Lynda MH Faires, BERNINA Ambassador, invites you to explore your creativity while playing with the BERNINA decorative stitches.
Today, I thought I'd share a quick overview of a very simple method for embroidering wheat motifs. I've received several questions about the wheat on this autumn design I've been exploring, so I thought I'd share a quick look at how I'm embroidering the wheat on my pumpkin design. Incidentall
Embroidery on tulle is so beautiful but it can be a challenge, so I've put together some tips on how to successfully hand embroider on tulle fabric!
A lot of people are astonished when the hear that I sew entire 18th century garments by hand, and mention that they find handsewing hard and intimidating. Here are 5 quick tricks to make it a lot easier – whether you are hand-sewing your own elaborate historical garment, or just sewing on a button or mending a tiny seam. 1. Use good needles (and the right kind). There are different qualities of needles, and different types of needles, and it’s important to have the best quality needles you can afford, and to use the right type the type of sewing and the type of thread you are using. Yes, a packet of good, high-quality needles can cost you up to $9, whereas the bargain store have them for $1, but the last time a student brought in bargain needles to a class of mine we ended up tossing the whole packet because they were all blunt (really blunt. The tip of each was FLAT). You may spend more money initially to buy really good …
Oh my goodness! I’m so excited! Finally, finally! We got our last lovely shipment of long-awaited thread, and the kits for Harvest Hues are almost ready for you. This means that, come Monday, we’ll be releasing the materials kits for our next Stitch Snippet Stitch-Along. Wooohoo! If you want to join with this stitch-along and ...
There are many sewists out there who swear by sergers, and it's no wonder why! Similar to a sewing machine, a serger is used to sew pieces of fabric together, but it does so with a twist. Not only does a serger stitch fabric, but it also cuts off extra fabric and seals in hems with an overlocking stitch, all at once! By using this one-stop-shop machine, you can cut your sewing time in half and produce projects that look professionally sewn. See only some of what you can do with this page full of serger basics and 15+ Serger Sewing Projects! Your stitches will be stronger than if you use a sewing machine and your hems will be protected against fraying. In short, a serger is a godsend for the sewing process. Itching to try out a serger yourself? Whether you want to know more about what a serger is, how to operate one, or to find free serging patterns, this collection has something for you! In this list, you'll find everything from a guide on serging 101 to patterns for couture fall accessories. If you'd like to know more about sergers, read our guide, Is a Serger the Same as an Overlocker? You don't have to scour the internet for serger patterns anymore. We've done the heavy lifting for you so that you can get to sewing designer-level pieces right away. Click any link below, and your serger will do the rest! Plus, we're sharing advice from our readers who use sergers to help you before you buy or as a beginner. Sign Up For More Free Patterns >>>
Have you ever wondered how to embroider clothes? It's really pretty simple! In this post, I'll go over some tips and tricks... %
Years ago, I wrote a series of articles on hand embroidered writing. The articles take you step-by-step through different embroidery stitches that work well for embroidered writing. Today, we’re going to add a stitch to that list – particularly, a stitch known today as the “Quaker Stitch” because it was formulated to work as the ...
Happy Saturday, and a Happy Weekend! What are you stitching this weekend? Here in Kansas, where the temps are topping out in the 100's and things are pretty sticky, I'm working on last minute touches for the first round of summer kids' classes this coming week. We've divided the kids into ag
Learn tips and tricks to embroidering a t-shirt in this MCreativeJ DIY hand embroidery tutorial.
Ripping out serged stitching can be overwhelming. That's why we put together a few options to gently and effectively remove serger stitches.
Once you know how to stem stitch, it's time to learn the differences in its looks and choose the one that you like the most!
Tips on Machine Applique {Sewing Tips and Tricks} Here is a post all about appliquéing! Perfect timing since appliques are super trendy right now. You can sew on a monogram or your child'
Good morning and welcome to the last installment of Dragonfly #1 in this series of tutorials on how to embroider a dragonfly! If you’re just joining us, you will find all the articles relating to this tutorial – plus several other tutorials, including how to embroider wheat, strawberries, daisies, and grapes – in this project ...
Friday strikes me as a great day for some Thread Talk, don’t you think? Today, we’re going to wiggle our toes about in the waters of Wool Threads to get familiar with them, and then we’ll take the plunge into thread comparisons and explorations. First, I’ll introduce you to my plan for discussing wool threads ...
On Monday, we started a series of tutorials on how to embroider strawberries five ways, and in that first article, which you’ll find here, there’s a materials list and a free pattern for the strawberry design. You can stitch along with the series – it’s not too late to start – or you can come ...
Patch it, mend it, or darn it—visible mending is hot! Transforming a worn piece of clothing with vibrant stitchwork offers a great way to show off your handspun yarn.
Taking on a new hobby like embroidery can seem a bit overwhelming at first. As a self-taught embroiderer, let me share some of the tips and tricks that I've picked up along the way.
