How to do Cutwork Machine Embroidery a Step-By-Step Tutorial

by | Mar 13, 2013 | Blog

How to do Cutwork Machine Embroidery a Step-By-Step Tutorial

Hi Friends,

I am so getting ready for Easter and spring too!  Our trees are starting to bud and I’ve started my garden seeds indoors.  Warmer weather is on its way!!

I want to show you a really sweet project cutwork Easter project.  It is a cutwork egg with Easter bunny inside.  You can read below what I am going to do with them.

This pattern comes from Advanced Embroidery Designs.   My machine’s largest hoop size is 5 x 7 and this pattern is 5 x 8 I was shocked, but it works.  I don’t understand why.  I figured it would say pattern too large for my machine, but it still fits inside my hoop.  I can’t promise for your own machine though.  I actually picked this pattern up free last year.  They have monthly free designs.  If it wouldn’t have been free, I would have been afraid to purchase it in thinking it wouldn’t work for my machine.

This really is an easy project so don’t let the name of the website fool you.  It took me about 1 hour 30 minutes to complete.

1.  Choose your fabric.  Best to use a small print.  I used a bright pink tone on tone for the first one and white thread.  For the second I used an off white tone on tone fabric with pastel variegated thread.  Have a full bobbin wound for this project too as well as a fresh sharp embroidery needle.

2.  Hoop fabric right side up with a water soluble stabilizer underneath.  Both are in the hoop.  Hoop tightly.
3. The first stitch out is a straight stitch around the outside of the egg. Remove your hoop from the machine and cut away a bit of the fabric on the outside of this stitching. I cut away about a half inch which you can see below.  Look closely.  The stitching is on the INSIDE of where I cut.  I cut out a half inch on the OUTSIDE of the stitching.  REMEMBER THESE TWO THINGS:  1. ONLY REMOVE YOUR HOOP FROM THE MACHINE. DO NOT REMOVE THE FABRIC FROM THE HOOP!  2.  DO NOT CUT YOUR WATER SOLUBLE STABILIZER.  ONLY CUT AWAY THE FABRIC!  (I’m not trying to sound bossy here 😉  I just really want to emphasize these two things.)
 
Cut very close to the stitch line for best results. On the first sample I did, the pink one, I was afraid to cut too close and that left frayed edges that were difficult to clean up. On the second sample I cut as close as 1/32″ to 1/64″ of an inch, very close to the stitching!

4. The second stitch out is an outline of the inner part of the egg and an outline of the interior design.

5.  Again remove the hoop from your machine and cut away only the fabric between the bunny and the inner egg.  Keep the stabilizer intact.  An applique scissors is a very handy tool to cut close to the stitching line.

6.  The third stitch out is all the lace work and design.  This is the part that takes the longest.  Just sit back and check out some blogs and read a bit while the machine does it’s magic.

7.  For the fourth and final stitch out it is a decorative stitch between the inner and outer egg lining.  You can change thread color if you like for this.

8.  Remove hoop and remove fabric from hoop.  Cut stabilizer close to the outside of the egg and place entire project in water.  This will dissolve the water soluble stabilizer.  Dry.  Press.  Enjoy!!!

I’m going to glue the pink one to the outside of an Easter card and attach a pretty ribbon as well.  For the pastel on the right I’m going to stitch it to a placemat.  I’ll either put that placemat in the center of the table with a basket of candy or I will make 6 more of these and make a total of 7 placemats for everyone at our Easter dinner.  I’ve got to decide on that first.

Enjoy and Easter Blessings to you,
Nancy

Machine Embroidery Butterfly Quilt

by | Mar 6, 2013 | Blog

Machine Embroidery Butterfly Quilt

Dear Friends,
Last spring/summer I took a quilting 101 class.  My mother and mother-in-law are both quilters and that is one thing I had never tried my hand at.  What you see is my very FIRST quilt I have ever made!

Yesterday I was doing some spring cleaning and working on the garage.  While in there I pulled out the Easter decorations.  I set the dining room table for Easter and then put away my winter quilts that my mother has made for me.

