What type of designer are you?

What I’ve learned from many Designs readers is that they’re pulled to projects featuring massive amounts of embroidery. They love to read about them, drool over the beautiful photographs and colors. But in reality, when it comes time to create their own embroidered projects, time is usually of the essence and they opt for simple, one-design projects.

But simple one-design projects don’t have to be dull and boring – they can be elevated to the luxurious with the right appliqué fabric, thread selection and proper sizing. The latest issue of Designs features quite a few projects that fit this bill. You’ll find cute baby gifts from Rehbecca Lowder and Marie Zinno. Joann Connolly’s one-word totes – Read – are perfect for back to school and Paula Spoon’s ghoulish flag celebrates the spooky holiday. Kandi Christian is back with two garments – one denim suit and a pin-tucked t-shirt.

Speaking of t-shirts, I’ll be wearing our cover garment – Wow! What a Neckline! whenever I hit the road to teach this season. I love to wear our samples, in fact, when I make a garment for the magazine I make it in my size so I can show you just how wearable embroidery can be. Our motto here at the magazine is if I wouldn’t wear it, then we won’t make it! After all we’re not a runway fashion magazine, we’re a how-to magazine. And what’s the point in learning how to make something you wouldn’t be caught dead wearing?

And oh yes, the t-shirt on the cover features designs from Nancy Zieman and my new collection: Embroider It Yourself Designer Necklines, available mid-September. You’re gonna love these techniques! Feel free to call the office to pre-order Designer Necklines, 888-739-0555.

This week we’re giving away Teddy, The Amazing Huggable Stitchable Bear! Teddy is part of our Bear Hugs! Stitch-A-Bear Charity Campaign!  Leave a comment and tell me if you like to duplicate a project shown in the magazine step by step or do you see a project with various potential and run with it on your own. We love learning how you use the magazine. 

The winner of last weeks coupon is…Jan Boggan Henson!

I have been machine embroidering since 1997 when I also started my website for inspiration and ideas. I have tried many types of editing software but still prefer Embird to the more expensive offerings. Embird does everything I need to do in manipulating designs to my preference. I do not digitize since I have more designs than I will ever use. I now own a Designer SE from Husqvarna Viking and the Creative Vision from Pfaff. I don’t think I will ever tire of creating with machine embroidery. Thank you for your magazine and all the inspiration it provides.

Congratulations, Jan !

Oh Brother!

Oh Brother, what innovations! On Monday, I attended Brother’s Back to Business dealer event in Nashville, TN and got to see the introduction of Brother’s amazing new line of products. It was a whirlwind day – so much to see and so much presented to the dealers and media by Dean Shulman, senior vice president of Brother International Corporation. Dean not only talked the talk, but he walked the walk on Monday. Check out his fetching Western shirt.

Dean was so excited about all of the new Brother products but let’s start with the 10-needle Entrepreneur. If you’ve been thinking about stepping up to a multi-needle machine and you already love the Brother embroidery system, then this is the machine for you. Loaded with user-friendly features, such as an illuminated work area (very little shadow from those ever-so-productive 10 needles), precise alignment (think the Snowman®), the InnovEye (birds’ eye camera view of the embroidery area), increased magnification on the LED screen, and superior thread changing abilities.

You have already enjoyed many of these features on your Brother Quattro, but Brother didn’t stop there. They’ve include an eyelet thread system that maintains consistent tension on the threads plus an automatic threading system for all 10 needles. Speaking of thread, wait til you see the InnovaChrome LED Thread Color System. Each spool sits on a stand above a multicolor LED light. These lights will display the color as designated by the embroidery design so that you can color match the thread to the light – no guessing just what shade of green is required. Just hold the spool to the light and verify the color. But that’s not all; the lights are also a messaging center. They flash when a thread breaks (just the cone so you know where the problem is located), the design is complete or it’s time to change spools (on designs with more than 10 thread colors).

