.

Thread your needle and knot the end.

Step 4: Stitch the Spokes

Use a simple backstitch or stem stitch to sew each straight spoke line from the center out to the edge of your design. Pull your stitches snug but not tight, denim has very little give, and pulling too hard can cause puckering.

Step 5: Stitch the Curved Web Lines

Once the spokes are done, use backstitch to sew the curved lines that connect them.

• Start near the center, connecting two spokes with a curved line.
• Continue in a spiral outward, keeping your curves even and parallel to the previous ring.
• The result will look like a series of “arches” between spokes.

Step 6: Add Finishing Touches

When your web is complete, knot the thread securely on the inside of the pocket. Snip any excess thread. If you used a water-soluble pen, lightly mist the area with water or dab it with a damp cloth to remove the markings.

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Step 7: Style and Care

Your embroidered jeans are ready to wear! Turn them inside out before washing, and use a gentle cycle to preserve your stitches. Over time, the web will soften into the fabric, giving it a lived-in, vintage feel.

Design Variations

• Add a spider: Use satin stitch or French knots to embroider a small spider dangling from one of the spokes.
• Use metallic floss: Silver or gold threads can give your web a magical shimmer.
• Ombre effect: Blend two colors of floss for a gradient web.

A spider web is a forgiving pattern to start with—it doesn’t need to be perfectly symmetrical to look great. Once you’ve mastered this, you can try other embroidery designs to give your denim a personal touch.