Indice dei contenuti per January - February 2018 in Creative Machine Embroidery

Date night is kind of a foreign concept in my life right now. Having three young kids makes “date night” almost impossible, or at least hard work. Finding the babysitter, organizing the activities, getting gussied up . . . it all takes effort. But it’s truly worth it in the end. A night to reconnect with your partner, spouse or significant other is necessary, even if it’s only to appreciate silence while in each other’s company. If date night happens in your own home or backyard (without actually going anywhere), the intent is still to dress up, pamper yourself and leave your stresses behind. Feeling good in what you’re wearing is integral to a successful date night, whether at home or out on the town. By using your embroidery machine,…

CHANGING COLORS One of the most basic functions of embroidery software is changing design colors. The starting point for any embroidery project is deciding what thread colors to use, which can be difficult. Use embroidery software to audition color choices before stitching them on a project. Begin a new project in the software of your choice. Choose the appropriate hoop size in order to ensure the embroidery fits the project. If the design doesn’t fit in the onscreen hoop when it’s loaded, it won’t fit the project. Use the open, insert or view icon to load a design into the software (A). Each software brand handles functions slightly differently. Reference the software manual or help system for the exact icons and ways to use them. Begin to play with the…

MATERIALS + Coat with wide lapels (such as BurdaStyle 11/2015 #116; see “Source”) + Wool melton, interfacing & notions (amount according to pattern envelope plus 5/8" yard wool) + Lightweight cut-away stabilizer + Heat-removable topper + Temporary spray adhesive + Thread: all-purpose, bobbin & cotton machine quilting + Hand sewing needle + Tailor’s chalk + Removable fabric marker + Starburst embroidery collection (2½"- to 4½"-diameter star-bursts; see “Designs”) PREPARE • Download the Starburst designs from cmemag.com/freebies until Feb. 28, 2018. • If using a digital pattern, print, tile and tape the pattern together. If using a BurdaStyle pattern, add seam allowance. Cut out the pattern pieces. • Trace the roll line from the front pattern to the front facing pattern. • Print as many templates of each starburst size as…

MATERIALS + Readymade wool sweater +1/3 yard of minkee fabric (lining) + 8"×10" rectangle of contrasting fleece (appliqué) + Water-soluble stabilizer + Thread: bobbin & embroidery + Temporary spray adhesive + Appliqué scissors + Hand sewing needle + Fourteen 3/8"-diameter buttons + Floral applique embroidery design (approx. 4"×6"; see “Design”) PREPARE • Select wool or cashmere sweaters from a used clothing store. Select an acrylic fiber sweater for easy laundering. Felt the sweater before cutting and constructing the mittens, by washing and agitating in hot water. • Download the mitten pattern and Winter Blooms embroidery designs from cmemag.com/freebies for free until Feb. 28, 2018. After the expiration date, purchase the mitten pattern at shopsewitall.com and the embroidery design at machineembroiderygeek.com. Print and cut out the pattern pieces. • Cut a…

For this jacket, I opted for a lighter-weight denim (with a tiny bit of stretch) in a pale blue shade to make the embroidery really pop. Because this denim jacket was meant for spring and summertime wear, the light denim was perfect, and I wanted the embroidery to complement it. I used a combination of Creative Machine Embroidery exclusive designs to decorate the pocket flaps, sleeves and jacket back. Instead of embroidering the denim first and laying out the pattern pieces second, I embroidered the jacket as I constructed it so some of the embroidery could overlap seams and topstitching. I used embroidery thread that has a bit of sheen in shades of yellow, pink and green to complement the floral and insect designs. The featured pattern is BurdaStyle pattern…

Fill the finished sachets with dried material, such as lavender buds, orange peel or potpourri, or use essential oils. The designs in the featured collection correspond with popular (and relatively inexpensive) oils that are found at most grocery stores or local natural grocer. To use essential oil in a sachet, you'll need an absorbent filling; something natural is best (don’t use polyester fiberfill). There are prod-ucts designed for this, such as Nature Fix, which is made from corncobs that have been dried and cut into small chunks and is intended as a potpourri filler. Or use natural material that’s found around the house — such as natural-fiber fabric scraps, cotton batting scraps or cotton balls. Put as much or as little essential oil on the filler as you like. Start…

MATERIALS + Tunic pattern with placket (such as Sew News Stripe Hype Tunic; see “Source”) + 2¼ yards of chambray fabric + ¾ yard of 20"-wide fusible sheer woven or tricot interfacing + Mediumweight cut-away stabilizer + Six ½ "-diameter buttons + Tracing paper + Thread: all-purpose, bobbin & matte embroidery + Temporary spray adhesive + Removable fabric marker + Button placket embroidery design (approximately ¾ "×2¾ "; see “Design”) PREPARE • To create the hidden placket, trace a copy of the placket pattern onto tracing paper, excluding seam allowances and buttonholes. Label the vertical centerline as “Foldline A” and the right long edge as “Foldline B.” • Draw a vertical line 1¼ " from and parallel to foldline B; label as “Foldline C.” Draw a vertical line 1¼ "…