And there was more exciting news from Brother. Fashion and lifestyle maven Laura Ashley brings classic style with clean lines and fresh color combos to Brother’s innovative line of sewing and embroidery products. Known for her colorful prints, Laura Ashley is world-renowned for putting a fresh stamp on common household items. And now she’s teamed up with Brother. Expect to see first class sewing machines with unique decorative stitches and later – embroidery designs. Many of the designs will most likely coordinate with existing fabrics and linens. So you’ll have the ability to put your personal stamp on your own favorite Laura Ashley items.

Let’s not forget the ever-popular Project Runway. Project Runway sponsorship is Brother’s way to reach the young and creative. Of course, many of us in the sewing industry wouldn’t miss an episode and many more people wouldn’t stitch on anything but a Project Runway machine. Now if we could just get those fledging designers to embroider on the show!

We love to hear from our audience! We have a fun new technology survey that you won’t want to miss. To be entered into this week’s giveaway go take the technology survey and then come back and tell us what technology you find most helpful. Or what technology do you find most frustrating? Here’s the really great part—your comment on the blog is your chance to win a $25 coupon to the Designs in Machine Embroidery website! How’s that for a penny for your thoughts!

The winner of the green threads giveaway from last week is… Jackie!

“My most challenging hooping is hoodies, really anything that is zippered or buttoned. I get one side perfectly aligned and the other side looks perfect but once stitched and zipped up is a smidget off, of course everyone says it’s perfect but everytime I look in the mirror it looks off.  I’m with Susan as well, I’m sure I’ve used the correct stabilizer but I’ve been known to be wrong.”

Congratulations, Jackie!

Wrap Your Machine in Style!

You love fabric.  You love thread.  You love to personalize everything.  After all, that’s what our skills are all about.  We don’t have to settle for anything.  Want to change the neckline of a tee?  Done. Want to splash embroidery over a pillow? Done.  Want to transform a window?  Done. Want to make over your sewing machine?  Now, you can! 

If you have a Bernina, you can transform it into a piece of art.  (Ok, ok, all you Bernina lovers, I know, it already is a work of art!).  Check it out for yourself – go to http://www.berninausa.com/DesignSkins and click on Click to Start. It’s easy to customize the skin, but be careful it’s addictive. Not only you can use Bernina’s beautiful images but you can upload any photo – just make sure it’s under 5 MB and larger than 100kb.  File formats are jpg, png and gif.  The price is reasonable – under $40.00 and proceeds go to Cancer research.  

I had a lot of fun – doing this. I decorated four machines then asked my staff to personalize one of their own.  Here’s what a few key strokes did for our machines (click on images to make bigger):

Eileen’s machine makeovers!

Denise’s machine makeovers!

Lorraine’s Machine Makeovers:

Stephanie’s Machine Makeovers:

Sam’s Machine Makeover:

Amanda’s Machine Makeover:

Visit http://www.berninausa.com/DesignSkins to give your machine a makeover!

I’d love to know what your biggest hooping challenge is. Just leave a comment and tell me if you struggle with hooping towels, t-shirts, jackets, hoodies, etc. and you’ll be entered to win a set of gorgeous green threads! Can you ever have enough green thread?

Last week’s lucky winner of the Stipple! Geometrics  is…Julie!

Julie  I love working on new projects. Any book with detailed (very finely) instructions with pictures, using a technique I have never used sits in my “Favorites” collection. I am still looking for the perfect instructions for making a mitered corner on a quilt.

Congratulations, Julie!

from Beaver Dam, Wisconsin

I’m writing from America’s Favorite Sewing Room in Beaver Dam, WI. I’ve been here for a few days taping with Nancy Zieman and I must say… it’s been a blast! We taped the instructional DVD for my next book, Machine Embroidered Quilting and Applique. I’ve been working on the projects since February and it’s been an amazing process. I think many of you know how much I enjoy the Stipple! Collections. This book focuses on that technique but takes it to a much deeper level. The book and the DVD gave me ample opportunity to teach readers how to do this technique. Designing, stitching and finishing the projects have been a great adventure.

