Creative Machine Embroidery Winter 2022

Dear Readers, It's the most wonderful time of the year! It's also the most wonderful time of the year to cozy up in your sewing studio and embroider away—and while you are there you can stitch up all your seasonal décor and gifts. 2022 is the year for a handmade holiday season. Our dollar doesn't go as far as it used to in these days of high prices and inflation. Crafting and sewing for the holidays are not only money-saving tactics, but they can also help relieve stress. I know the busyness around the end of the year always gets to me, and I crave my alone time in my studio. Another place I love to spend time around the holidays is in the kitchen, with my family cooking and…

ON TRACK For perfect design placement in the hoop, mark the design horizontal and vertical centerlines on the project fabric using chalk or removable fabric marker. Joyce J., Facebook FREEZE PLEASE Before sewing with metallic thread, put the thread in the freezer for a couple of hours to prevent it from breaking. Iris F., Facebook STICKY BUSINESS When using adhesive stabilizers, check the needle for sticky residue during color changes. Clean up the residue thoroughly to avoid thread breakage during stitching. Kelly G., Facebook CUTTING CORNERS Trim appliqué pieces using small, curved fingernail scissors. They easily cut rounded edges and small pieces. Sherrill E., Facebook Visit sewdaily.com for more techniques and tricks to inspire your embroidery. Send your sewing and embroidery tips to creativemachineembroidery@peakmediaproperties.com or post them on our Facebook page…

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basic trainin A Appliqué: applying one fabric piece to another fabric surface. Appliqué adds a decorative effect to embroidery designs and reduces stitch count. Cut appliqué shapes prior to stitching using the precut or pattern method, or during the embroidery process using the trim-in-place method. Auto Digitize: the ability of a software program to automatically convert artwork into an embroidery design. Some programs allow you to make manual changes to design fills and outlines. Automatic Thread Cutter: the part of an embroidery machine that cuts threads at the end of the design or between color changes. Some machines also trim long jump threads between design elements. B Birdnesting: the loose buildup of needle thread on the hooped-fabric wrong side that resembles a bird's nest. It is usually caused by incorrect…

stitch along WINTER STITCH ALONG WITH US Register at sewdaily.com now through February 28, 2023, and get this pretty in-the-hoop towel topper and how-to free! Then stitch this Christmassy decoration along with us. THE DESIGN This useful project adds a quilted topper to a kitchen towel, allowing you to fasten it around an apron string to keep it at your side through all your holiday cooking and baking. Or use it to attach the towel to the handle of the oven or a drawer, keeping it from sliding off from repeated use. Featuring both quilting and appliqué in the hoop, you hardly have to do a thing to make this handy addition to your seasonal décor. Our sample uses traditional Christmas colors and prints, but you're not just limited to…

VARIETIES Suiting is typically made using wool, silk, linen, polyester, rayon, bouclé, or cotton, or a combination of these fabrics. Very fine wool suitings, such as Bemberg, have a very soft hand and are often used as linings for a variety of garments, including skirts and dresses. Suiting widths vary from 45” to 60” and are available in light- to heavyweight varieties. Choose the weight that best corresponds With the pattern and/or season. THREAD Choose metallic or rayon thread to create stunning designs (A). If using metallic thread, position the thread spool vertically on the machine to prevent thread tangling and breakage. STABILIZER Cut- and tear-away stabilizers are appropriate to use for most suiting varieties, but test-stitch on scrap fabric to ensure the chosen stabilizer and fabric work well together.…