• first machine embroidery project

    Your First Machine Embroidery Project – A Beginner’s Guide

    Start Your First Machine Embroidery Project! by Pamela Cox It’s time to start your first machine embroidery project to wrap up National Embroidery Month! We’ve covered how to start adding machine embroidery techniques into your sewing repertoire, and we’ve defined the must-know machine embroidery terms. Now it’s time for the fun stuff–embroidering that first project. WHERE TO FIND MACHINE EMBROIDERY PROJECTS The internet is a veritable salad bar of sewing, quilting and machine embroidery projects. How do we know which ones are good for beginners? Narrow your search by being very specific. What do YOU want to make (think small, and go bigger once you’ve had more practice.)? Do you…

  • leo the lion hoop art roject

    Leo the Lion Project: Hand Embroidery for Kids, Episode 4

    Leo the Lion Hoop Art Project Hand Embroidery for Kids, Episode 4 with Laura Bray of Laura Bray Designs Create this Leo the Lion Hoop Art to display your first hand embroidery project! The Leo the Lion embroidery pattern is a simple pattern to teach kids or to make as a beginner of any age. LEO THE LION EMBROIDERY Download the Leo the Lion pattern. Print it out onto Sulky Stick ‘n Stitch™ stabilizer. Cut around the pattern. Stick the pattern onto the right side of a piece of fabric of your choice. Choose thread colors for the lion, using the wide range of Sulky Cotton Petites™ Thread. For the…

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  • stitches of love webinar

    Stitches of Love “Love to Sew” Pillow – Free Webinar

    Stitches of Love Presents The “Love to Sew” Appliqué Pillow! The mother-daughter duo behind Stitches of Love has been a long-time fan of Sulky threads. So we decided to join forces for our March webinar to bring you their Love to Sew pillow, a project developed by Stitches of Love exclusively for Sulky! In this webinar, you’ll learn to LOVE appliqué. Plus, you’ll learn how to work with heavyweight thread to add texture, color, and detail to all the projects you embellish. LEARN WITH US Julie and Brittany will showcase their Love to Sew appliqué pillow to demonstrate the following techniques: Read appliqué patterns  Work with pre-fused appliqué pieces and an appliqué placement…

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  • basic hand embroidery stitches

    Basic Hand Embroidery Stitches: Hand Embroidery for Kids, Episode 3

    Basic Hand Embroidery Stitches Hand Embroidery for Kids, Episode 3 with Laura Bray of Laura Bray Designs When learning hand embroidery, three basic stitches are essential for most embroidery patterns. Learn these three easy stitches to begin learning the wonderful world of hand embroidery! The below video is great for teaching kids in a safe, fun environment.   Have your child practice these stitches on a piece of scrap fabric. They won’t be as nervous about their stitches, which will help them grow their stitching confidence. Backstitch This is one of the easiest stitches. The backstitch is a great stitch to use when outlining a pattern. For beginners, outlining a…

  • machine embroidery terms to know

    Understanding Machine Embroidery Terms

    Understanding Machine Embroidery Terms by Pamela Cox Understanding machine embroidery terms is essential for navigating through techniques and expanding your machine embroidery skills. Don’t hold back on adding machine embroidery to your sewing bag of tricks because of the word “computerized” or “digital.” Enjoying machine embroidery doesn’t require expert-level computer knowledge!  The embroidery machine (a computer in its own right) easily interfaces, or “works with,” the home computer with little effort and minimum knowledge. Machine Embroidery Design Language Why can you not view an embroidery design on your home computer without using software? Embroidery designs are created only for specialized computers, specifically embroidery machines. A home computer, which can perform…

  • Transferring Designs for Hand Embroidery

    Transferring Designs: Hand Embroidery for Kids, Episode 2

    Transferring Designs onto Fabric for Hand Embroidery by Laura Bray, Laura Bray Designs There are a number of ways to transfer designs (PDF patterns) onto fabric. Some are simpler than others, especially when teaching children the art of hand embroidery. Lightbox or Window Method If your fabric is lightweight, you can use a lightbox or even a bright window. Kids love using a lightbox, and this one is super lightweight and easy to use. Simply print out the PDF embroidery pattern, place it on the light source and then place your fabric over the pattern. Use chalk or water-soluble pencil to trace the image onto the fabric. Transfer Pens Print the…

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  • Embroidery on Jeans

    Embroidery on Jeans – Applique Method

    Floral Embroidery on Jeans by Zandra Shaw Have you always wanted the look of designer jeans with embroidery but are unsure where to start? Or maybe you’ve tried embroidering jeans, and after taking the jeans apart you never get them sewn back up again quite right. This applique method is the answer to beautiful embroidery on jeans without the hassle of having the take the jeans apart. FREESTANDING APPLIQUES Zandra Shaw of Embroider Shoppe teaches how to create freestanding appliques out of embroidery designs! This “patch” method is a great technique to apply to other ready-to-wear projects, too! Give the jeans a vintage-inspired look by using Sulky Filaine thread. This…

  • Hand Embroidery for Kids

    Hand Embroidery for Kids – New Video Series, Episode 1

    Hand Embroidery for Kids: a New Sulky Video Series Episode 1: SUPPLIES Yes, hand embroidery for kids! In this video series, Laura Bray of Laura Bray designs takes us through the steps to teach children the wonderful art of hand embroidery. Hand embroidery is a gateway craft for kids, as it’s easy to learn and understand how stitches are formed, the supplies are inexpensive, and it’s fun to pick out thread and fabric colors (not to mention designs!) From Laura Hand Embroidery is a wonderful skill to teach your child. It’s a creative and quiet activity for both you and your child. I began teaching my daughter how to embroider…

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  • get started with machine embroidery

    Machine Embroidery for Beginners – How to Start

    Machine Embroidery for Beginners how to get started with machine embroidery by Pamela Cox Machine embroidery is a fun sewing technique that allows you to personalize readymade items and custom sewing projects. It’s a simple embellishment to learn once you understand the fundamentals, because the machine does most of the work for you! Let’s delve in to the world of machine embroidery to see just how simple and fun it can be. Whether you consider yourself a quilter, garment sewist, home-dec aficionado, cross-stitcher, tailor or general crafter, machine embroidery is a technique that adds another layer to your creativity. Think you need to be a super advanced sewist in order…

  • machine embroidery myths busted

    10 Machine Embroidery Myths – True or False?

    10 Machine Embroidery Myths To kick off National Embroidery Month, we’re diving into 10 machine embroidery myths. Are these myths true or false…or both? Join us all month long as we learn all about hand embroidery, machine embroidery, free-motion embroidery and more. Fun projects, freebies and product reviews abound! 1. Machine Embroidery Is Too Complicated FALSE. Most people believe that machine embroidery is a very technical skill to master. It’s assumed that because a larger, typically more expensive, machine is required, the skill level must be off the charts. While machine embroidery does require some basic knowledge, practice and “recipes” for success, the actual process is as simple as pressing…