And there’s nothing more rewarding than teaching Nancy Zieman a new technique. I’m bragging here when I tell you she loved the technique – the process of layering stitches, applique fabrics and the quick finish of reversible piecing. I tell myself that if Nancy likes it then I’m really on to something!

When the book and DVD are released in spring, 2011, you’ll see the results of months of work. I’m sure it will look easy but behind the scenes is impressive too. Once I arrived in Beaver Dam, my bags poured out their contents like sand spilling from a bucket…bags of step-outs, fabrics, trims, batting, and the like. And oh what a mess it made in Nancy’s beautiful conference room on Tuesday. Just picture Christmas morning…but in reverse. You wake to opened Christmas presents, strewn wrappings and trimmings and then put it all back together. That’s what creating a DVD is like. You have pieces all over the place, in many different stages of progress and you have to wrap it all it up into one pretty little package. It takes an army – oh that’s right, we don’t have an army! So it takes a lot of work from a few people to make it all happen!

In the midst there are fun times and quaint touches…like seeing the corn in Beaver Dam at its highest in years, eating grilled corn in Nancy’s backyard, enjoying home-grown tomatoes and cucumbers at lunchtime, singing happy birthday to the director at lunchtime and having a burger by the lake at dusk. The sheer joy of working with someone you really respect and cherish as a friend. I am blessed in so many ways. What a fun week – can’t wait to share the projects with you! 

In the meantime, I want to know what types of books are your favorite?  Books with projects, books that are informational, or a combination?  Post a comment and you’ll be entered into our drawing to win a Stipple! Geometrics!

Last week’s lucky winner of the Magna-Hoop Software is…Clyde Sanders!

I use Designer’s Gallery, Letterworks, CustomWorks, and Size Works. These have been great to use once I learned all the ins and outs of the software; however, I know I have much more to learn and continue to go to classes to learn new techniques. I loved the apron made from a kitchen towel in your last magazine issue. I have made 3 already and have embroidered different designs on each and adorned them with ric rack, ribbon, crystals, etc.

Congratulations, Clyde!

Current of gratitude

Get this issue!

I look at birthdays as a celebration of gratitude because they make me count and share my blessings. Summer in my house is the season of gratitude because all of us have summer birthdays. My mid-July birthday is sandwiched between my son in June and my daughter on July 30.

July 30 is always a special day for me because it’s the day I became a mom. Oh, I know my daughter Janelle thinks it’s her special birthday because she’s turning 21 this year. But my heart is just leaping with gratitude – my firstborn is 21, about to enter her senior year of college and she’s a fine, healthy, young lady! Can you ask for anything more that?

During our month-long birthday celebration, I like to spend time with family. In fact, we just returned from a family reunion on the beach in New Jersey (surely next time there will be flattering lighting and clothing to camouflage the aging process!). There were 30+ of us, four generations, all grateful to be together, to catch up on old times and to wonder at what the future holds. I kept hearing this current of gratitude from all the family members. Grateful for the elderly who could attend, grateful for the laughs left by those who passed ahead of us, grateful for the cooperating weather and the beautiful Atlantic Ocean that tossed us around like seaweed.

That current of gratitude makes its way into every phase of my life. As the summer winds down and my kids prepare to go back to college, I start itching to share my gratitude with other embroiderers. Even though I get to do that in the pages of Designs, there’s really nothing like sharing my gratitude in person. And the only way I know how to do that is by sharing what I’ve learned about this fun hobby in person. My Stitching Sister, Marie Zinno, and I hit the road again in September. We kick off at the Creative Sewing Center in San Antonio, TX (Sept. 10-11) then head to Sewing Machines Plus in San Marcos, CA (Sept 17-18). October finds us at Missouri Sewing in Kansas City (Oct. 1-2) and at Kingdom Sewing in Simi Valley (Oct. 15-16). Our last stop for 2010 is at Sprinkles Sewing in Pueblo, CO on Nov. 12-13.