As I put away the winter quilt that I had on this wall, I was excited to pull out my quilt.  I actually finished it before Christmas this past year but tucked it away until now.

As I was assembling this quilt I really wanted to do more with butterflies.  I found all the butterfly designs you see on this quilt at Embroidery Library with the exception of the one you see below, the one in the corners of the quilt.  I received that design in one of my embroidery club classes at our local sewing store and it was given to me by the instructor.  I don’t know who to credit this design to.

The six butterflies in the center were embroidered on Floriani’s “No Show Nylon Mesh Non-Fusible”.  To use this product, when the solid design is finished stitching, cut close to the embroidery design.  Then use a heat source such as a mini iron, stencil burner or wood burning tool to melt away the edges of the mesh from around the design.  ***Caution***Don’t touch the embroidery design with the heat source or your thread can easily melt.  Do this carefully!!!

Then I stitched the butterflies onto the quilt by hand for a 3-D effect.

For the antennae, I used dark brown embroidery floss and tied knots in the end.

I used monofilament thread to quilt this by stitching in the ditch between the larger red squares and the 9 patch squares.

All the remaining blank red squares were quilted with this Embroidery Library design.  These designs on the red squares were embroidered with cotton quilting thread.

Thanks everyone for looking.  I hope you enjoyed this!

Happy Embroidering and spring blessings to you!
With Love,
Nancy

Machine Embroidery – St. Patrick’s Day Applique Shamrock and More!

by | Feb 28, 2013 | Blog

Machine Embroidery – St. Patrick’s Day Applique Shamrock and More!

Hi Friends,
I’m having a little St. Patrick’s Day fun in doing this machine embroidery applique shamrock.  All designs from Needle Little Embroidery.  I did this on a tote bag from the Dollar Tree!  The applique fabric is glitter fabric from Hobby Lobby.  It comes in cuts 8 1/2″ x 11 1/2″ and is found by the cut felt.  $1.47 for the piece minus my 40% coupon.  It is a cotton fabric that has glitter bonded to the surface of it and it embroiders quite nicely.  I think it would be perfect material for an applique Christmas tree or tags on Christmas presents.  With its shine it would make some great Christmas ornaments, or how about Easter tree ornaments made with pastel glittered sheets.  I’m really thinking I will go back and pick up some more of this fun fabric in other colors!

Next it was onto making two St. Patrick’s day coasters.  You will never guess what these are stitched on……
Here it is!  Grip Prints rubberized shelf liner from Contact.  I got this at Target.  It stitched beautifully on it.

The final simple secret…Adhesive backed cork board, found in the scrapbook section of your craft store.  This makes a perfect coaster.  Note:  I stitched the blanket stitch around the designs when they were finished.

Happy Embroidering,
Nancy

My Very First Digitized Embroidery Design

by | Feb 25, 2013 | Blog

My Very First Digitized Embroidery Design

Dear Friends,
I did it!  I created my very first manually digitized embroidery design!  I’m doing the happy dance here.  Never mind the fact that it is  a simple design, and I did have issues that I now know how to resolve, I still did it!  I finally jumped into the water.
I used my Generations software to create this “Hope” card.  One thing I really must mention is that I’ve been watching Holly and Larry Pike’s videos over at You Can Digitize and they have really supplemented the training videos that I received from Generations with my software.  If you are looking for digitizing lessons with Generations, Holly is an excellent teacher.  Another thing is her voice is easy to listen to.  Even though I don’t know her, she and her husband Larry seem like genuinely nice people who I someday hope to meet.

I stitched the design out as an applique onto gold felt.  Then I layered yellow felt on top and then stitched the lettering.  It is all sitting on a gold glitter piece of cardstock and this will be used as a card.  The recipient could use it as a bookmark.  Around the outside of the design, rather than doing a typical applique satin stitch, I used a cross stitch.  I waited until the design was completed and then just trimmed the felt close to the stitching.  With felt, there is no need to worry about fabric raveling.

