Tabla de contenidos para July - August 2017 en Creative Machine Embroidery

Dear Readers, Summertime is a great time to sew something for a little one, whether it’s for a baby-to-be, your own child or a children’s charity. It’s also a great time to teach a kid to sew and inspire him or her with a small project while on summer vacation. A softie is simple to sew and uses very little fabric. Plus, our softie on page 28 is made almost entirely in the hoop. Gather your scrap fabric and make several for a children’s hospital wing, church fundraiser or a bunch of kids and grandkids. Add personalized initials or monograms to make them even more special. Did you know there’s a Sew a Softie Day? Host a party and get the word out about this fun initiative. Find out more…

1. Make your own beach vibes with the Beachcomber Collection. It features nine ocean-friendly designs: a starfish, sand dollar, seahorse, coral, urchin shell, small and large nautilus and small and large scallop shell. Add to bathroom towels for a fun beach feel, to a crown for a mermaid birthday or to a mobile for an ocean-themed nursery. ($4.99-$6.99/design,$34.99/collection, shopsewitall.com) 2. Missie’s Favorite Starch Brush prevents the frustration of dipping your brush into starch time and time again only to use it for a few inches before needing a reload. The brush has a reservoir that holds the starch right in the handle and a cap to keep the brush protected and sealed, making it perfect for starch prep for English paper piecing and appliqué. Watch the short how-to video on…

Softies are one of the easiest project types to stitch in the hoop and they make really fun last-minute baby gifts. Using a soft, plush fabric makes them a sensory delight for little ones. Slip a rattle or crinkle fabric inside to stimulate even more senses. MATERIALS Materials listed are enough to make one 4¼”x6” monkey. + ¼ yard of brown minkee fabric (body) + 6” square of tan minkee fabric (face, ears & belly) + Stabilizer: cut-away mesh & water-soluble topper + 12” of ¼”-wide grosgrain ribbon + 5x7 or larger hoop + Appliqué scissors + Polyester stuffing + Embroidery thread in brown, black & white + Embroidery tape + Hand-sewing needle PREPARE • Load the ITH Little Monkey embroidery design onto the machine. • From the brown minkee,…

MATERIALS + ¾ yard of 45”- to 54”-wide cotton duck + ½ yard each of contrasting print & fusible fleece + 7” zipper (matching contrasting print) + 4” length of hook-and-loop tape + Thread: all-purpose, bobbin & embroidery + Stabilizer: tear-away or self-adhesive + Magnetic purse snap + Swivel clasp + Removable fabric marker + Continuous border design (approx. 1¾ ”x6¼ ”; see “Design.”) PREPARE • Download the Bag in Bloom pattern from cmemag.com/freebies until Aug. 31, 2017. Find the pattern after the expiration date at shopsewitall.com. Print out the pattern pieces. • From the cotton duck, cut two tote body pattern pieces, one pocket and one base. • Cut two 4” by the fabric width strips for the handles and one 3” by the fabric width strip for the…

MATERIALS + Pair of jeans or pants, preferably “skinny” leg style + 7”-long metal zipper + 8x12 hoop or larger + Stabilizer: self-adhesive & cutaway mesh + Thread: embroidery & coordinating all-purpose + Seam ripper + Built-in embroidery designs PREPARE • Using a seam ripper, open the inseam to above the knee. Open the side seam at least 7” to accommodate the zipper. In the featured sample, the zipper was inserted above the hem, leaving an open notch at the ankle. • Place the zipper in the side seam so the seam opening is aligned along the zipper teeth edge, with the zipper teeth exposed in the seam center. Stitch the zipper in place by stitching the zipper tape to the seam allowances (A). Stitch any open seam area above…

Need more labeling space? Stitch a matching lid cover for your jar. • Download the Wide Mouth Mason Jar Top design from cmemag.com/freebies until Aug. 31, 2017. Find the design after the expiration date, and the rest of the collection, at embroideryonline.com. • Hoop two pieces of water-soluble mesh stabilizer; place the hoop onto the machine. • Stitch step one to create a placement line. Remove the hoop from the machine. • Place a 4” square of chalkboard fabric over the placement line and secure using embroidery tape or temporaty spray adhesive. Re-place the hoop onto the machine and stitch step two to tack down the fabric. • Remove the hoop from the machine and trim the excess fabric close to the stitching line, being careful not to cut the…

MATERIALS Supplies listed are enough to make a 51” square quilt. + ¾ yard each of blue print quilting cotton (A) & black quilting cotton (F) + 1 yard of checkerboard print quilting cotton (E) + 2/ 3 yard of blue quilting cotton (B) + 7/8 yard of red quilting cotton (C & binding) + 1/ 3 yard of flame print quilting cotton (D) + 3½ yards of backing fabric + Thread: all-purpose, bobbin & rayon embroidery + Paper-backed fusible web + Temporary spray adhesive or quilt-basting pins + 56” square of low-loft batting + Paper-release adhesive tearaway stabilizer + Removable fabric marker + Car-themed design collection (6 designs approx. 2½ ” in diameter; see “Designs.”) CUT • Download the Race to the Finish pattern for free at cmemag.com/freebies until…