If you want to learn more, click on the new tab at the top the blog, Stitching Sisters Events. You’ll also find the schedule for 2011. Check it out and mark your calendars.

In the meantime, the Designs team is busy compiling a list of all your comments from last week! I love hearing from you and last week’s comments will really help us steer the direction of the magazine.

Last week’s lucky winner of the Embroidery Tool Kit is…Sonya Porter!

Sonya Porter   I am interested in embellishing blanks for casual wear. This includes baby’s & kids clothes, as well as for the mature woman. I have a new niece (just turned 1 yr) and a new great nephew (just turned 1 month). It is so much fun to make things for them.  I’m also interested in making practical quick gift items for Christmas, birthdays, house warmings, baby showers, etc.  Quick tips on techniques and organizing are always welcome, as well as reviews on the latest software, gadgets to use with my Singer XL6000 (or any machine).

Congratulations, Sonya!

Didn’t win the Embroidery Tool Kit? Don’t be sad, just tell us what kind of embroidery editing software you use. If you don’t use any, tell us that too! Leave your comment and you could win Magna-Hoop Software.

Your opinion matters!

We’re always working on new things here at Designs – embroidery designs, Stipple Collections, a few soon-to-be-released books, magnetic hoops – and oh yes, future issues of Designs!  Whenever I develop something new, I lean back on my experience working with you.  I listen to your struggles, your challenges, your favorite techniques and my own personal embroidery experience.  I use all of that data to create a magazine that hopefully, is a reflection of you.  So, help me out and tell me what you’d like to see in Designs. 

Do you want more wearables, children’s items, home décor or quilting?  Do you need more technical guidance on software and digitizing?  What specific embroidery techniques would you like to explore? 

If you’d enjoy more wearables, are you interested in embellishing blanks or creating from scratch?  Do you like over-the-top fashions or garb for everyday? 

Our goal at Designs is to keep you inspired. We have lots of great new projects in store for you but we are open to new ideas!  So help us continue to make Designs your number one resource for embroidery instruction and inspiration.  Leave a comment telling me exactly what you’d like to see in Designs and you will be entered in our weekly drawing.  This week you could win an Embroidery Tool Kit.

The winner of the Buckle Up Collection from last week is… Karen Rilstone!

Karen Rilstone  My favorite quick gift is freestanding lace angels and snowflakes. I stitch the angels to send to people who are experiencing life challenges, be it illness, etc.  The snowflakes are quick gifts that you can send with a seasonal card.  Karen

Congratulations, Karen!

Buckle Up!

Embroidered Belt Buckles 

This is one of my favorite quick and easy projects.  Most of us have more reasons NOT to wear a belt than to wear one because they draw attention to our waist (something we often avoid), they remind us of cowboys and we don’t ride horses, we like elastic pants without belts because they are comfortable. 

But belts can be slimming on most figures when worn with a jacket. Interesting belt buckles add a touch of adornment to plain outfits and embroidery lends a feminine touch to a masculine item.  But most of all – they are really fun to make!  

You can find the blank buckles at www.tandyleatherfactory.com.  You probably already have the other supplies.  Here’s the list: 

Embroidery Products
Magna-Hoop
Amazing Designs Eileen Roche’s Fashion Embellishments I ADP-20JEREMB022
Palette 7.0

Materials
Faux suede or leather, denim or other sturdy fabric 8” x width of fabric
Pellon Featherweight Fusible black interfacing 8” x belt measurement
Tear-away stabilizer
Vellum or tracing paper
Double-sided adhesive
One blank belt buckle: Tandy Leather
Needle: embroidery 80/12

Step 1. At the Computer (Palette Instructions by Kathy Isbell)

When you have an odd object to embroider, make a template in Layout & Editing of Palette 7.0.  (This can also be done in older versions of Palette.) 