Other than first fixing my digitizing mistakes, the next item on my agenda is to figure out how to place the design here as a free download for all of you.  I’m open to suggestions if you would like to contact me.

With hugs and blessings,
Nancy
ps.  I’m recovering well from my hernia surgery that I had last Friday.  I’m up and around more today.  Going through surgery of course is no fun, but it literally forced me to stay off my feet for a few days.  I had my laptop right next to me and got to go through the You Can Digitize videos while recuperating.  What a fun way to spend my days in bed.

Machine Embroidery – An Irish Blessing Embroidered Card

by | Feb 21, 2013 | Blog

Machine Embroidery – An Irish Blessing Embroidered Card

Hello Sweet Friends,
I hope you are all staying warm and healthy wherever you are.  It has been very cold here in New Mexico, in the 20’s with lots of wind making it even colder.  Brrrrr!!  Not much snow where I am, but lots of snow on the mountain.
That means I stay INSIDE and I get to sit at my embroidery machine as I get a chance.

The Irish Blessing is a design from Michelle at Needle Little Embroidery.  I stitched it onto glittered felt.  I brought the felt in an 8-1/2 x 11 sheet at Michaels or Hobby Lobby.  I don’t remember which.  After stitching it out, I cut the felt to about 1/8 inch of the design and then used fabri-tac to glue it onto a piece of folded cardstock.

When embroidering on the glittered felt, I hooped a piece of medium weight cut-away stabilizer and floated the felt on top.

I also added a piece of sheer ribbon.  There are 2 small 1/8″ holes punched in the cardstock at the top of the card.  The ribbon just gets looped through those two little holes and then cut at an angle.  It lays flatter this way rather than tying into a bow.

I’m not Irish, I’ve got English and German blood in me, but I still wish you all this beautiful Irish blessing.

“May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow
and may trouble avoid you wherever you go.”

With warm blessings,
Nancy
ps.  I hope you will add me to your prayer list as tomorrow I am having much needed and long overdue hernia surgery.  Thank you.

Trapunto Machine Embroidery on Fleece

by | Feb 17, 2013 | Blog

Trapunto Machine Embroidery on Fleece

Dear Friends,
Fleece is such a fun fabric to sew on and it makes a perfect surface for doing trapunto style machine embroidery.  Trapunto is an Italian word which means “to embroider”.  In Latin it means “to prick with a needle”.  Quilters will occasionally use this technique to puff up part of their quilts.
My local sewing machine dealer, Ryan’s Sewing and Vacuum holds an embroidery club which I belong to.  In class we made this pocket scarf and did the trapunto machine embroidery on it.

See how with trapunto, part of the design remains raised due to the fleece.  Like I said, I really enjoy fleece.  It cooperates and doesn’t slip and is just super soft and warm for the winter months.

The embroidery design is from Stitch Delight.

Now, would you like to see the most exquisite example of trapunto?  I’m sure this was done with a long arm commercial quilting machine.
Take a look!

Oh how I would love to have this on my bed!  It is from Biltmore, For Your Home Trapunto Quilt Collection.  I can dream right!  Did you see the chandelier in the bedroom?

Happy Embroidering,

Nancy

Machine Embroidery Be Mine Valentine’s Day Cup Cozy

by | Feb 14, 2013 | Blog

Machine Embroidery Be Mine Valentine’s Day Cup Cozy

Dear Friends,
Happy Valentine’s Day! I made a sweet cup cozy to help keep hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold. I stitched the design on pre-quilted red fabric and added the heart print binding.

Fabric came from JoAnns Fabrics. The sweet Be Mine design comes from Michelle at Needle Little Embroidery.

This is so pretty on the table and makes me smile as I drink from my special cup.
Happy Valentine’s Day everyone,
Nancy

Machine Embroidery Valentine’s Day T-Shirts

by | Feb 12, 2013 | Blog

Machine Embroidery Valentine’s Day T-Shirts

Good Morning Friends!
The sun is shining and it is a beautiful day but it it is COLD!  I hope the weather is decent where you are.
Valentine’s Day is approaching quickly.  I chose this design to stitch for my girls on t-shirts to give to them along with a little chocolate.

