February 8, 2017
djones247
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Perhaps you faithfully change your needles with every eight of stitching - or at the beginning of ev
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Everyone has their own wayIf you're like me, you've read several tips about removing water-soluble t
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May 6, 2016
djones247
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I love to embroider… and there’s nothing I like to embroider
more than Embroider Buddies. I make lot
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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...
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April 19, 2013
djones247
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If you have ever used self-adhesive stabilizer to hold a towel for embroidery, it may have seemed easy at first. But when you have to remove the self-adhesive, the going gets tough. After removal, you have pulled loops on the back of the towel that look terrible. In this video excerpt from my video ...
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April 5, 2013
djones247
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When you remove your embroidery work from the hoop, here's something that ranks up there with crooked embroidery - loopy threads from poor tensions. I have two methods to repair them. In this video exceprt from my video "Repairing Embroidery Mishaps", I show you two ways to secure tho...
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March 15, 2013
djones247
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If you like to use larger cones for your most-used thread colors, follow these steps to make the sam
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February 22, 2013
djones247
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I love embroidering towels - they're my favorite monogrammed gift, and this past Christmas I really kept the machine humming with monogrammed towels for just about everyone. The challenge is that large letters have very wide satin stitches that can snag. In this video, I show you how to cre...
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August 10, 2012
djones247
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There are differences in tear-away stabilizer besides their weight. I find that most embroiderers are very familiar with "firm" or "crisp" tear-away. But a wonderfully supportive tear-away is "soft" tear-away.
Crisp or firm tear-away is made fr...
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July 13, 2012
djones247
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Hooping and embroidering garments that don't open down the front, such as T-shirts and sweatshirts, can be challenging. Even when you get them hooped, it can be hard to get them on and off the machine.
Watch this video for tips on how to do this more easily and take at least half the work ...
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If you think that you can't embroider items that you can't get into a hoop, or hold with self-adhesive stabilizer, think again.
There's another method that will let you hold big, bulky items under the embroidery needle. I embroidered this tote bag on my single-needle home embroide...
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May 12, 2012
djones247
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Untitled Document
When is a doily not a doily? When you make it into a bowl!
Start with the Lace Doily collection from Dakota Collectibles.
https://www.annthegran.com/Product.aspx?t=1&i=42329
First, create the butterfly doily shown here as a bowl. It's pretty neat the way this in-the...
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April 27, 2012
djones247
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All Water-Soluble Stabilizers are Not Created Equal
That’s right – there are three main varieties:
Lightweight (about 20 microns) – used for topping on lightly textured fabrics
Mid-weight (about 35 microns) – used a topping on more deeply textured or plush fabrics,...
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March 31, 2012
djones247
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Working with small letters can be frustrating. Chances are that you think your small lettering looks distorted, bunchy or just plain amateurish. The truth is, is probably not your fault. That’s right. Your good technique can only go as far as the data allows. In other words, if the fon...
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February 17, 2012
djones247
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I just want to pass on the latest trend in stabilizers that is actually a blast from the past!
The new thin and stretchy performance knits with brand names like Under Armor and DriWick have given commercial embroiderers fits. After trying all available sources, they have turned to an “old sc...
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January 13, 2012
djones247
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Have you ever wondered whether it matters if you first trim the top or the bottom of your machine embroidery work?
It’s best to trim the top first, so that when you trim the back, you can gently pull on the bobbin tails to secure the trimmed thread end inside the fabric for a neater appearanc...
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December 2, 2011
djones247
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Working with Metallic Thread
At this time of year, we seem to have more need to use metallic thread than any other time. If you find that you struggle with this thread type, try some of these solutions. When shopping for metallic thread, buy the largest spool you can afford. The larger the spool di...
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November 18, 2011
djones247
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Do you ever embroider small lettering that seems to disappear completely in to the fabric? Sometimes it seems that there is more thread on the underside of the material than on the top!
There are some simple things you can do to make sure that your small lett...
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October 14, 2011
djones247
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There are many kinds of bobbins available to us for embroidery, but and there is no single answer to the best bobbin type for every embroiderer or every machine.
There are metal,
plastic disposable, plastic reusable,
cardboard
and sideless.
Bobbins also come in colors. Colo...
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September 9, 2011
djones247
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This fall, you will be seeing lots of thicker threads – yarn-like in appearance – in retail stores. On my current trip East, I have seen tons of this decorating method on everything from sweatshirts to bags and even on the back of woven menswear shirts.
Industry su...
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August 26, 2011
djones247
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You don't need a $100,000 embroidery/laser cutting combo machine to create the reverse applique look that's so hot in retail stores right now. And it's the perfect time of year to put this impressive technique on sweatshirts. You can put this technique on lots of fabrics, but I particula...
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August 12, 2011
djones247
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Fortunately, manufacturers have developed wonderful, lightweight, moisture-wicking materials to keep us dry and comfortable in this record-setting heat. Unfortunately, stabilizing these materials is not as simple as other knits. In addition to being very thin, they also have more stretch than typica...
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July 29, 2011
djones247
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Wouldn't it be great if you could turn your sew-outs into a well-presented sample book? One that you could use to seel from, or just to show off your workmanship? You can!
It's easy, inexpensive and quick to use some of your existing stitch-outs that had been relegated to ...
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July 15, 2011
djones247
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Slippage and marring are the two biggest challenges when hooping satin. Because of its soft hand, it is necessary to hold it securely without damaging the delicate surface yarns. Hoops may have nicks, splinters or burrs that can catch and damage these long delicate warp threads. I prefer that the ho...
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July 1, 2011
djones247
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Identify your pet and add fun sayings to pet bandanas. Make a patriotic one for the 4th of July - and then keep it rolling, making a new one for each holiday or mood. Rather than regular tie-style bandanas, you might want to make a slip-ver-the-collar bandana. This type of ban...
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June 17, 2011
djones247
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Because quilt fabric is usually lightweight, embroidered quilt squares are often puckered. To avoid puckers on your squares, fuse a piece of ShirtTailorÒ by PellonÒ to cover the entire back of your square. It will not be removed after embroidery. Rather, it adds body to the quilt squar...
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Did you ever wonder how embroidery was done before computers? During the 1960s automated embroidery
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May 20, 2011
djones247
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Fear No Pashmina!
One of my favorite newer stabilizers is the self-adhesive wash-away mesh type.
This stabilizer can be pricey, but it stands alone when you need the unique advantages offered by this highly evolved specialty product.The item being embroidered must be compatible with wate...
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April 22, 2011
djones247
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As exciting as standard embroidery is, you'll reach a creative crescendo when you add other elements. When you incorporate everyday elements with even the simplest embroidery, the result is almost always a pleasing surprise. In this example, "The Busy Bride" from the Circle of Life des...
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