Place the buckle face down on the scanner bed, open Layout & Editing in Palette, and select “Image” on the top tool bar.  Go to “Select TWAIN Device”.  The Twain device is your scanner and Palette needs to recognize your scanner before you scan an object.  With any future scans, you don’t need to select the Twain device again, because Palette will know to scan from this device the next time. 

Select “Input” again and choose “from TWAIN device…” 

The buckle will be scanned in its original size, and the scanned buckle will appear as an image on the screen.  The scanned image cannot be viewed in “Realistic Preview”. 

Turn off “Region Sew”, and change “Line Sew” to a running stitch and select a thread color that is highly visible. 

If making an inset for a round or oval buckle, use the circle tool on the left toolbar. If the buckle is square or rectangle, use the rectangle drawing tool. Draw around the inside of the buckle. Make certain the drawn template doesn’t extend outside the inner area of the buckle. 

To check the template for the inside of the buckle, print out the page, cut out the template and place it inside the buckle.  Make any necessary adjustments to the digital file and save it as BuckleOutline. Save the paper template to use as a guide when cutting out the two-sided adhesive. 

When you are satisfied with the template size, the scanned image of the buckle can be removed from the background by going to “Image”, “Modify”, and delete.  The only thing on your screen now is the template you drew. 

Open design ADP-20JEREMB022.  Select one portion of the branch as shown.

Copy and paste the selected branch and mirror image it.  Move the branch as shown.

Paste the adjusted design into BuckleOutline and save it as BambooBuckle.

Step 2. Embroider the Design

Hoop tear-away stabilizer. Insert the metal frame of Magna-Hoop into the hoop.  Place the faux suede in the hoop and top it with the large acrylic frame.  Snap the magnets into the slots. 

Attach the hoop to the machine and stitch the basting outline in the same color thread as the fabric. Remove the fabric from the hoop and set aside. 

Step 3. Cover the Buckle

Remove one sheet of protective paper from the double-sided adhesive. Center the embroidery over the sticky adhesive.  Cut the buckle on the basting line. 

Use a pin to score the second piece of protective paper and remove it.  Press the sticky side on the buckle blank.  

Click to see larger image

Step 4. Make the Belt

Fuse the interfacing to the wrong side of the faux suede, make sure it is secure.  Fold the fabric in half and place the pattern on the fabric, matching the pattern’s fold line (select correct size) with the fabric fold. 

Cut out the belt.  Edgestitch with the blindhemming foot around all edges.  Use a permanent marker to color the edges. Let dry. 

Add one snap to one end of the belt following the manufacturer’s directions for installing the snap. 

Adhesives
Terrifically Tacky Tape™ by Art Accentz™
Therm O Web Mounting Adhesive
Red Liner Tape

Want a chance to win a Buckle Up Belt Buckle Kit?  Just tell me what your favorite fast and easy project is and consider yourself entered to win!  The Buckle Up Collection consists of a CD with 9 belt buckle designs, two blank buckles and three pieces of faux leather!

The winner of the giveaway from last week is… Paule-Marie!  We’re going to be sending you Teddy, the Amazing Stitchable Bear, to embroider! 

Paule-Marie  I try to be organized – hard most of the time. I do have projects set up in plastic bags and also use plastic containers so I can stack easily. My favorite hint to get enough sewing time in is to have your machine always set up and ready to go. That way, if I have only 10 or 15 minutes, I can get sewing right away. Nothing stop creativity cold than having to set up and take down because you don’t have a dedicated sewing spot – even if it is only a corner in the family room. I also carry it one step farther. I am lucky enough to be able to leave a sewing machine at work so that I can sew on my lunch hour.

Congratulations, Paule-Marie !

