How to tranfer an image using a water soluble stabilizer in free motion machine embroidery

 

Transfer the design

In this project I am using a fibrous water soluble product called Wash-n-Gone 541 by Pellon. If like me you don not own a light box then, tape the image you would like to use on a window. Next tape the stabilizer over the image and trace.

I use a pilot Frixion ball pen or pencil. Don't use a marker as it can bleed when you rinse the stabilizer off and ruin your work.

 

Once you have traced the image onto the stabilizer baste it onto the right side of your fabric. I also fuse SF101 onto the wrong side of my fabric prior to basting the stabilizer

 

 

Stitch the design

Attach the darning foot to your machine, lower the feed dogs and stitch over the drawn image. I go over the image a few times to give it a bolder look. For this project I am using a grey all purpose thread.

 

Once I have finished stitching I pull the thread ends to the wrong side of my fabric and trim them. Next I carefully trim away the excess stabilizer and remove the baste stitching.

Finally I rinse the fabric in water to dissolve the remaining stabilizer and hang to dry. When dry I press the fabric and continue with my project.

 



Show and Tell

 I have been making small pouches (approximately 6 x8 inches) using a  free hand machine embroidery dog design this week.

 

Sew Illustrated (book review)

 

my coasters using Minki's technique

I first saw Minki Kim's work in Haute Handbags. I thought she had used free motion stitching on her bags and wondered how she had achieved such neat, accurate and controlled lines. Upon reading the article I realized that Minki Kim used a difference method, I was very eager to learn it myself. How happy was I to read she was releasing a book, of course I pre-ordered and it arrive last week. First I read the book cover to cover and then set about trying the technique myself using the coasters project from the book.
Other than the small design placement hiccup, the instructions are well written, easy to understand and follow. The photographic steps provide sufficient detail to demonstrate the technique.
The book contains 16 projects, divided into 5 categories.
1 Projects for the table ( the coaster project plus two more)
2 Projects for the crafter
3 Projects for everyday
4 Bags for every occasion
5 Art for your  home
My favourite project (just making it on the cover ) it a precious family portrait. One I would love to make of my own family.
Sew Illustrated by Minki Kim and Kristin Esser, retails for $25.95 (  e-book available) There is  a pullout iron-on transfer of all the designs in the back)

My Coasters
I used two different transfer techniques, for the teapot and cup  (on the left in the photo)I tried the iron-on transfer method, using the pull out page. For the teapot only, I drew the design freehand using a frixion pen.
Both methods are simple to use. At present I do not have a preference.b

How to Free Motion Stitch and Applique in 10 easy steps

Ice Cream Hoop Art

This is a quick and easy free motion and applique project I designed on a hot day recently using the tiniest of scraps.

Ice Cream Hoop Art
What you will need
5 inch embroidery hoop
fabric scraps in red, blue, cream and brown.
back ground fabric measuring 8 x 8 inches
fabric glue
ice cream template
black thread
darning foot
hand needle.

Instructions
1. Using the template cut out the ice cream scoops and cone.(or you could cut out the shapes free hand)
2. Assemble  and glue the ice cream shapes  in the centre of the background fabric.
3. Place the fabric into the embroidery hoop, (the opposite way to normal, so the inner ring is on the right side of the project)
4. Lower the feed dogs, change to a darning foot, place the hoop under the darning foot.
5. Using black thread begin free motion stitching around the ice cream shapes. For a bolder look stitch  over the original stitching again. Don't forget the cherry stem.
6. Remove the hoop from the machine and remove project from hoop.
7. Place project back in the hoop, this time the right way ( as seen in the photo above)
8. Trim excess fabric to 1 inch around hoop
9. Hand baste around fabric edge. Gather the fabric into the back of the hoop. Tie off the thread.

wrong side of project with fabric gather

10. Hang up your new art work and enjoy.

Wild and Wonderous Butterfly Pouch

 I love the colours of the fabric in the left corner. It's a fabric I found in the clearance section at Joann's last summer. I have used it to make PJ shorts, a cushion and now this small pouch (size 4 x 6 inches).



Exploring Free Hand Machine Embroidery

Mug Rug

I enjoyed my first attempts at free hand machine embroidery so much that last week I purchased Simply Stitched Gifts by Cynthia Shaffer from my local Barnes and Noble. The book retails for $17.95. It contains 21 projects to make and a chapter on free-motion basics that covers needles, presser feet, fabric, stiffeners and adhesives, thread and also provides a practice free motion stitching guide sheet. Also in the basics chapter Cynthia explains the differences of  free-motion stitching, embroidery and quilting. Free motion stitching is stitching freely with the feed dogs lowered, free motion machine embroidery  means you are creating solid areas of stitching and in free motion quilting there is batting under the top fabric. The main difference between my first attempts at free hand machine embroidery and Cynthia's way of working is that were I used an embroidery hoop to hold the fabric, Cynthia uses quilting gloves to grip the fabric.

From the 21 projects in the book I chose to make the modern mug rug. I followed the 37 steps without a problem and am pleased with my finished rug (pictured above).

If like me you are new to free hand machine embroidery this is a good guide book with many contemporary projects to try. 

Freehand Machine Embroidery

 When you lower the feed dogs on your sewing machine you have the freedom to move the fabric in any direction you wish (left, right, forward and backwards). This is freehand machine embroidery.  I spent a little time today playing with this technique.
You need a darning foot, a embroidery hoop, to hold the fabric taut, thread and of course fabric to start.
To lower the feed dogs refer to your machine manual, on some machines you need to cover the feed dogs instead of lowering. I practiced on scrap fabric using a straight and zigzag stitch until I ran out of bobbin thread. I began with a small 5'' hoop but this was not big enough.On the red sample below I used a 12'' hoop this is a good size for my machine.The fabric is mounted on the hoop the opposite way to normal.
 The stitch length is determined by how fast you move the hoop. If you move the hoop slowly the stitches are short, quickly and the stitches are very long.
It's fun and easy to freehand machine embroider, try it.