Gift Ideas

  • embroidered umbrellas

    Embroidered Umbrellas with Sulky Stitch ‘n Seal™

    Embroidered Umbrellas for Moms, Dads & Grads Yes, you can create embroidered umbrellas! Chelsea Briner of Sew Simple Home created this tutorial for Sulky using Poly Deco™ thread (to withstand sun exposure and outdoor elements) and Sticky Fabri-Solvy™ stabilizer. Also included in Sulky Stitch ‘n Seal™, which keeps waterproofed items waterproofed after stitching! The stabilizer seals any needle holes produced by embellishment to ensure a water-tight hold. SUPPLIES NEEDED Look for an umbrella that has two layers of material that you can separate for embroidery. This allows you to embroider through only the outer layer, remove the Sticky Fabri-Solvy stabilizer, and then apply Sulky Stitch ‘n Seal to maintain the…

  • quick & easy valentine gifts

    Fun Valentine Gifts to Give (and Receive!)

    Fun Valentine Gifts – Heart Pillow & More! Giving Valentine gifts is a nice way to say “I love you” to your sewing friends! Here are ideas of things to make or buy that are sure to put smiles on everyone’s faces. Valentine Heart Pillow This pillow was made using the free paper pieced heart templates from our Paper Pieced Heart Quilt pattern. I reduced the file size by 30% and then printed both the plain heart and the paper pieced heart onto Sulky Paper Solvy. Paper piece one heart using several fabric scraps, and then create the plain heart using a coordinating fabric. Stitch the heart perimeter with right…

  • Crazy Patch Valentine Holder

    Crazy Patch Valentine Holder Using Hexies & Free-Motion Stitching

    Crazy Patch Valentine Holder by Melissa Shields Create a fun “Crazy Patch” Valentine Holder to contain the cards you’ll receive this Valentine’s Day. This also makes a great kid’s project to take to school, and it’s a fun stash buster that teaches some new techniques. Use a bunch of leftover hexies to create the crazy heart Valentine, or cut new ones from coordinating fabric prints. A die-cutting machine, such as AccuQuilt, Sizzix or Cricut, is especially helpful for this process. (The heart template can be cut this way, too!) WHAT IS A CRAZY PATCH Crazy patch is an old quilting technique that was a way to use up scraps and…

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  • Trimmed Tea Towels with Valentine Embroidery

    Trimmed Tea Towel with Valentine Embroidery

    Create a Trimmed Tea Towel for Valentine’s Day Decor This trimmed tea towel is adorned with cute Valentine’s Day themed fabrics, ribbon or trim, and embroidered with one of seven designs from the Sulky Scrolling Hearts design collection. The “I Heart You” thread palette includes the entire Scrolling Hearts design collection, along with 10 spools of Sulky rayon and metallic threads. Create several coordinating tea towels, using different designs for each, to display in your home for Valentine’s Day. SUPPLIES Sulky I Heart You thread palette Cotton + Steel thread by Sulky (to match towel and/or fabrics) Sulky Tear-Easy™ stabilizer Size 90/14 Organ embroidery needle & 70/10 Universal needle Sulky…

  • Machine Embroidered Jewelry Case: Easy Gifts Using Blanks

    Machine Embroidered Jewelry Case An embroidered jewelry case is a great holiday gift, or gift for any time of year. A jewelry case “blank” is meant for embroidery embellishment, and makes quick work of finding the perfect case to embroider. Machine embroidery on blanks, or premade items, are the easiest decorations and gifts you can make for the holidays. Stock up on blanks and choose a different embroidery design to personalize each one for different friends and family. From pillows to napkins and towels to bags and totes, there’s a blank suitable for everyone on your gifting list. BAG & TOTE BLANKS Purchased bags and totes are great canvases for…

  • kid holiday apron pattern

    Holiday Apron to Make for Kids & Adults Too!

    Stitch a Fun Holiday Apron for a Great Gift Idea A holiday apron makes a great pre-Christmas gift for kiddos as well as adults. Change the fabric to suit the recipient and give it as a holiday gift, personalized with embroidery, if desired. Create an easy pattern and use and reuse it for different recipients. Incorporate machine embroidery for a fun embellishment, using designs from our Christmas, Poinsettia or Holly thread palette. Add a name or monogram for the ultimate personalization. SUPPLIES (for kid’s holiday apron) Cotton + Steel thread by Sulky to match main fabric Sulky Machine Embroidery Palette (optional) Tear-Easy Stabilizer (optional; for machine embroidery) Sulky bobbin thread…

  • hibernating hedgehog

    Hibernating Hedgehog Cutlery Holder + New Thread Palette

    Hibernating Hedgehog In-The-Hoop Project A Hibernating Hedgehog Cutlery Holder is just what you need for your fall tablescape! This in-the-hoop design is free with the purchase of our brand-new fall thread palette, designed by Sweet Pea. It’s designed for a 5×7 hoop. To make this project, you’ll also need either Sulky Ultra Solvy (my preference) or Tear-Easy stabilizer. You also need some batting and a few fabrics in the colors shown above (batiks work great!) for the cutlery holder front, back, lining and appliqué pieces. Fabrics A –18cm x 23cm (7” x 9”) front of holder B –18cm x 23cm(7” x 9”)front lining C –18cm x 8cm (7” x 3”)…

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  • Machine Embroidered Laptop Case

    Embroidery on Kraft-tex + Laptop Case Pattern

    Kraft-tex Laptop Case by Ellen March Learn how to embroider a Kraft-tex laptop case for a great gift idea. If you’re looking for gifts to make for teachers, friends, dads or teens, look no further than this laptop case. It’s easily customized using different embroidery designs and fabrics. Plus the Kraft-tex mimics the look of leather and has a unique texture that lends something special to an otherwise basic project. Kraft-tex is an interesting material that comes in different colors, either washed or unwashed. It looks like leather but sews, acts and washes like fabric. It has a stiff hand but also is pliable and resilient, easily manipulated to insert…

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  • Machine Embroidered Teacher Journal

    Machine Embroidered Teacher Journal Cover

    Machine Embroidered Teacher Journal by Ellen Osten Surely you know a teacher starting school again (or for the first time) this fall who needs a machine embroidered teacher journal cover. Whether your kiddos or grandkids are starting school with a new teacher or your friends or neighbors are teachers themselves, this machine embroidered journal cover is a must-make! It’s perfect for school teachers, music teachers or just about any kind of teacher. Traditionally, teachers were gifted a nice shiny apple on the first day of school. This practice began in the 1700s, when teachers were actually paid by families in apples (or potatoes) for their work. Now the apple is…

  • snow globe coasters

    Snow Globe Coasters: Christmas In July Project to Make

    Create adorable snow globe coasters using Sulky 12 wt cotton Petites in your sewing machine. These heavyweight threads CAN be used in the needle–just be sure to choose the right one! A size 100/16 or 100/18 Organ needle is your friend when sewing with thick thread. But choose a lighter weight thread in the bobbin, such as a PolyLite or even a bobbin thread. THE DETAILS Karie Jewell of Two Kwik Quilters designed this snow globe coasters project for you to try your hand at these beautiful threads. These coasters make great gifts and decor for the holiday season. Choose different fabric prints to make them for any season or…