October 2007 - Posts

• Cool Pirate Costume for Halloween - Thanks Grandma!

  This embroidery-laden project was sent in by Barbara Schaffer, and I chose it for this week because it's a wonderful example of how a grandma can still be cool with a 10-year-old boy! Forget the old idea of Grandma knitting a sweater they'll never wear; with all that we have at our disposal now, we can take anything in our minds and create something limited only by our imaginations. I'll let Barbara take it from here! General Description This is the pirate costume that I made for my grandson. . . pants, shirt, vest and booty bag with a total of 13 embroideries I didn't have a pattern for it so I designed my own but a purchased pattern should be available at your local fabric store. It is also possible to use the child's own clothing and just apply the embroidery. Step-by-step description First I cut out all of the garment pattern pieces. I stabilized and hooped each piece to embroider a mummy and skeleton on the front of the pant legs. I embroidered a ship on the right sleeve and then the transformed pirate ship on the left sleeve. The shirt pocket got a jolly roger, the cuffs and collar got skulls. The vest has a parrot on the front. The center back has a large pirate with my grandson's initial "C". There are more skulls at the waist back. The booty bag has another skull. When the embroidery was complete I assembled the garments. What makes this project special? I'm just a beginner and I feel a lot more comfortable with my machine now. This project really allowed me to practice my skills over and over again because there are so many embroideries involved. I gained new self confidence in my abilities. The WOW! factor has been big. Skill level I think that this project could be completed by any skill level. The flat pattern pieces were easy to position and hoop. I knew that if I made a mistake I would be able to discard that piece and cut another to replace it before I sewed the garment together (that really took the stress away). I took my time and enjoyed the learning process. The most difficult part was designing the costume from scratch. I measured some of his clothes to get the proportions right, a slim size 10. [Note from Ann]: Barbara did a great job with her placement on the pattern pieces. If you are using a pre-sewn garment you can still easily acheive exact placement without stress using the Perfect Placement Kit. And for no hoop lines when sewing on napped fabrics like Barbara's Pirate costume I recommend the Magna Hoop. Products My machine is a Pfaff 2140 with the 5 x 7 hoop. I don't have a smaller hoop but a smaller hoop would be useful with the smaller designs if you have one. I used almost every pirate theme design that I could find in my stash. I used cut-away stabilizer and polyester embroidery thread because it is more durable for children's clothing that is washed often. Time investment I completed the costume in about a week because I made the clothing as well as the actual 13 embroideries. Why I love This Project My grandson was so surprised when I gave him this costume. He can't stop smiling. He says,"Grandma, you are awesome!" that's a real compliment from a 10 year old. I can't stop smiling either! Send Us Your Creations Do you have any creations that go with a great story? If so, we'd love to hear about them, and see them! If we choose to post your project, you'll get a free $25 gift certificate to use in the AnnTheGran.com online store. Click here for details on how to submit your creation. What Would You Do? Using a variety of themed embroideries from various sources, Barbara created a complete look that gave just the right impact to her project. How do you find all the designs for a theme in your library? Click on the Comments link to give us your ideas. Posted Oct 29 2007, 01:30 PM by atgadmin with no comments Filed under: children, gift idea, cut-away stabilizer, pirate costume, boys, halloween

• Share Your Creations with our Community!

  Our creations are like our babies! The amount of time and care we expend on a cherished project makes those products of our hands and our hearts feel pretty special. You are currently resting your eyes on my new blog. If you don't know what a blog is, don't worry about it. Neither did I until a short while ago. Suffice to say for now that it's a great way to communicate and share. And sharing what we've made is why we do this whole embroidery thing, right? So, bring me your projects, your creations, your handiwork, your accomplishments. The last thing, or the best thing, you did that made someone stop and say "Wow, you made that?!?". Here's what I need: 1. A general description of your Project in 100 words or less. 2. A step-by-step description of how you completed it. 3. What makes this project special to you? 4. What skill level do you feel is required to complete this project? 5. Which products specific to your hobby did you use to make your project? 6. How many hours did you invest in creating this project? 7. Tell me why you love this project so much. Please include a photo of your finished project and, if you can, step-by-step photos of how you made it. If we can make a decent presentation of it, I'll put it in my new blog and the next thing you know, the whole embroidery world (some quilters and crafters too!) will be ooh-ing and aah-ing over it. Click here to see what a completed project is supposed to look like. If you don't mind us publishing your picture with the project, please send us a recent photo of yourself as well. E-mail this information to me at blogs@annthegran.com and we’ll let you know if your project has been chosen to be featured. All contributors whose projects are chosen will receive a $25 gift certificate to AnnTheGran.com to use as they please in our store. And, no, there's no catch. I'm not going to put you on a mailing list or try to convince you to buy anything; that's what the site's marketing gals and guys are for! Of course, I wouldn't be terribly disappointed if you did... Anyway, round up those babies -- I mean, those projects -- and get them over to me. They'll appreciate the attention! Posted Oct 11 2007, 04:41 PM by atgadmin with no comments Filed under: contributors, wow you made that?, projects, community, gift certificate, creations