Take a visit to the seashore with CME’s exclusive Beachcomber Embroidery Design Collection. Designed with light and breezy fabrics in mind, the designs can be stitched on organza to create freestanding motifs or on fabric for any garment or home-dec project you can imagine. Embroider them in coral, teal and tan for an east-coast beach-house look, or go for a more Pacific feel with a vivid tropical color scheme. Find the Beachcomber Collection at shopsewitall.com.…

Find tips and tricks for embroidering on denim at sewdaily.com/denim .…

lisa archer (“In the Hoop: Two Little Monkeys” — page 28) is the owner and creative director of Pickle Pie Designs. She loves the challenge of creating in-the-hoop designs that reflect her personal style. Home Base: Holly Springs, NC Visit: picklepiedesigns.com ramona baird (“Quilted Bliss” — page 46) is Education Director for the American Sewing Guild. She has over 15 years of both commercial and home embroidery experience. Home Base: Southwestern WI lori baker (“Quilt This: ITH Blocks” — page 22) is on the editorial staff of McCall’s Quilting and Quiltmaker magazines. She has sewn most of her life and has a rich heritage of sewists, quilt makers and crafters in her family. Home Base: Westminster, CO pamela cox (“Unique Technique: Adding Texture” — page 24) received a fashion…

TWIN NEEDLE ANATOMY Twin needles have two needles on a crossbar with a single shank. The shank is located either in the middle of the two needles or offset (A). When the machine is set to embroider, the needle position indicates which needle to use. Twin needles vary in size, ranging from 70/1.6mm to 100/6.0mm. EMBROIDERING Learning how to use a twin needle for embroidery is easy. Before attempting this technique, consult the machine manual to determine if the needle plate opening is at least 7mm, the minimum required for a twin needle. If it is, install a new twin needle in the machine, and test to make sure it won’t damage the bobbin case by turning the hand wheel one full revolution. If the hand wheel doesn’t turn smoothly,…

MATERIALS + Up In Arms blouse pattern (See “Source.”) + 1½ yards of lightweight fabric with drape (such as rayon challis, cotton gauze, voile, silk chiffon or charmeuse) + ½ to 1 yard of nude or contrasting fabric (yoke facing; optional) + Stabilizer: cut-away & heavyweight water-soluble (optional) + Thread: all-purpose & embroidery + Temporary spray adhesive + Curved embroidery scissors (optional) + Removable fabric marker + Cutwork embroidery designs (sizes vary; see “Designs.”) Box Sleeve Blouse PREPARE • From the fabric, cut two front/back pieces, two front yokes, two back yokes and two box sleeves, all on the fold. • If preferred, cut one front yoke from nude or contrasting fabric; designate as the front yoke lining. Designate one back yoke as the back-yoke lining. If self lining, designate…

• Hoop coordinating fabric with a layer of cut-away mesh stabilizer; embroider the design. • Mark a ¼” seam allowance around the design perimeter. • Mark the zipper teeth area within the design. • With right sides together, stitch the interfacing to the design, using a ¼” seam allowance around the perimeter. Stitch the lines around the zipper teeth area, creating a U-shaped appliqué. • Trim the corners and excess fabric. Carefully slash the interfacing and turn the appliqué right side out; press. • Pin the appliqué to the pant leg over the zipper area, and edgestitch to secure.…

MATERIALS + Double gauze (amount according to measurements) + Ruler + Fabric shears or rotary cutting system + Water soluble marker or tailor’s chalk + Thread: embroidery & all-purpose + Heavyweight water-soluble stabilizer + Temporary spray adhesive + Sea-themed embroidery designs (approx. 4” in diameter; see "Designs.") PREPARE • Measure your hip circumference at the largest part; record. Multiply the recorded measurement by ½, and then add to the original measurement; record. • To determine the length, measure from the middle of your chest to the desired finished length. The featured sample is 34” long. CONSTRUCT • Place the fabric wrong side up on a flat surface. From one edge, measure the final recorded number; mark. If necessary, piece panels together, placing the seam in the center back, or turn…

MATERIALS + 2¼ yards of 45”-wide cotton fabric + ¾ yard of contrasting fabric (belt & bias binding) + 2 yards of 20” lightweight woven fusible interfacing + Lightweight cut-away stabilizer + 12”-long invisible zipper + Seven ½”-diameter buttons + Thead: All-purpose & embroidery + Removable fabric marker + Invisible zipper foot (optional) + Mandala embroidery design (approximately 5.87” square; see "Design.") CUT • Download the Summer Soirée Dress pattern from cme.com/freebies until Aug. 31, 2017. Print, tile and cut out the pattern. • From the main fabric, cut two top fronts, one top back on the fold, one skirt front on the fold, one skirt back on the fold, two button bands, two front neck facings, one back neck facing on the fold, two front armhole facings and two…