SUPPLIES + 50-wt. cotton thread (amount determined by bolero size) + Water-soluble stabilizer + 1 yard of 7mm silk ribbon + Seam sealant + Press cloth + Crochet-look embroidery designs (4 3/8" square, ¾"×4 3/8" border, corner border, see “Designs”) Note: These are the design measurements before the stabilizer is removed. Soaking the lace results in shrinkage after the stitches relax; the finished squares measure approximately 3¾" to 4". EMBROIDER The following instructions are for a size 8 to 10, with a 32" bust measurement. Vary the number and/or size of lace motifs to adjust for other sizes. • Hoop two layers of mesh water-soluble stabilizer. The integrity of faux-crochet lace depends on the stitches overlapping each other precisely; use the smallest hoop that will accommodate the motif and embroider…

lisa archer In the Hoop: Heart Coaster—page 20 picklepiedesigns.com “Short of finding Cinderella’s fairy Godmother, or at least employing her little mice friends, I’d open the hemline side seams, notch out a “V,” and insert a wide lace embellishment with machine embroidery. If the neckline facing isn’t terribly involved, I’d embellish the neckline in the same enticing manner.” pamela cox Heirloom Effects: Candlewicking—page 28 nancy fiedler Quilt This: 5 Tools of the Trade—page 24 sandra geiger Eastern Evening—page 48 sandrageiger.com julia griffey Winter Blooms—page 45 machineembroiderygeek.com soni grint Software Savvy: Basic Software Functions—page 17 “To a black spaghetti-strap dress I’d sew delicate gold chains in a pattern that criss-crossed at the chest, creating an almost embedded necklace. I love the trend of wearing jewelry under garments so…

BEFORE ADJUSTING When encountering any stitching problem, always check the machine threading paths. Embroidery machines stitch at high speeds (up to 1050 stitches per minute) for prolonged periods of time, so missing even one thread guide distorts the design. If thread breakage is a consistent problem, consult the machine manual to ensure the machine is threaded properly. Always use high-quality embroidery and bobbin thread. Quality thread is imperative for embroidery because it’s tested to withstand heat and friction associated with high stitching speeds. Embroidery bobbin thread is typically a lighter weight than the needle embroidery thread. The difference in weight helps pull the bobbin thread toward the design wrong side. NEEDLE KNOW-HOW Quality needles are crucial for proper stitching. Always use a machine embroidery needle. The embroidery needle eye is…

MATERIALS + Fat quarter or cotton fabric scraps + 7" square of batting + Fusible cut-away mesh stabilizer + Embroidery tape + Fusible seam tape + 80/12 microtex needle + 5×7 or larger hoop + Pinking shears (optional) + Thread: coordinating embroidery & quilting PREPARE • Download the ITH Heart Coaster design from cmemag.com/freebiesuntil Feb. 28, 2018. Load the design onto the machine. • From the fat quarter or fabric scraps, cut one 7" square and two 4"×7" rectangles. • Fold the short edge of one rectangle 1" toward the wrong side; press. On the right side of the folded section, fuse a piece of seam tape, aligning one long edge against the fold. Set aside. EMBROIDER • Hoop a piece of fusible cut-away mesh stabilizer. • Using matching thread,…

When embroidering a textured fabric of any type, consider a number of design and execution factors. Embroidering sequined fabric is especially challenging as it involves a highly textured and mobile surface, plastic disks (in addition to fabric), and in many cases, high shine. Luckily, even this special fabric is suitable for embroidery as long as the elements are approached with care. CHOOSING DESIGNS Selecting a compatible design is always the first consideration for any embroidery project, and this step is crucial when embroidering on sequins. The raised and unstable sequin structure effects the appearance of any stitch that’s used to cover them. Fill stitches still show the outline of the sequins laying underneath the embroidery. The sequins themselves are likely to shift during stitching, which ruins the effect of delicate…

MATERIALS + Lounge pants pattern (such as BurdaStyle #135 12/2014; see “Source”) + 2 yards of 55"-wide of crepe-backed satin fabric + Thread: 40 wt. embroidery, metallic & coordinating all-purpose + Fusible no-show mesh stabilizer + Pattern tracing fabric + Vellum paper + Permanent marker & removable fabric marker + Metallic embroidery needle, size 12 or 14 (based on fabric selected) + Piping (optional) + Pinking shears (optional) + 5×7 hoop or larger + Crane embroidery designs (various sizes up to 7"×9"; see “Designs”) PREPARE • Prewash and dry the fabric according to the manufacturer’s instructions. • Print and tile a copy of the pattern according to your measurements. Trace the pattern onto pattern tracing fabric, transferring all pattern details and markings. If using a BurdaStyle pattern, add the desired…