How to Cram Embroidery into a Busy Schedule

Plan, plan, plan!  

The hardest part of any embroidery project, for me, is getting started.  There are so many options. Do I buy a blank or fabric and a pattern? This decision can involve quite a few shopping trips.  Usually, I have some parameters that guide me like a new technique I want to explore or a design collection that I can’t wait to stitch.  Once I know where to start, the fun begins! 

My keys to success in completing projects is setting a deadline, making the plan, organizing the goods and making the most of small pockets of time.  I make sure I have at least one hour for the next step – designing the embroidery layout. 

I print templates of the embroidery designs so I can ‘see’ the designs on the fabric. I audition them in various positions until I’m satisfied, often capturing some of the auditions with a digital camera.  When the layout is complete, I take a final photograph of the templates in place before I slide a target sticker under each template.  Next, I write the design number on the corresponding sticker and a number designating the stitch sequence. 

My embroidery layout tells me what embroidery designs I need to send to my machine, what thread and stabilizer are required and what the stitching sequence will be – the order in which the designs will be stitched.  Now I test the design to confirm I’ve made the right fabric, stabilizer, thread and design choices. Testing is crucial as I often find a tweak here or there is required.  If I still have time remaining, I hoop the item for the first design and stitch it. 

Then, everything goes into a large, ziplock bag.  I mean everything – all thread, stabilizer (I usually put the whole roll in there) and the item.  If it’s a machine-embroidered quilt project – ALL of the fabrics go into the bag.  This might seem a bit over the top but I know if a stack of fabric is sitting on my cutting table, it’s fair game for another project!  For me, it’s best to put in a vault – a plastic bag vault! 

Now that the project is planned and organized, it’s just a matter of delegating small increments of time to complete it.  This is when I take a hard look at the deadline and work backwards.  I calculate how many days until the deadline and then divide the tasks by the day.  If they are quilt blocks, then I estimate how many I can complete in one day.  If it’s a garment, I estimate how many designs I can complete in a day.

I steal those minutes whenever I can. Since my embroidery machine displays exactly how many minutes it takes to stitch each design, I know how much time to allot for each design.  When I get a chance – I hoop the fabric and press go.  When I wake in the morning, I’ll start a design while I’m having breakfast and getting ready for work.  Some mornings, I’ll get more than one design completed (bonus day!) while some days the machine sits waiting for me to press go.  At night, it’s a different story.  I try to steal an hour every night to stitch. In reality, it doesn’t always happen but it’s the daily goal.  At the end of the day, everything gets tossed back into the bag.  

Of course, simple projects don’t need all of that attention or time but they often have great impact.  One of my favorite gifts to give is an embroidered Teddy Bear. Our Teddy’s head and belly slide out of zippered compartment to make hooping easy.  All you need a 4” x 4” hoop and an adorable design. 

Here’s a cutie for you – LOVE stitched in a heart (download design file).  This design has been digitized to hold down the bear’s furry nap but you could use it on a variety of fabrics.  Of course, it does look adorable stitched on the bear.  Wouldn’t you love to win a bear and see for yourself?  Just tell us how you fit your favorite hobby into your busy schedule and you could win!

The winner of the giveaway from last week is… Janice Murry!  We’re going to be sending you a $25.00 coupon code for use on any Designs product on our website.! 

Janice said “I to have been watching and tapeing Nancy on PBS for many years. I learned to fit patterns, surging, quilting and embroidery techniques, as well as how to make purses from her over the years. I bought a Janome 10001 several years ago, and have wished many times that I had bought the one Nancy uses on her show and in the 10-20-30 minutes to sew articles in DME. I love the magazine and look forward to it each addition. Thank you for so much inspiration.”

Congratulations, Janice!