The design is from Designs By Sick.  I used mylar behind the hearts for that extra Valentine sparkle.  The t-shirts were only $3.96 from Walmart.  They are full length t-shirts.  I just have them folded up in the picture.  I want my sweet girls to know that I will ALWAYS love them 4 ever!

Hugs and Blessings to you dear readers.  Just you being here and reading is a Valentine’s day gift from you to me.
Nancy

In the Hoop Machine Embroidery Decorative Clothespins

by | Jan 24, 2013 | Blog

In the Hoop Machine Embroidery Decorative Clothespins

Hi Friends,
I am so ready for spring.  I mean, I’m seriously ready for green grass, flowers and warmer weather.  I had a lot of fun making these in-the-hoop machine embroidery decorative clothespin cozies from Embroidery Library.
The directions are simple to follow. I hooped heavy weight stabilizer and floated felt on top. At the final stitch out, the hoop is removed from the embroidery machine (but don’t unhoop the stabilizer) and a second piece of felt is placed on the bottom side of the hoop. How do you get the felt to stay on the bottom side of the hoop you ask?

I have an ingenious product at my embroidery machine.  It is called blue painters tape!  Just put a little piece of tape on each corner of the felt, out of the way of the stitching, and it holds it in place perfectly.

Finally, insert a clothespin and glue a magnet to the clothespin and it is good to go.

Keeps my recipes handy on the side of my refrigerator.  Makes me smile as I think of spring.  BTW…Tulips are my all time favorite flower.

Blessings and happy embroidering,
Love,
Nancy

Machine Embroidery on Jeans

by | Jan 17, 2013 | Blog

Machine Embroidery on Jeans

Hi Friends,
Today I have another one of Michelle’s designs from Needle Little Embroidery.  I had been wanting to put some bling on my jeans so this design seemed just right.
I can’t believe I posted a picture of my backside!
For this design I used silver metallic thread.  Now when stitching on jeans you can stitch directly as I did, or you could remove the pocket and stitch the design on the pocket and re-sew the pocket back to the jeans.  I didn’t mind not having a back pocket so I just stitched it through the pocket and jeans together.
My next question was what type of needle should I use?  A heavy jeans needle, a metallic thread needle, or a heavier embroidery needle?  I knew there were going to be places where the needle would have to penetrate through three layers of denim as well as the stabilizer.  I decided that the heavy fabric trumps thread and stitching so I went with the jeans needle.  I set my machine on the slowest embroidery speed and I used a medium to heavy weight cut-away stabilizer.
I turned my $12 pair of jeans into a $60 pair of jeans!
Be sure to stop over at Needle Little Embroidery http://www.needlelittleembroidery.com/ and this specific design is “Heart of Elegance”.
Blessings and Happy Embroidering!
Nancy

Machine Embroidery with Mylar and Free Standing Lace

by | Jan 2, 2013 | Blog

Machine Embroidery with Mylar and Free Standing Lace

Dear Friends,
Remember the snowflakes I was making for the children at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT?  Well, today I want to share with you what I did to create them.
First I started off with a great free standing lace machine embroidery file from Lindee G. Embroidery.
These designs are all done with ONE color thread.  I used a slight off white.  The secret to the color and bling  is this!  Mylar tissue wrap.
Now you know my secret.  And an even better secret I’m going to share with you is this…
I got it at the Dollar Tree.  There are three sheets of mylar tissue in each package and each package is only $1.  Can’t beat that!
As the design stitches out, on water soluble stabilizer, it starts in the center which is where I placed the mylar.  Just keep an eye on your machine and stop it as it gets ready to stitch the outer row of hearts.  Cut the thread and remove the hoop from the machine, but don’t unhoop the stabilizer.  Gently tear the mylar to remove the excess.  I also removed the mylar from the center star area.  It tears easily but still, you don’t want to pull your stitches.
Then just put the hoop back on the machine and continue stitching the remainder of the design.
HERE is a link back to the post that gives the address where you can send your snowflakes.
My prayers continue to be with the families who lost their loved ones in this tragic event.  My heart breaks as I think of you and your struggles.  I hope you somehow know I care.
With love and blessings to my sweet embroidery family readers,
Nancy

