Individual characters (letters, numbers and punctuation marks) from my alphabets and
individual designs can be found on my Stock Design Page.  My designs are also available in
packs, as described in this blog.  Those can be found here.  For designs and packs available
in multiple sizes, choose the size you want in the drop down menu box.

     In my previous blog I promised I would talk about the aprons I embroidered
for my sons.  My husband had the idea of embroidering a clock (and then came up
with the pun that would make it food-related:  "Tine to cook").  Here is a picture
of one of the aprons.

     I had already digitized a wooden spoon, so just needed to make a fork to go
with it.  The fork gives the excuse for the 'tine.'  Arranging the numbers for the
clock took a little more doing.  My embroidery software allows me to arrange
multiple items in a circle, but the bottoms of all the numbers would have faced
the center as in this picture.

     Since I preferred to have all my numbers facing the same way, I arranged only
blank circles.  Separately, I used my Contour Print 20 alphabet to arrange the
numbers for my clock.  I left the boxes in place around the numbers.  I also
positioned one box from a number inside a circle to serve as a guide for position-
ing the numbers.  I call this helper design a circle_guide.

     I arranged 12 of these circles into larger guides.  The following picture
shows circle_guide_200, arranged for adding numbers to a clock that will fit in
a 200 mm wide hoop.  Circle_guide_150 will fit in a 150 mm wide hoop, for those
who don't have the larger hoop.



     For the three 2-digit numbers, 10, 11, and 12, I arranged and combined the
digits first.  I did not yet remove the boxes that surround the digits.  I
positioned each number in its proper place in the circle, centering the number
between the sides of the circle and aligning the bottom of the box with the guide
box in the circle.

     I added my spoon hour hand and fork minute hand, and then a small circle to
serve as the center washer that holds the hands in place.  I combined the design
and then removed the circle_guide color.

     I added the text underneath, using Contour Print 40 alphabet.  I combined
again, saved the design, and transferred it to my embroidery machine for stitching.
    
     This design was easier to center than the on-point paisley design.  I folded
the apron in half vertically and marked on the fold.



     I opened up the apron and used a ruler to mark the line more completely.



     The entire design is 253 mm high by 177 mm wide.  I marked the horizontal
center line about 6 1/2" inches down from the bottom of the trim on the top edge.
253 mm equals about 10 inches, so 1/2 of the design is 5" high.  That leaves about
1 1/2" of fabric above the design.  You can position your design as you please,
but I suggest you do leave a little space above the design.



     Finally, I embroidered the design.  That was the easy part.  My sons were
quite amused by the designs and will enjoy using their aprons.  I hope my daughters-
in-law will use them, too.

     The Contour Clock Designs (circle guides, two sizes of spoons and forks for clock hands, and the center
washer) are available free, with a purchase of any Fancy Jumbles embroidery alphabet,
through the end of December, 2010.  The set also includes clock faces, already arranged
for the 150 x 150 mm and 200 x 200 mm hoops.  Some designs may not be available in all
formats, given size restrictions for designs in some formats.