Fear comes in many different sizes

Fear can grip you in the most predictable and unpredictable moments. It’s common to look at a newly-purchased blouse and hesitate to put it in an embroidery hoop. I don’t sweat much if it’s a $10.00 tee-shirt. But a $90.00 blouse? Well, hesitation would be a good thing. Hesitation makes me evaluate, plan and act. I would print templates of the embroidery designs and audition them on the blouse. I would tape them in place, put the garment on and then stand in front of a mirror with a critical eye. Once I’m satisfied with the placement, I would test the design and stabilizer combo on similar fabric before tackling the $90.00 blouse. That’s how I overcome that fear.

The last few months have been a wonderful whirlwind of Stitching Sisters events across the country. I’ve had the opportunity to meet many readers of the print magazine and blog. My last Stitching Sisters event for the season wrapped up in Salem, Oregon at Rich’s Sewing Center. I really enjoyed meeting the students and, may I add, what a beautiful state! I decided before leaving the area to overcome a longtime fear—yes—I chose to zipline through the forest. I still remember the sage advice the zipline trainer gave me– “All you have to do is take one step. Look up, don’t look down. Keep your eyes up.” What an amazing, frightening rush!

After racing through at ridiculous speeds through a forest—I had to ask myself – is there anything more fearful? Have I overcome all that is to be feared? Not quite, I had quite a hurdle waiting for me in Dallas.

I returned to the Designs office—just in time to go before a video camera and film with none other than Nancy Zieman! Nancy and I have known each other for years—I’ve had the opportunity to work with her on her TV set in Wisconsin numerous times. The professionalism, calm and experience she and her staff bring to the industry is astounding. And now I was returning home with the opportunity to show her my new TV set—and to work with her on a new product we’ll be introducing in the Fall. Just like the ziplining experience, I was faced with a rush of thoughts. Would she approve of the set? Will the cameras work? What if we film and there’s no audio?

I remembered the zipline trainer’s words, it all begins with one step. I told myself to stop worrying and get doing! I made some final preparations before picking up Nancy and then it was back to the studio to get a full day’s work jammed into one afternoon!

Through the years, I have loved working with Nancy and have learned so much from her – for those of you who don’t know – I actually learned to sew at the age of 27 by watching Sewing with Nancy. She doesn’t believe me when I tell her that I learned everything from her but that’s the truth. Later, she taught me how to be a fair business partner, how to lead a team and how to love what you do. One thing I still haven’t mastered but she most certainly has – is the ability to survey a situation and define a clear path to complete the project at hand. She’ll tell you she’s bossy, but I’ll tell you she’s a leader and she’s very smart. It’s delightful to work with her.

Nancy and I taped each of the segments with ease and I can’t wait to share the new embroidery product with you! Just as the $90 shirt, the ziplining or taping experience have proven—keeping your eyes open—staying focused and embracing your fear/challenge will always lead you to a path of success.

I see so many embroiderers with a bit of fear in their eyes when they’re about to begin a new project. Afraid to start, afraid to ‘mess it up’, afraid to take that first step. I always encourage them to plan, evaluate and then press go. After all, unlike ziplining, it’s not muscle and bone we’re worried about, it’s just fabric and thread!

So tell me, have you also been a student of Nancy’s? Have you learned to sew, quilt or embroider from her on TV or maybe in person, at a Love of Sewing event? Leave a comment and tell us what and how you’ve learned from Nancy and you could win a $25.00 coupon for use on any Designs product on our website.

The winner of the giveaway from last week is… Susan Spiers!  We’re going to be sending you a Magna-Hoop for your Singer Futura! 

 

Susan Spiers

The Magna Hoop seems like the one I could use. I luv to adorn fashions to give them some pizazz! or sometimes something on the feminine side! I have a Singer Futura CE-150, do any of these fit it?

Congratulations, Susan!