• Quick Project - Blackwork Placemats

  We wanted to create a design collection that you could use to add some classic style to your project whether you are embroidering evening accessories, elegant linens or an heirloom piece. My Blackwork collection is a versatile set of ornamental designs, professionally digitized for beautiful results in any color. Supplies needed: Purchased fabric placemats with 1 ½” border and coordinating napkins Designs of choice from Ann the Gran’s Classical Blackwork Collection Tear-a-way stabilizer such as Ann’s medium Tear Away with adhesive back Or if you don’t want any stabilizer left on the back try Ann’s Water Soluble adhesive back. Embroidery thread Placemat Choose the design you would like to embroider (we used design black-02). In your machine or software bring the design in 3 times and align horizontally with points touching as shown in picture. Save the design in your format. If you do not have a large hoop you can rehoop and sew the design 3 times along a placement line. If aligned in software print a full size template and pin to the placemat as shown. Otherwise, draw a placement line with a wash away marker or other temporary fabric pencil (be sure to test if delicate fabric was chosen when buying your placemats). Hoop the stabilizer in a 6” X10” hoop with adhesive side up. Adhere the placemat to the adhesive using your template or lines as a placement guide. Place the hoop on your machine. Be sure the needle lines up with the center point of your template or placement line. Remove the template. Embroider the designs and remove the stabilizer. Napkins Stitch edging lines in coordinating colors along the outside edges of the napkin if desired. Begin the first stitching line ½” from outer edge of napkin and repeat ¼” towards the center twice. Choose the design you would like to embroider (we used number black-02b). In your machine or software bring the design in and rotate 45 degrees. Add a basting stitch if your software has that feature. Save the design in your format. If rotated in software print a full size template and pin to the napkin corner . Otherwise, draw a placement line with a wash away marker or other temporary fabric pencil (be sure to test if delicate fabric was chosen when buying your napkins). Hoop the stabilizer in a 4”X4” hoop with adhesive side up. Adhere the napkin to the adhesive using your template or drawn lines as a placement guide. Place the hoop on your machine. Be sure the needle lines up with the center point and your horizontal and vertical placement lines where you want them. If you added a basting stitch embroider it now and check your alignment. Adjust if necessary. Embroider the design and remove the stabilizer. Remember Classical Blackwork is beautiful in any color you choose for your project. Here are a couple more quick and easy ideas using this collection. Notes Box Purchase a box of note cards or photo box with a frame or create a frame for one you have. Our box had an opening of 3”X4”. Rotate the design if necessary and add lettering using the built in fonts on your machine or using lettering software programs such as Amazing Designs Personalize and Stitch. Stitch on whatever fabric you desire using a medium weight stabilizer. Cut the fabric and stabilizer to fit inside your frame and slide in. A cute gift with a personalized touch. Elegant Hand Towel Embroider a row of any design you choose along piece of fabric 18” by 6”. Fold under ½” all the way around and press. Fold bottom in another ½”, press and stitch along folded edge. Pin a 17” piece of trim along the bottom and stitch in place. Fold top in another ½” and stitch along to hem. Place on hand towel aligning bottom edge and leaving ½” on each side of towel. Stitch along top edge of embroidered fabric piece to attach to a standard size hand towel. Fold sides to back of towel and stitch in place along top and bottom seams. What an elegant towel. Send Us Your Creations Do you have any creations of which you are especially proud? If so, we'd love to hear about them, and see them! If we choose to post your project, you'll get a free $25 gift certificate to use in the AnnTheGran.com online store. Click here for details on how to submit your creation What Would You Do? I used purchased placemats and napkins. What is your favorite purchased item on which to do embroidery? Please use the Comments link below to let us know. Posted Oct 10 2007, 01:26 PM by atgadmin with no comments Filed under: gift idea, christmas, entertaining, medium adhesive tear-away, napkins, notes box, hand towel, placemats, personalize n stitch, blackwork, guests, dinner