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Paper Pieced Apple Mug Rug
Paper Pieced Apple Mug Rug by Vicki Holloway Create a paper pieced apple mug rug to gift to a new teacher. Or make a set of four using coordinating apple-print fabrics as a hostess gift. Size: 5″ square SUPPLIES Sulky Paper Solvy Cotton + Steel Thread (colors to match fabrics) Cotton fabric scraps (such as a bright apple color, a light or white background color & brown for the stem) 5 1/2″ square each of batting & backing Point turner, chopstick or blunt knitting needle Apple Mug Rug Pattern Foundation Paper Piecing Print the Paper Pieced Apple Mug Rug foundation paper piecing pattern onto a sheet of Sulky Paper…
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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…
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DIY School Supplies: 5 Projects to Make for Students
Back to School supplies are hitting the shelves already, which means it’s time to delve into our fabric stashes and make some DIY school supplies rather than buying the standard stuff at the store. I love a pencil case as much as anyone. They’re so useful and can house so many things (not just pencils, of course). However, in my kids’ school, the pencil case from the mandatory supply list must be a hard-sided container. So, I thought I’d bring you some other types of DIY school supplies you can make, and even get the kids involved, too. 1. Personalized Lunch Bag You can make your own insulated lunch bag…
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3-D Butterfly Machine Embroidery Design + Projects to Make
3-D butterfly machine embroidery is a great embellishment that’s fun to make as well as display. Created mostly from thread, and a small amount of fabric, this design is easily changed by swapping fabric and thread colors, to suit the project or recipient’s interests. Butterfly Trend Butterflies are all the rage! At spring 2019 Quilt Market in St Louis, butterflies were flying everywhere, as garlands, on fabric prints and even as large-scale quilts. American Quilt Retailer noticed the trend, too, and featured a slew of butterflies on the cover of their Quilt Market edition. This trend is here to stay, so we’re bringing you a new, exclusive 3-D butterfly machine…
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July 4 Machine Embroidery Designs & Projects to Make
Celebrate Flag Day and Independence Day with July 4 machine embroidery! These projects are easy to make–all that’s needed are some cute designs to add to your collection. Pick up the Sulky Patriotic Machine Embroidery Palette, including 10 spools of coordinating rayon thread in red, blue, white and metallics, to make things super simple. 1. July 4 Machine Embroidery Placemat This project is completely free! The pattern and Fun Fireworks designs are all available for download in the format of your choice. They work perfectly in Sulky metallics, too. Just be sure to install an Organ metallic needle to account for the friction produced by metallic thread. 2. Reflective July…
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Father’s Day Gift to Sew & Give: Free-Motion Hand Print Tie
Need a quick Father’s Day gift? Jazz up the standard tie gift with free-motion stitching using your child’s hand print. This up-cycling project starts with a standard tie straight from the closet or thrift store and makes it a keepsake that dad can wear to work on the daily. Trace the child’s hand on the tie and refashion it by free-motion stitching around the hand print. Use Sulky Tear-Easy stabilizer to keep the tie from stretching out as you sew. The full instructions come from Heather at heatherhandmade.com. From Heather I love sewing, up-cycling, and refashion, and I share that love when I teach others how to sew with sewing…
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Embroidered Swim Coverup for Kids & Adults
An embroidered swim coverup is great for beach or swim days. This one has dual uses–it’s your towel and your coverup all in one. Using terry cloth and a cute embroidery design, this project is easily achievable in two hours or less (depending on how large the chosen design is). My daughter is always tripping on her towel after swimming so I thought this was a great solution for her. This project is also suitable for adults–even as a bath towel! Choose a design based on the recipient’s interests. The placement of the design is also your choice. Move the design to the curved lower edge on the front of…
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5 Father’s Day Gifts to Sew & Embroider
Here are five Father’s Day gifts to sew, some of which are even easy enough for kids to sew themselves. Dad String Art Pick up a canvas and outline letters using a lightbox. Poke holes along the letter outlines and then thread a needle with two to three strands of Sulky 12 wt. Cotton Petites thread (choose a Blendables™ thread for a neat look). Instruct the kids to sew back and forth through the holes until the desired look is achieved. Dad can hang this in the office, garage or work space and keep it forever! This project by the blog teachbesideme is great for kids of all ages as…
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3 Outdoor Embroidery Projects to Make in an Afternoon
Summer is coming and it’s time to get the patio furniture out of hiding and gather some fun outdoor embroidery projects to jazz up your deck decor. Using blanks, like tea towels and bath towels, is one super simple way to embroider personalized projects in a fraction of the time. Weigh the cost of purchasing a blank, or set of blanks, rather than the yardage needed to create the project if the main focus is embroidery. You may save a couple of bucks along with a couple of hours (or more!) and end up with something just as sweet. Here are three ideas for outdoor embroidery projects to get your…
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5 Summer Break Sewing Projects for Kids
Now that the kids are out of school for the summer, it’s time to keep them busy with some summer break sewing projects. These easy projects for kids to sew require just a bit of fabric and beginner hand-sewing skills. As the summer goes on, move on to more advanced sewing techniques, like machine embroidery. They will love watching the machine do its magic and picking out all the thread colors for the design. 1. Glove Monster This cute project by Craftaholics Anonymous repurposes all those single gloves you have left from winter. Add a bit of felt scraps and choose a few colors of Sulky Cotton Petites™ threads and…
