September 7, 2012
pguram
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What’s on your embroidery bucket list? Want to get the whole
embroidery experience? Then write an embroidery bucket list. You’ll
find if you write it down, you’re apt to tackle some of those
easy-to-put-off complicated embroidery projects. And once you do, you’ll
probably discover that they were way easier than you imagined.
I’ve compiled three embroidery bucket lists – one for newbie,
intermediate and advanced skill levels. This post will feature the
bucket list for newbies. Look for the bucket lists for Intermediate and
Advanced skill levels in upcoming issues of Designs in Machine
Embroidery!
Newbies
- Select a built-in a design from your machine and stitch it on a knit
fabric, cotton quilting fabric and a piece of denim. Experiment with
different stabilizers until you’re satisfied with the results. You’ll
see how changing the fabric can really change the design – and you’ll
learn what stabilizer works best on each fabric. Write the name and
type of the stabilizer on these samples and keep them for future
reference.
- Play with color by selecting your favorite go-to thread color and
stitching the same design on several different colored fabrics. You
might be surprised at the results. That pink that you always thought
was so bright might actually be a bit dull on blue fabric. Look at the
difference between these two shades of pink.
- Get comfortable with the editing features on your machine.
Experiment with rotating, duplicating and mirror imaging. Then move the
design(s) all over the sewing field, filling the hoop. Use the jog keys
to move the design. See how many designs you can squeeze into the
frame. I did this when I created an e-reader cover.
- Practice perfect placement. Draw a horizontal line on a piece of
fabric. Hoop the fabric keeping the line within the sewing field but not
dead center. Create a simple word like PEACE and position it on the
line. Someday you’ll have to place a monogram above a pocket and this
will teach you how to approach that task.
- Make it a habit to use the basting file with every design you
stitch. The basting file is similar to auto insurance, you don’t have to
be insured to drive a car but you should have at least basic coverage.
If something happens during the embroidery process, the basting file can
be used to realign. See point 6.
- Learn to rehoop in the middle of a design. If your machine has it,
select the basting icon and add a basting outline to a design. Stitch
the outline, then begin stitching the design. Interrupt the machine and
yep – take the hoop off of the machine and the fabric out of the hoop.
Make a note of the stitch number. Now rehoop as best you can. Here’s a
tip – use the hoop marks as a starting guide. Reattach the hoop to the
machine and see where the needle is positioned. Most likely, it won’t be
centered exactly over the last stitch. Use the stitch advance key to
go back to the basting file. Travel over the outline, stitch by stitch.
The needle should be positioned over the stitched outline – travel
around at least one corner to verify the fabric is square. You may need
to move or rotate the design to align the design. This is good practice
because someday you’ll have to do this on a real embroidery project.
Once you’re satisfied the needle is aligned with the basting outline,
advance to the stitch number where you interrupted the design and
complete the design. Pat yourself on the back!
- Create a traditional 3-letter monogram with the large last name
letter flanked by two smaller letters (first and middle initials). This
task will teach you the basics of monogramming, spacing and sizing of
letters.
- Quilt with the embroidery machine. Work in manageable sections such
as blocks or strips and hoop the quilt sandwich (backing, batting and
quilt top fabric). Select a quilting design and press go! You’ve
mastered embroidering on multiple layers.
- Lace. Who doesn’t love lace? Experiment with a variety of water
soluble stabilizer – heavy, regular weight, mesh-like and film-type.
Follow the manufacturer’s directions for dissolving the stabilizer.
- Embroider a Tote Bag. Sometimes the easiest way to embroider a bag
is to turn it inside out, hoop the design area and then ‘open’ the bag
to reveal the design area. This keeps the bulk of the bag on top of the
hoop and you can keep an eye on the straps to avoid stitching on one. I
actually placed this large tote bag over the machine head to keep
everything away from the needle except for the design area. Magna-Hoop
was a big help for this task.
Thanks for reading!
Reprinted with permission from Eileen's Blog.