Christmas Machine Embroidery with Free Standing Lace

by | Dec 31, 2012 | Blog

 

Happy New Year’s Eve Friends!
Remember  my Christmas gift?  The OESD Cd’s?  Well here is what I have been busy with.
Even though these got stitched after Christmas it is still nice to have them on my tree.
These are pretty machine embroidery free standing lace designs with applique.  The red fabric I used to applique with is red velvet!  Beautiful red velvet!  To stitch them out I used water soluble stabilizer on both the top and bottom.
The water soluble stabilizer on the bottom was hooped then I floated the velvet and top water soluble stabilizer.
Then I bought a yard of the pearls to make the hangers.
I am partial to free standing lace designs that have applique.  The applique gives the designs a unique look because you could use any color or design of fabric.  I love the velvet, both the look and the feel of it.
Hope you enjoy the last of my Christmas designs, at least for a while.
Warm winter blessings from my house to yours.
Nancy

Machine Embroidery Designs – Free Snowflake Pattern for Sandy Hook Elementary

by | Dec 28, 2012 | Blog

 

The tragedy in Newtown, CT has been on my heart as I’m sure it has been on yours. One of the children who passed away used to live in my town here in New Mexico.  I’m joining in on the Snowflakes for Sandy Hook Elementary movement to help welcome the children back to school.  Below is a quote from the North Canton Patch.

“Snowflakes for Sandy Hook” is one of several nationwide assistance movements spearheaded by the Connecticut PTSA on behalf of the Sandy Hook Elementary PTA. The National PTA joined in, sending out emails inviting PTA members across the U.S. to start crafting.
“When school resumes for Sandy Hook, it will be in a new building. Parent-volunteers are working to ensure that the students are welcomed back by a winter wonderland with the entire school decorated with as many unique snowflakes as possible,” the National PTA posted on its website.

Many crafters are making snowflakes from various media.  A number of machine embroidery designers have offered free snowflake patterns for enthusiasts like myself to stitch out.  I personally chose this free design offered by Lindee G. Embroidery.   I thought the design with the hearts in it truly spoke to me.


I love the music by Donna Cori Gibson.  Here she sings the Chaplet of Divine Mercy or the 3:00pm prayer.  Jesus is our rock even in times of sorrow such as this.  Jesus I trust in you.

If you would like to make snowflakes for Sandy Hook Elementary, you are asked to get them in the mail by Jan. 12th.  The address is below.

Want to make snowflakes for Sandy Hook Elementary students? If so, have them in the mail by Jan. 12 addressed to: Connecticut PTSA, 60 Connolly Parkway, Building 12, Suite 103, Hamden, CT 06514

In a near future post I will talk more about the snowflakes and how I made them.
Warm winter blessings from my house to yours,
~Nancy

Machine Embroidery Free Standing Lace Angel

by | Dec 21, 2012 | Blog

Machine Embroidery Free Standing Lace Angel

Good Morning Friends,
I want to show you another angel I made using Sonia Showalter Designs, Angel of Christmas Ornament, for my sweet friend Vicki.  Vicki and I are sewing buddies and we get together at least a couple times a month with our machines to sew.  She does machine embroidery as well.

As with the others, this is a free-standing lace design.  On this ornament, I glued little red rhinestones to the holly berries and to the hanging ribbon.  It added some nice bling to the look.

Enjoy and it is almost CHRISTmas.  What a wonderful day to Rejoice!

