Next to Angelina fiber, glitter flex vinyl is becoming my new favorite applique embellishment. Bonnie Welsh from Sew Inspired by Bonnie introduced me to this new product and I can see so many uses for it. She did extensive testing with several similar products and chose Glitter Flex Ultra and Glitte... [More]

  Materials: • 3D Planter Decor design • Fabric for Applique (we used broadcl [More]

I have been doing bridal work for almost 13 years.  Sometimes it is frustrating, interestingly, [More]

We are excited to have Eileen Roche, Editor of Designs in Machine Embroidery share this content with you, which was originally posted on Eileen’s Machine Embroidery Blog. The entire community used to come together whenever the needle plate on an embroidery machine needed to be remov... [More]

The shabby chic appeal of rag quilts is gaining in popularity. Their strong, but soft-worn comfort m [More]

  Wow, the pool opens this Saturday and the kids can hardly wait.  We had a couple of rain [More]

Much about creating, whether it is sewing, quilting, embroidery, or any other artistic form, depends on having the ability to visualize the project in your head. I don't know about you, but it is getting harder and harder for me to do that every day. Sometimes, it is easy to bypass a pa... [More]

     Well, I'm back to embroidering for children again.  My newest thing is jigsaw puzzles.I embroider a picture on a piece of felt, then add another piece of felt under the stabilizerbefore stitching the outlines of puzzle pieces.  Then I use special cut work needl... [More]

In my last blog, I did a foam and embossed design in Turquoise and mint green.  The photo does [More]

We are excited to have Eileen Roche, Editor of Designs in Machine Embroidery share this content with you, which was originally posted on Eileen’s Machine Embroidery Blog:   I have a love-hate relationship with fusible web. I like to add it to the wrong side of applique fabric... [More]

I am a big fan of Joan Rivers - NOT for her use of foul language - but for her sense of taste and st [More]

  Because they resemble hand quilting, redwork embroidery designs work great as a quilting motif. Finding the correct amount of contrast (or not) is the key to an embroidery project that pops. Using a fabric sample called Elm Creek Quilts: Sarah's Collection by Red Rooster, I want to sh... [More]

Materials: •1 pkg. of blanket binding o 10 pieces of 14 x12 inch of white twill or canvas (size will vary due to your hoop size) o Black & white thread o Fabric chalk or marker o Straight pins o Scissors o Ruler o Washa... [More]

Hardanger is a type of stitching that uses the canvas itself as part of the design. The open weave a [More]

You may have had a friend or client ask you to stitch their company or school colors on apparel using PMS colors. Typically, the mere mention of PMS strikes fear in the hearts of many. Here, PMS refers to Pantone Matching System and how it helps with color consistency in embroidery thread. Panto... [More]

We are excited to have Eileen Roche, Editor of Designs in Machine Embroidery share this content with you, which was originally posted on Eileen’s Machine Embroidery Blog:   I’ll let you in on a little-known secret – I hate to remove the hoop during the embroidery pr... [More]

These things are just a little information for your project.  I know that, although I have been [More]

  I get lots of questions about embroidering onesies. I see lots of embroiderers floating them on self-adhesive stabilizers, but most projects will have better results if the onesie is hooped in a hoop with cut-away stabilizer. Watch this video to see how I like to hoop onesies. I demonst... [More]

Here is something no embroiderer should be without: basting stitches. Especially when they are FREE. Overall, basting files place a running stitch around the outside of the design area, temporarily securing the hooped fabric and stabilizer together. Some machines even have a basting feature bu... [More]

We are excited to have Eileen Roche, Editor of Designs in Machine Embroidery share this content with you, which was originally posted on Eileen’s Machine Embroidery Blog:    Our friends at Baby Lock have excellent advice for achieving beautiful embroidery on any machine... [More]

     A few years ago I made for myself a messenger bag style purse, with one of [More]

Since I seem to spend a lot of time at the repair shop with my machines, I thought I would talk abo [More]