Embroidery software is available with varying features and price points, depending on the developer. Purchase an all-in-one software package or purchase software features à la carte, one at a time, depending on the capabilities you desire. All-in-one software packages have the most common built-in features, such as customizing, stitch editing and digitizing. À la carte software ranges from monogramming to design cataloging, depending on the specific task. Some companies provide a starter software package, and then “unlock” features as you pay for each level. Most machine manufacturers have an assortment of software packages available to meet a multitude of experience levels. Look for software packages from independent software developers as well as machine manufacturers. A variety of software development companies have software that’s compatible with all different kinds of embroidery…

COUCHING Couching is an embellishment technique that applies a heavier filament to the fabric surface, tacked in place by a thinner thread. This technique is often incorporated in a free-motion style by dropping the lower feed dogs on the sewing machine,and then creating a meandering pattern with the heavier thread or yarn. Embroidery machines have facilitated the art of couching by allowing you to create couched designs in the hoop. For this technique, a couching foot that's compatible with your embroidery machine is used instead of a standard embroidery foot. This special foot features a hole through which the textured yarn is threaded, allowing the machine’s needle to drop into it as well. The yarn is laid in proper position for couching as the hoop moves, and the programmed stitches…

The technique used in this project combines the perfection of machine embroidery with the look of hand quilting. In addition to piecing, guidelines for hand quilting are stitched out with water-soluble thread. The fabric is backed with batting and a hand needle is used to run embroidery floss through the stitch penetrations of the machine-stitched guidelines. The result is perfectly spaced hand quilting. After the stitching is done, the water-soluble thread guidelines are easily dissolved with water, leaving only perfect hand-quilting stitches. MATERIALS + 1 yard of white cotton fabric + 108 2½” squares of at least 6 coordinating cotton fabrics + Two 13” squares of cotton batting + Stabilizer: cut-away mesh & water-soluble + 5x7 hoop + Thread: all-purpose, bobbin, embroidery floss, machine embroidery & water-soluble + Temporary spray…

MATERIALS + 2½ ”x7½ ” rectangle of chalkboard fabric + 15”x20” water-soluble mesh stabilizer + Polyester embroidery thread + 75/11 embroidery needle + Temporary spray adhesive + 18” length of ribbon + 8” to 10” square of fabric + Polyester filling + Hot glue & glue gun + Label embroidery design (approximately 3”x7”; see “Design.”) PREPARE • Thread the embroidery machine with polyester embroidery thread in the needle and bobbin. • Hoop two layers of water-soluble mesh stabilizer. EMBROIDER • Download the Signed, Stitched, Delivered design from cmemag.com/freebies until Aug. 31, 2017. Find the design after the expiration date at embroideryonline.com. • Embroider step one to create the fabric placement line. • Spray the chalkboard fabric rectangle wrong side lightly with temporary spray adhesive. Press the fabric onto the stabilizer…

Embroidering gauze is easy with a bit of preparation and special considerations. • Prewash double gauze fabric before embroidering as the fabric will shrink. Machine wash on cold and dry cool or hang to dry. • Iron the fabric using a bit of steam to smooth it and make it easier to cut and embroider. • Use a fine needle to prevent holes from forming in the double gauze. • No matter what size needle you use, be sure it's a new one. Old needles can cause snags and runs. • Lightly stitched designs with little to no fill work best with double gauze and also allow the fabric to have better drape. • Use a heavyweight water-soluble stabilizer to produce the best results. • Double gauze easily distorts and…

MATERIALS + ¼ yard each of peach & light gold synthetic organza + Fabric-like water-soluble stabilizer + Thread: all-purpose & 40-weight rayon embroidery + Needles: 70/11 embroidery & hand-sewing + Soldering iron or wood-burning tool + 3 pieces of approximately 7”- long driftwood + Waxed cotton braiding cord + 1”-diameter metal ring + Hot glue + 8 ocean-themed openwork embroidery designs (sizes vary; see “Designs.”) EMBROIDER • Download the Starfish design free from cmemag.com/freebies until Aug. 31, 2017. Purchase the design after the expiration date, and the rest of the collection, at shopsewitall.com. Load eight designs onto the machine. Determine which organza color to use for each design. • Hoop one layer of water-soluble stabilizer between two pieces of gold organza. • Select the first design intended for gold organza…

1. Join the Sew a Softie tutorial hop by posting a simple softie tutorial of your own on your blog or website. 2. Organize a community workshop and teach a group of parents, children or both together how to sew a softie. 3. Teach a friend, relative or neighbor how to sew a softie. Post a picture of your fabulous softie on Facebook or Instagram with the tag #sewasoftie so everyone can see what you’ve created. Find out everything that’s happening at sewasoftie.com or in the Facebook group “Sew a Softie.”…