All about hoops

Embroidery machines are wonderful because you become a designer—a creator—an artist.  The challenge as I’m sure many of you have discovered—is having the right tools to execute your creative ideas.  Traditional hoops don’t always fit your needs.  I understand this challenge—I face it daily in my sewing room.  That’s why I try to solve these challenges with helpful tools that address specific challenges.  The question of the day seems to be, “If I already have Magna-Hoop, why do I need Snap-Hoop?”  Magna-Hoop, Magna-Quilter and Snap-Hoop are very different hoops.  So let’s take a look at the differences and similarities.

	Snap-Hoop	Magna-Quilter	Magna-Hoop	Jumbo Magna-Hoop
Fits in a standard hoop	No	No	Yes	Yes
Stabilizer is required for hold frames in hoop	No	No	Yes	No
Hoops small items (coasters, straps, etc)	No	No	Yes	Yes
Holds a quilt sandwich with no additional stabilizer	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Diminishes the size of the sewing field	No	No	Yes	Yes
Is recognized by the machine	Yes	Yes	No	No
Eliminates hoop burn	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Can tug on fabric and not distort fibers	Yes	Yes	Maybe	Maybe
Handles delicate embroidery projects	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Best for:	Quilt blocks, continuous embroidery, knits	Quilting	Small items	Towels and continuous embroidery
Minute fabric adjustments are easy to make	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Just like selecting stabilizer, selecting a hoop depends on many factors: the size of the item to be embroidered, the weight of the fabric, the size of the embroidery design and the intricacies of the embroidery design.  You should understand that the best tension you’ll ever achieve will be in the smallest standard hoop available for the design.  With that being said, that doesn’t mean that the smallest standard hoop can handle the rest of the job – weight and bulk of fabric or size of the item. 

This is how I evaluate an embroidery project.  I look at the fabric and determine its limitations – possibility of hoop burn, bulk and weight of fabric. Heavy towels go in Magna-Hoop Jumbo.  Velvet, silks and sheers perform well in Magna-Hoop, Magna-Hoop Jumbo and Snap-Hoop.

Next, I evaluate the embroidery design.  Does it have an intricate outline?  If so, a standard hoop, Magna-Hoop, or Magna-Hoop Jumbo might be the best choice.  Snap-Hoop is definitely a possibility here and a test stitch-out will verify the best selection. 

Ninety percent of my embroidery projects on knits are now done in Snap-Hoop.  I just fuse polymesh stabilizer to the wrong side of the fabric and secure it in Snap-Hoop.  I can stitch close to the neckline without stretching or distorting the stretchy fabric.  

All of my quilting projects are stitched in Magna-Quilter or Snap- Hoop.  Magna-Quilter is perfect for large blocks and strips while Snap-Hoop handles all blocks that fit in a 5” x 7” sewing field. 

If your focus is on small items – cuffs, collars and the like, then Magna-Hoop is the right choice.  

Examine the embroidery tasks you do on a regular basis.  Use the table above to determine what hoop is best for you when you answer the following questions. Do you lean towards quilting projects?  Do you find yourself monogramming towels all the time?  Is fashion embroidery your forte?  Do you struggle with getting items hooped squarely? Do your hands hurt from the repetitive act of hooping?  I am happy to say my hands are now pain-free after using Snap-Hoop, Magna-Quilter and Magna-Hoops on a regular basis.  

Why do you need one of these hoops?  You don’t NEED one, but they sure do make embroidery a whole lot easier to accomplish.

We’re giving away a Design’s in Machine Embroidery hoop this week!  Based on the chart, which hoop would really help you out with your embroidery challenges?  What items do you find yourself hooping the most?  Be sure to let us know what machine you have.  Just post a comment to be entered into the contest!

 

 

The winner of the $15.00 coupon  from last week is… Penny Kitzmiller!

 

on June 20, 2010 at 6:50 pm |

I could use a snap hoop for my Singer Futura. The largest one I have now is a 5×7. OH an Eileen you are so great I love your inspirations and how you are making your dreams the real thing. Keep up the good work!

Congratulations, Penny!