Bobbins are the cement that holds embroidery stitches together, so they play an important role in the outcome of every machine embroidery design. Here is an overview of what you need to know about bobbins. Bobbins are not one-size-fits-all. They are available in three basic sizes for home embr... [More]

  Has the first few months of 2014 been as busy for you as it has for me?  Time has flown [More]

As I noted in my blog "Where is an Expert When You Need One?" sometimes we need an expert opinion an [More]

We are excited to have Eileen Roche, Editor of Designs in Machine Embroidery share this content with you, which was originally posted on Eileen’s Machine Embroidery Blog:   September 18, 2013 By eileenroche Katherine Artines   We introduced Stipple! Sass... [More]

Materials: • Arbor Day Decor Designs • Cotton Fabric 11.5” W x 11.5”H **Note the fabric [More]

To watch a tutorial on how to cut and piece curves using the Quick Curve Ruler go here.    Fabric Requirements for above layout:  *Optional revision to tutorial can be found here. -(48) 6 x 8 rectangles prints (center diamonds) or -(8) Fat Quarters (you wi... [More]

For centuries, women have decorated their bodies with everything from charcoal, crushed flower leave [More]

Lightweight tear-away stabilizer (top) and heavy cut-away (bottom).   Like the foundation of your home, stabilizers support the stitches you place upon them. If the foundation is not good, the structure isn't either. With all of these different weights of stabilizers, which do you use? ... [More]

Several years ago, I decided to go through my clothes and single out items that were in poor conditi [More]

I know this is really off the subject of embroidery, but I just had to share it with my readers. As [More]

snowman selfie The Avid Embroiderer.zip (209.6KB)snowman selfie outline The Avid Embroiderer.zip (59 [More]

I was reading just the other day about Baby's Firsts. It was noted that Baby Books will have to be a [More]

In my opinion, women who are no longer a size 8 tend to wear baggy clothing. https://www.swakdesigns [More]

I have a "Love" "Hate" relationship with some of my sweaters. I love my "creamy orange," light-weigh [More]

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Pat is sharing 10 of her unique tips with you and a freebie just for fun. [More]

I do like to create something unexpected when I embroider.  Some times that includes using a te [More]

There are so many places to learn about embroidery on the Internet.  My blog and that of the ot [More]

When I hear kids say "just 2 more months of school" or "just one more year of school" I laugh to mys [More]

Hardanger is a type of stitching that uses the canvas itself as part of the design. The open weave a [More]

If you are a newbie at embroidery, you may be thinking about the up-coming holidays and giving gifts [More]

WOW!  "Breakfast at Tiffany's" was one charming, romantic and fun film.  I remember seeing [More]

  As a Newbie (we love YOU and we were all where you are), I can read your questions and rememb [More]

The origins of monograms were very regal.  Monograms were generally used as a signature and on [More]

I have been doing this blog for nearly 4 years and I still love doing it.  I would never have t [More]

I know it is really nice to see how to do some of the coolest projects, but I often have trouble fin [More]

Sooner or later (probably sooner) everyone has it happen - the ooops, the hoop was not exactly tight [More]

I hope that you have just the right amount of tension for your machine and your life.  Too litt [More]

In Part 1, Puckering, Crooked Placement and Bad design Selection In Part 2, No Discovery Sew, No Org [More]

If there is anything that all embroiderers have in common, it must be pride of workmanship.  No [More]

I love to read tips and tricks about all sorts of things.  I love computer tips (if you have a [More]

Just when I think I am not going to be able to come up with another blog, something crosses my compu [More]

When it comes to family, the words family emergency causes me to have chills. We all know what those [More]

Many of us who are embroidery enthusiasts love to create wonderful projects for those who we love.&n [More]

This is one of those words that looks familiar but we are never quite sure if we know it or not! How [More]

I am constantly seeking something unusual for my bridal shop.  I enjoy bringing something reall [More]

I am so delighted to say that I belong to a group of enthusiastic embroiderers who meet once every m [More]

Occasionally you may be working with a dense or very sheer fabric and experience what is called hoop [More]