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Dads & Grads DIY Gift Ideas
This series is written by guest blogger, Pamela Cox. Pamela is an expert embroiderer, designer, digitizer and all around wonderful girl! We are so happy to have her contributing to the Sulky Blog! Dads & Grads Can there be any busier month than now? School is getting out, summer is in full swing and we have two exceptional people to make gifts for! Embroidering distinctive gifts becomes a little easier when starting with a premade item. Most of us are familiar with embroidering on t-shirts, sweatshirts and towels and they should not be overlooked as possible gifts. Any one of them can be embellished with a design specific to the…
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“Mad Tea Party” Jacket
“Mad Tea Party” Jacket By Diane Gloystein This is the story of how my “Mad Tea Party” jacket nearly drove me mad. As a National Educator representing Sulky of America, I often hear comments from people who assume that, as an educator, I must know it all, have all the answers, and easily whip out one project after the next. Just for the record, I want everyone to know that I, too, have sewing projects that are disastrous and throw me close to the brink of insanity as I wonder how this hobby that can be so much fun can just as easily send me over the edge. Where it…
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Why You Should Embellish Fabric First
Do you ever wonder how a beautifully embroidered garment can be stitched so “perfectly”? Designs are perfectly centered on panels! Right and left sides are mirror images of each other! How is this possible? The trick is to embellish the fabric first! Let’s use a simple collar in understanding the steps: “Trace” the pattern piece, on grain, on a piece of fabric larger than the require finished cutting line. My favorite method is tailor tacks through both layers of fabric at the same time. That way I am sure to have both the right and left side of the required pattern. I baste along seam allowances for a visual…
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Free Webinar | Zipper Pouch with kraft-tex®
Join us in creating this zippered pouch made with kraft-tex® Paper Fabric! During this FREE, one hour webcast, you will learn how to make a faux-leather zipper pouch using the versatile and durable kraft-tex paper fabric. How to make kraft-tex look like faux leather How to transfer a hand embroidery design to kraft-tex using Sulky Stick ‘n Stitch Stabilizer Tips on hand embroidery through kraft-tex How to machine embroider onto kraft-tex A fun way to insert a zipper and lining – plus, how to make a zipper pull tassel out of kraft-tex General instructions for kraft-tex Downloadable instructions for one of Alyssa’s projects from the book kraft-tex Style, compliments of…
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Fashion Flip | The Bandanna Sweatshirt
I recently came across this adorable sweatshirt. With a not-so-adorable price tag of $148. So, I decided to make it myself. I made mine for $22! Here is how I did it. I purchased an XXL sweatshirt from Target for $20. I liked the color, the feel, and the neckline looked like it would work well for this project. I purchase the two bandannas at Hobby Lobby for $1 apiece. (NOTE: You can make this Fashion Flip for even less, if you use a sweatshirt you already own, or get one at a thrift store or a store like Hobby Lobby, which sells them as blanks for projects.) Since the…
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Machine Appliqué Tips Part II
This series is written by guest blogger, Pamela Cox. Pamela is an expert embroiderer, designer, digitizer and all around wonderful girl! We are so happy to have her contributing to the Sulky Blog! In my previous Sulky® Blog post, you discovered that machine-embroidered Appliqué Designs stitch up quickly and are fun to create, combining different textures and prints of fabrics. The only “rules” cited for this process was to follow the digitizer’s directions: Understand what each color stop represents Follow the digitizer’s stitching order Do not color-sort/combine threads colors However, sometimes being a bit naughty and “coloring outside of the lines” produces a new twist to a design. Appliqués use…
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Machine Applique Tips
This series is written by guest blogger, Pamela Cox. Pamela is an expert embroiderer, designer, digitizer and all around wonderful girl! We are so happy to have her contributing to the Sulky Blog! Machine Applique Tips Applique designs are one of the quickest, most fun methods of machine embroidery. Quick, because fabric takes the place of fill stitches (check out the difference in thread count!). And fun because fabric color, print, and even texture combinations are endless! Owl with Heart: Sulky Embroidery Club #684 – American Sweetie Pie: Sulky Embroidery Club #762 (free download) – Heart and Megaphone: Original design Basic steps are involved with every applique. Although, the…
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Free Webinar | Unicorn Towel Hoodie
Free Webinar: Let’s Create a Unicorn! Demystifying the Hooded Towel “Let me walk you through the process of creating adorable Hoodie Towels using my new Unicorn pattern. Creating these towels as fun gifts is easy and so satisfying. I will even show you how to fold it and add a bow so it is all ready to give away.” Desiree of Desiree’s Designs You’ll learn: How to hoop up your stabilizer and float your towel How to make different-sized towel hoodies for different ages How to follow a machine guided applique by either cutting or using SVG files How to use a topper like Sulky Solvy Stabilizer, as well…
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Valentine’s Day DIY Photo Frame Mat
DIY Photo Frame Mat It’s hard to find a Valentine’s Day gift that can be used all year long. Candy is great, but in this household it is gone almost as soon as it is opened! Love those flowers and I do wish they would last forever, but sadly they don’t. But picture this… a photo frame mat! A framed picture of a loved one does last forever, and machine embroidery makes it easy to customize a photo mat, making it all the more special. Instructions given are for personalizing an 8” x 10” mat displaying embroidery designs of choice, including an area for a 4″ x 6″ photo insert.…
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Free-Standing Lace vs. Lace Effect
Free-Standing Lace vs. Lace Effect This series is written by guest blogger, Pamela Cox. Pamela is an expert embroiderer, designer, digitizer and all around wonderful girl! We are so happy to have her contributing to the Sulky Blog! We all know what lace is, but do we understand “lace” in terms of machine embroidery? Many design collections include the word lace in their title, and this is especially true for embroidery intended for Bridal or even Heirloom designs. However, lace in a title can be describing a “lace effect”, which requires a fabric foundation, a strip of lace to be used as an accent or even an item made of…