A plain cotton sheet set at a department store might cost $25-$30. But add a line of decorative stitching along the turn-down edge, and it looks like the $99+ set that came out of a fancy catalog. Maybe you don't care for fancy sheets in catalogs – but the point is: a little decorative stitching adds a lot, and can take a sewing project from ordinary to "Did you really make that?!" Just about every sewing machine, even the basic ones, have at least a few decorative stitches built in. Here's a look at the stitch chart of the 425 that come standard with the new Janome Horizon Memory Craft 12000. With a few tips and a little practice, you can be using them like a pro! Nearly all the decorative stitches on the Memory Craft 12000 can be sewn up to 9mm in width. Pretty! Decorative vs. Embroidery First, a little nomenclature. Some people refer to decorative stitches as "embroidery stitches." While some of them do look like lines of hand embroidery, in the sewing machine world, "embroidery" always refers to the stitching done by an embroidery machine, using a special carriage and hoops. Decorative stitches are ones you can sew out just like a regular stitch. As we mentioned above, top-of-the-line machines, like Janome's Horizon Memory Craft 12000, have hundreds of decorative stitches, including alphabets, vintage dress forms, even little hand bags and kitty cats. But you can sew them out just like you would a straight stitch. (The MC12000 also lets you create your own custom decorative stitches from scratch, but don't get me started on that.) Preparing your fabric Decorative stitches are generally wider and use more thread than simple utility stitches, so they have a greater chance of making your fabric pucker. You can try stabilizing your fabric with spray starch. Follow the directions on the can. Then sew a test row of your stitching. If spray starch isn't strong enough, try a tear-away stabilizer. Since you'll probably be sewing along a relatively narrow area, to conserve, you can cut the stabilizer sheet into strips and pin it in place. Again sew some test seams. For expert help in getting the right stabilizer for your project, ask for a little advice at your sewing machine or fabric store. Slow down a little Your sewing needle is covering a lot of ground when you sew a decorative stitch. If you try to sew out an ornate stitch at top speed, the quality will suffer. So run your machine a little slower and be patient. You'll be much happier with the results. Guidelines It's a good idea to use guidelines on your fabric. Decorative stitches don't sew straight - the needle often moves right, left and backwards as the machine creates each stitch, so it can be difficult to keep the stitches in a straight line. Following a guide line will help you to keep things straight. Using a clear ruler, decide exactly where you want your line of decorative stitching to appear and draw a line right on the fabric. Make sure you use a special fabric marking pen that easily erases or washes away. Feet and tension adjustments Your sewing machine may have come with a foot designed to do decorative stitching, such as a Satin Stitch foot. If you don't have one or aren't sure, ask your local sewing machine dealer about the decorative stitch foot that will work best with your machine. Now... watch that foot! When sewing decorative stitches, don't watch the needle; watch the foot. As I said above, the needle will move around quite a bit as the machine makes the stitch. The presser foot is your best guide for the placement of the stitch - the center of the foot will indicate where the center of each stitch will be sewn. Janome's Satin Stitch foot has a little red arrow at the exact center, which makes it very easy to stay on track. Because decorative stitches pull a little more on the fabric, you may need to lower your upper thread tension 1-2 notches. This will keep the bobbin thread from being pulled up to the top where it will show. Decorative stitching for appliqué One of the most popular uses for decorative stitches is appliqué. Nearly any machine that offers decorative stitches contains at least one you can use for this technique. These are simple stitches, which are used to hide the seam between the background fabric and the appliqué (while attaching the appliqué at the same time). A Herringone stitch, Blanket stitch and the classic Satin stitch are all great appliqué options. But, why not be creative and try a few other options? Look for a stitch with a wide swing side-to-side and test first on fabric scraps. For more notes about decorative stitching for appliqué, as well as using it for ribbon embellishment and even scrapbooking and card making, check out our previous article: Decorative Stitches: Part Deux. Creating a stitch sampler It's one thing to look at the little graphic of a decorative stitch on your machine and quite another to see it stitched out with real thread on fabric. Create a little stitch sampler of your favorites to hang near your machine for easy reference. Check out the framed sample we created of some of our favorites. You could also display them in a wooden embroidery hoop or simply mount your finished sample on a piece of heavy cardboard. If mounting in a hoop for frame, use a fabric marking pen to draw a circle or rectangle on your fabric larger than the hoop or frame. If doing a plain mount on cardboard, draw a rectangle of whatever size you'd like. Using a clear ruler and the fabric marking pen, draw parallel lines, an inch or so apart, across the circle or rectangle you drew on the fabric Starch or stabilize your fabric. Sew a different decorative stitch on each line. Using a variegated thread for this step produces a cool effect. Start sewing a few inches from the closest edge of the circle/rectangle and continue sewing at least an inch beyond the far edge. This allows the sample to fill the hoop or rectangle. When finished stitching, cut out the circle/rectangle and mount. For the cardboard option, wrap your fabric around to the back and glue in place to hide the raw edges. Hang it near your sewing machine as a handy reference. Again, our tutorial shows you the steps in more detail. Stitch combinations This sampler idea is also a great way to keep track of decorative stitch combinations you've built. What are those, you ask? Some machines can actually customize the repetition of decorative stitches. For example, the Memory Craft models in the Janome line can memorize stitch combinations, save them into a built-in memory bank in the machine, and sew them out on command: square, star, oval, feather, square, star, oval, feather, square, star, oval, feather... ad infinitum. This creates a super custom look for garments, pillows and more. The number one most important technique for sewing successfully with decorative stitches is: experimentation . Take some scraps of fabric and play!
