August 2010 - Posts

• Keeping It Simple - Tags All in the Hoop

  I went to have lunch with my granddaughter this week.  It was fun but one thing that amazed me was how many lunch boxes looked just alike.  And they were all jumbled together in huge tubs so it took the kids some time to find the one that belonged to them.  So, this week we made In-the-hoop tags.   Here is what you need: The tag which you can download here Two scraps of fabric about 5.5" square Ribbon Embroidery designs of your choice (here is where I got the horse)   Alphabet Xpress or Ann's Alphabet for lettering Temporary spray adhesive stabilizer (not lightweight tear away) Here is what you do: 1.  Hoop a double layer of stabilizer.  I used a medium cutaway but a good tear away or wash away mesh could work as well. 2.  Embroider the first color of the tag design. 3.  Place one piece of fabric on top covering the stitches and secure edges with some temporary spray adhesive.  Embroider the second color 4. Now embroidery your design or monogram.  (If you do not have software to combine these you will have to leave this design and go to the one you want in the center.  We'' come back later.) 5.  Remove the hoop.  Turn it over and place the second square face up on the back making sure it covers the tag outline.  Secure the edges with a little temporary spray adhesive.  6.   Reload the tag design and advance to the third color.  Carefully slide the hoop back on the machine and if possible check to be sure the fabric underneath stayed in place.  Embroider the third color.   7.  Remove the hoop and lay it face up on a flat surface.  Carefully cut around the edges of the tag outline.  Turn the hoop over and do the same on the backside.   8. Load the bobbin with the same color as the top thread for the satin appliqué outline thread you want to use.  Carefully slide the hoop back onto the machine and embroidery the fourth color. 9.  Embroider the rest of the tag. 10.  Remove the stabilizer from the hoop and carefully cut (or tear or spritz depending on which stabilizer you used) to remove the stabilizer. 11. Slit the small hole for the ribbon.  Insert the ribbon.  Sew across to secure it in place if desired.  Tie on and your ready to go to school. Note:  She loves horses.  The Horse design came from this collection. Our younger grandaughter hasn't had a chance to sew hers yet but she picked frosty and here is what it will look like.  I think I will sew velcro onto her ribbon so it won't have to tie and won't come off too easily since she is only two. Be sure to have fun sewing this week. Take care, DB Posted Aug 27 2010, 04:45 PM by db1921 with 5 comment(s) Filed under: lettering, Alphabet Xpress, the memory book, alphabets, Crafts, embroidery, projects, in the hoop projects, Designs, Quick Projects, kids, Applique, easy projects, free designs, bag tags, tags

• Keeping It Simple Embroidered Magnet Mania

  Kids love to display their art on the fridge.  Adults too seem to stick up lists, reminders and notices where they can be easily accessed..  So, many marketers send information to us printed on these soft magnets in hopes that we will put them in this often viewed place in our homes.   They can be great for holding all our stuff but they certainly do not add to the planned décor.   And we receive so many so what to do except recycle them?  OK, I admit it, maybe I am going too far with this recycle thing but this was fun anyway. Here is what you need: Some of these soft magnets Tear Away Stabilizer Scraps of felt Embroidery design  (download my fun design below) Temporary adhesive spray Sharp craft scissors Good quality craft glue Here is all you do: 1. Hoop the Stabilizer. 2.  Center the felt in the hoop and secure with a little adhesive around the edges. 3. Embroider the design.  Remove the stabilizer. 4.  Carefully cut around the design. 5.  Cut the magnet to fit inside the design. 6.  Cover the ad side of the magnet with craft glue and press onto the back of the design.  Let dry. Click here to download this design If you want to make an appliqué like this flower do this: 1. Hoop the Stabilizer. 2.  Center the fabric in the hoop and secure with a little adhesive around the edges.  Turn the hoop over and center a piece of felt on the back securing the same way.   3. Embroider the first two appliqué runs of the design.  Carefully cut around the design on both the font and back of the hoop.  Embroider the rest of the design.   (To see my appliqué blog go here.)   4.  Carefully remove the stabilizer from around the design. 5.  Cut the magnet to fit inside the design. 6.  Cover the ad side of the magnet with craft glue and press onto the back of the design.  Let dry. My appliqué flower is available in this blog.  I simply rotated it here and added the initial.  You can use Ann's Alphabets, Alphabet Xpress or ELS Lettering to add lettering to your magnet designs. Almost any design can be made into a magnet.  Embroider ones that match your kitchen décor and put those advertising magnets to good use.  If you are testing thread colors the felt is an inexpensive base.  Here is a rooster that my mom tested for colors before putting on some towels.  I just pinked around it and glued the magnet on. These could make great stocking stuffers and little gifts for students too since they have lots of art and school notes that must go on the fridge.   Some of the other designs can be found here: The little bee design The rooster design The zebra design Take care, DB     Posted Aug 13 2010, 04:45 PM by db1921 with 2 comment(s) Filed under: Alphabet Xpress, the memory book, alphabets, Crafts, embroidery, projects, going green, stocking stuffers, Designs, Quick Projects, test sews, Applique, easy projects, beginner projects, felt, free designs, embroidered magnets, refridgerator magnets, magnets

• Keeping It Simple - Big Kid Hooded Towels

  The girls are growing fast.  They love their baby towels with the hoods but are outgrowing them now.  When they complained about being cold after their bath the other night mom and I decided to make them larger "big girl" hooded towels for Christmas.  Then we remembered that Noah had a birthday coming and mom decided she wanted to make one for him.  With it too hot to go out we started these the very next day.  Here is the first one for Noah. These are so easy to make and we think the kids will love them. What you need: 1 bath towel 1 hand towel embroidery design or lettering of yur choice (We used this monkey applique without any fabric from Sew Many Designs.) medium to heavy tear away stabilizer temporary adhesive wash away stabilizer embroidery thread sewing thread Here is what you do: Wash and dry your towels before beginning . 1.  Cut the hand towel in half widthwise.  2.  Center the raw edge of the hand towel with the center of the long side of the towel.  Pin slightly below the edge like this. 3.  Flip the hand towel up.  Sew a seam along the edge so the raw edge is enclosed. 4.  With right sides together fold towel in half and sew the top edges of the hand towel together forming the hood. Note: If the finished edges are too thick for your machine you can cut it off, zig-zag the edges and then sew together. 5.  Decide where you want your embroidery and mark the spot with a printed design template  or other method of choice. 6.  Hoop the tear away stabilizer.  Spray around the inside edges with temporary adhesive.  Center the design area on your towel and press down lightly.  Carefully lift all to the machine area and secure the hoop on the machine.  Make sure your towel cannot slide underneath and get caught in the embroidery but don't let it hang down if it is heavy. 7.  Place the wash away stabilizer on top of the hooped area of the towel. (you can secure with a little temporary adhesive on the corners if you like. 8.  Embroider the design.  Remove the tear away stabilizer carefully.  Remove most of the wash away stabilizer.  Wash the towel or spritz to remove the rest.   Have fun making towels for the kids.  These make great pool towels too if you walk to the pool like we do. Take care, DB Posted Aug 06 2010, 03:22 PM by db1921 with 8 comment(s) Filed under: the memory book, embroidery, projects, Designs, Quick Projects, Gifts, kids, babies, blanks, baby gifts, easy projects, beginner projects, summer, towels, hooded towels