Despite the sad tragedies that have occurred here in the United States, as well as tragedies occurring around the world, we have much to be thankful for.  I am eternally thankful that our Lord came as a baby here on earth so that my sins, our sins, would be forgiven.  Even in sadness, God has a plan and we need to lean on that with hope that we will someday see our savior.  For those of you in the midst of suffering, you are saying this is easier said than done Nancy.  I know that to be true.  For some of you who are suffering, you may have to take things minute by minute just to get through.  For you I pray for God’s gracious peace to fall upon your heart and may you feel the comfort of his angel’s wings carrying you forward.

With much love,
Nancy

Machine Embroidery Free Standing Lace Angels

by | Dec 19, 2012 | Blog

Machine Embroidery Free Standing Lace Angels

I fell head over heals for these beautiful free-standing lace angels from Sonia Showalter Designs.  Sonia does some amazing work with her designs.

I made these angels for the ladies I craft with.  Each has their initial in the angel’s gown.  Every week the ladies and I get together to knit, crochet or do other hand work such as hand quilting.  All are Christian women and it is a special time in my week to spend time with them and it gets my creative juices flowing.  They are angels in my life.  (We also manage to solve all the world’s problems as we chatter and create!)

The designs are free-standing lace in which I hooped water-soluble stabilizer.  I washed the stabilizer out only enough to remove it from the small openings, but not so much that I let the designs go limp.  Some stabilizer remains to give stiffness to the angels.  I glued a piece of ribbon to the back side of the design, tied on a bow and finished by gluing a small red rhinestone to the bow.

I slipped each one into their Christmas card.
The angels can be used as a Christmas ornament or even a bookmark.
If you get a chance, send me a comment and let me know what you created as Christmas gifts this year.  Also, if you have a blog in which you show your machine embroidery, I’d love to see what you are working on.
Christmas Blessings,
Nancy

Machine Embroidered Christmas Handtowels

by | Dec 13, 2012 | Blog

Machine Embroidered Christmas Handtowels

Dear Friends,
I’ve been working on some sweet hand towels to give as Christmas gifts.  I am bundling one candy cane towel with one Santa sled.  I think they turned out sweet as can be.
The towels are from Costco.  The designs are from Anita Goodesign.  I used metallic silver thread for the top and white for the bobbin and just as with the Thanksgiving towels, I hooped water-soluble stabilizer in the hoop, floated the towel on top and topped the towel again with water-soluble stabilizer to keep the stitches up and showing.

I think these are the perfect Christmas gift for many on my list.
With love and Christmas Blessings,
Nancy

Machine Embroidery Hand Towels

by | Nov 19, 2012 | Blog

Machine Embroidered Thanksgiving Hand Towels

Dear Friends,
I’ve been busy with some continued sports work for clubs.  It has been a nice trickle of business coming in.  Not too much to overwhelm me with the holidays fast approaching.
I’ve also been making a handful of these Thanksgiving hand towels for all the ladies in the family that we will be celebrating Thanksgiving with.  It will be a houseful of hustle and bustle of activity and chatter.
Let me tell you briefly about the towels.

This is a fun and quick project. I used water-soluble stabilizer on the top and bottom so that the stitches would not sink into the nap of the towel.  The pattern for this is from Embroidery Library and I got the towels at Costco.  Just be sure to preshrink the towels first before embroidering on them!

I hope you all have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving holiday.  We have so much to be thankful for.  God is so FAITHful and good!  I am so grateful to have been able to start this little business this year and for it to be steady.  This has brought me such joy.  Our daughter Katie is home from the Air Force for 2 weeks.  How wonderful to have her home!!

May you all have safe travels this week and know that you, my readers are in my prayers.  I am thankful for each of YOU!

Blessings~Nancy

Machine Embroidery with Buttons

by | Oct 30, 2012 | Blog

Machine Embroidery with Buttons

Dear Friends,
I just wanted to show you my polo shirt that I made.  This is my “cleaning the house” shirt and I wanted to brighten it up.  When I clean house I should wear something that makes me smile.  Right?  I love this embroidery pattern.  The flowers are designed with the centers empty and are made for stitching on a button.
Super sweet!

I used a soft cut-away stabilizer on the back.
The pattern comes from Embroidery Library.
Enjoy!
Nancy