Cross stitch is really easy. It truly is just a little stitched X. But there are a couple of tricks that will make your stitching look good - especially if you're using cross stitches to fill an area - and that's what I show you in this video. Happy stitching!
Today, we’re going to explore how to make small, consistent bows to use in finishing embroidered items. I’m also going to announce the winner of last week’s pre-Christmas give-away at the end of this article, so read through, in case it is you! As you create embroidered goods, you’ll likely find that there are many ...
📌 This listing is for PDF Digital Downloads ONLY! You WILL NOT receive any physical items! You will receive you digital download as soon as your payment is processed, usually within a minute. 📌 PLEASE READ: This is the PDF Guide that is included with every Stick & Stitch PDF pattern found in my shop. It includes basic tips and tricks for those new to stick & stitch embroidery who do not want to buy a full pattern. It is important to note that this purchase does not include any embroidery patterns, stitch guides, or dmc color palettes. Includes: - tips & tricks - video tutorials - what you need & links to supplies - setting up your hoop - finishing your hoop
Embroidering on crochet is a wonderful way to add special details to your project. Learn to embroider on crochet with tips, tricks, and a video tutorial.
Have a knit sweater in need of mending? Fix it fast with a few sewing techniques like how to darn holes, fix snagged thread and frayed buttonholes.
A Clever Technique Makes the Back Look as Good as the Front! Do you dread finishing quilts because you need to hand stitch the binding? While some quilters love this step, many others would like to skip it altogether. That’s why machine binding is so popular. However, if you’re stitching down the binding from the …
Flowers have always been a symbol of beauty and grace, and when it comes to needlework, they add a touch of elegance to any project. Whether you are looking to create a beautiful piece of wall art …
Learn how to machine embroider on fleece blankets, terrycloth towels, polar fleece jackets and plush stuffed animals is simple if you know the best embroidery tips and tricks. If you embroider these incorrectly, your design can get lost in the nap of the fabric and will look terrible to the trained eye. These methods will have you embroidering like a pro in no time.
If you pre-ordered the new RSN Techniques, Projects & Pure Inspiration book on Embroidered Boxes, then you probably already have it in hand. Written by Heather Lewis under the auspices of the Royal School of Needlework and published by Search Press, the book came out last week. It is one of 20+ b
After what seems like ages I have picked up some cross stitch and it feels so good to be stitching again! The trigger that got me started again was that my absolute favourite cross stitch designers…
Want to learn how to embroider animal fur so that it actually looks realistic? This post go over some tips to help you learn how...
Chain stitch is a must-have in your embroidery vocabulary! These valuable tips will show you the way to work curves and corners, join the ends and save the thread as you chain stitch.
Manticore tee by Zeynab Izadyar , via femke dik Paleta by Laura Morales , via femke dik hermit homewares via Tante T...
See how to do an invisible stitch by hand, using the so-called ladder stitch, slip stitch, or even blind stitch. Easy and quick!
If moths are part of our future eco-systems and we wish to limit damage to our clothing, then we must learn to vanquish the tenacious termites. Here’s how.
This tutorial is about how to embroider a mouth on amigurumi. In this video I am showing you step by step how I do it.
Use this tip sheet as a guide for using Free-Motion Couching Foot #43 to apply cords and yarns for surface embellishment.
If you’re a hand embroiderer, a quilter, a textile artist, or a crafter, you’ve probably run into situations where you could add words, text, and lettering to your projects. Hand embroidery is an excellent way to personalize gifts, household objects, momentos, quilts, journal covers – just about anything! Writing with your needle and thread can ...
Which stitch is best for sewing jersey knits? Here you’ll learn about the types of stitches for stretch knits on a regular sewing machine.
Sashiko Stitch Instructions for beginners A trend in embroidery: Sashiko stitching and visible mending. This ancient Japanese craft is easy to learn. It gives quick results and makes stunning textile pieces. In this tutorial we explain the basics you need to know about Sashiko stitching. We share our recommendations for Sashiko materials. You will also
Have you ever wondered how to embroider clothes? It's really pretty simple! In this post, I'll go over some tips and tricks... %