MATERIALS + Fat quarters or scraps of black & white print fabric (amount depending on garland length) + Organza in a variety of colors (amount depending on garland length) + Fabric-like water-soluble stabilizer + 25mm bias tape maker tool + Thread: 40wt. rayon embroidery & coordinating all-purpose + 70/11 embroidery needle + Soldering iron or wood-burning tool (optional) + Heart embroidery designs (approximately 3½"×3¾"; see “Designs”) PREPARE • Cut the fabric fat quarters and scraps into 1¾"-wide strips. • Pin the strips with a 45° diagonal seam to reduce bulk. Stitch the strips end to end, creating the needed garland length. • Pull the strip through the bias tape maker, following the manufacturer’s instructions; press. Press the completed strip in half lengthwise with wrong sides together; set aside. EMBROIDER •…

Cutwork designs are digitized with sections where the fabric is cut away from the stabilizer and areas underneath are exposed when the stabilizer is removed. Cutwork designs are labeled as such and include machine stops or extra outline stitches to indicate where to cut the fabric and remove it during the embroidery process. CUTWORK IN USE Load the chosen cutwork design onto the machine. Hoop the fabric with mesh cut-away water-soluble stabilizer. Place the hoop onto the machine and embroider the first step, which is the outline. Remove the hoop from the machine and place the hooped fabric onto a flat work surface. Print a template of the design to help identify the fabric areas to remove (A). Use a pair of double-curved embroidery scissors, which are curved at the…

SPOOL LINEUP Save empty thread spools to use when you organize your color order for embroidery. If one color is used twice, place an empty thread spool in its spot to ensure you don’t miss a thread change. Pat D., email COLOR COORDINATED When you have two different machines that use similar bobbins, mark one bobbin with red permanent marker and the others with blue permanent marker to easily distinguish between the two. Margie C., email DECODED DESIGN Print out a copy of the embroidery design color order and make notes next to any color changes you make for future reference. Karen P., email ALL CURLED UP If your design test stitchout curls after washing, apply cut-away stabilizer around the design for extra support. Becky H., Facebook BIAS TAPE DIY…

The shine generated by sequins competes with the design for attention. Ensure the colors have enough contrast against the fabric to generate impact. Several combinations of colors for both the roses and the leaves were tested on scrap fabric before the final choices were settled on. Looking at the test stitchouts, it’s clear that many of the possible color choices faded into the sequins or, in some cases, contrasted too much to make a cohesive design. As a bonus, testing colors this way provides the opportunity to practice and perfect the necessary techniques for stitching on sequins before stitching the final design.…

PATTERN When adding embroidery to blouse sleeves, choose a pattern that maximizes the potential embroidery area. Short raglan sleeves on a basic shirt pattern provide ample space because the sleeve extends fully into the neckline. Most patterns with a one-piece raglan sleeve are designed for stretch knit fabrics. Unfortunately, knit fabrics aren’t the best material for embroidering dense or layered tapestry designs. Even with proper stabilization, stretch knit fabrics distort under the stress of heavy embroidery. Woven fabrics are best for tapestry designs. Select a raglan sleeve pattern designed specifically for woven fabrics. The sleeves are contoured to fit the shoulder and arm with darts or two pattern pieces. This is an important factor when planning an overall embroidery design, as both impact how the designs are placed. For a…

Embroidered jackets are everywhere from the runways to city streets. Denim comes in so many different hues, weights, thicknesses and different distressed characteristics. Stabilizer helps add thickness and stiffness to fabrics if used and applied in the traditional way. STABILIZE WISE Terial Magic Fabric Stiffener is a nice alternative when working with denim, prepping the denim fabric for successful embroidery without interfering with the fabric’s drape. Use this spray-on stiffener instead of hooping multiple layers and eliminate the unsightly backing of a traditional stabilizer that often causes puckering. • Before embroidery, spray Terial Magic to saturate the fabric well in a large, open and clean sink. • Leave the fabric to dry to a damp state. Depending on fabric weight and saturation levels, this could take anywhere from 20 minutes…

Make your life more fragrant with easy in-the-hoop sachets. This collection features six designs with corresponding essential oils that appeal to any sense of smell. Citrus and spice are open to your interpretation. Try orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit or even bergamot for the citrus. Cinnamon or clove are easy-to-find spicy essential oils, or look for something more obscure, such as cardamom, black pepper or ginger. Or blend two or more together for your own unique combo. Cedarwood and rosemary are great for the men in your life, and ylang-ylang has a lovely floral aroma. And of course, lavender’s relaxing fragrance is widely loved. Find the full collection at shopsewitall.com.…

Inspired by classic paper doilies, this heart-themed collection features lacy heart designs. Use them for a sweet garland, as a fun accent on a homemade Valentine’s card or to dress up a basic kid’s sweatshirt or t-shirt — heart-shaped elbow patches, anyone? Change up the colors to create darling décor and favors for a baby or bridal shower. Find the collection at shopsewitall.com.…