Embroidery tutorial round up

I tend to use embroidery mostly to embellish sewn items. Here is a list of items I have embellished using embroidery or where embroidery is the main element.

1. French cuisine embroidery tea towel
2. Reversible tray cover using improv piecing and embroidery
3. Napkin embroidery
4. Reversible tray cover using improv piecing and embroidery
5. Love is the answer… hot water bottle cozy tutorial
6. Embroidered eye mask tutorial
7. Fabric keychain with embroidered flower
8. Noel embroidery mounted on canvas
9. Mini Christmas quilt
10. Peace wall hanging tutorial
11. Charm squares and embroidery tote bag
12. Christmas quilted Noel wall hanging
13. Elf quilted wall hanging
14. Embroidered quilt tutorial: Part I and Part II
15. Merry Christmas embroidery tutorial
16. Embroidered hot water bottle cover

Cute Christmas bunting tutorial – lettering – Part 2

In this part we’ll be finishing the bunting.

Firstly we will be making flags with the message MERRY XMAS.

Download the typography (pdf), print it and proceed to fuse it to the flags as you did in Part 1. You will need to transfer R and M twice as there’s only one copy of each letter in the download.

Cut 9 flags and fuse the letters to the flags.

Cut 9 triangles of one sided fusible interfacing and iron to the back of each flag.

Then draw the inside lines of each letter to make it 3D as per pattern.

Stitch around each line and around the edge of each letter as per picture below).

Now you will need to add some backing to each flag. Cut 13 triangles in a matching fabric or calico.

Place front and back flags right sides together and stitch around 2 sides leaving the top open to turn inside out. Trim the pointy end of the triangle before turning inside out.

Turn inside out and push the corner out with a pointy blunt instrument. Iron flat.

Top stitch each triangle around 3 sides leaving a one quarter seam allowance.

Trim the open end of each triangle.

The triangles are ready to be placed on a string.

Making the string

The strip of fabric we need to place the triangles in is 140 inches long.

The width of the strip is 1 ½ in wide.

Fold the strip of fabric in half and iron, then fold each side inside again and iron.

Fold the strip in half and pin it in the middle. Use this mark to place the first flag.

After pinning the first flag, continue to place a flag on each side leaving 3 ½ inches separation between flags.

After all flags have been pinned, top stitch along the strip.

Fold both ends of the string to make a hook as per picture.

Stitch.

All done.

Cute Merry Christmas bunting: appliqué – Part 1

This tutorial is in 2 parts. The first part will only deal with the applique of Christmas designs and the next tutorial will deal with the stitching of the lettering and putting everything together. The bunting is about 140 inches long.

Patterns

• Download free Christmas vectors (zip) from Spoongraphics for your applique
• Download bunting pattern (pdf). When cutting this pattern add 1¼ all around for seam allowance

Fabric needs

• assorted scrap fabric in white and red for the applique. Use fabrics that will have enough contrast so the design shows through
• assorted scrap fabric in white, green and red for the triangles
• lightweight fusible interfacing for the flags
• black thread
• felt scraps in beige
• stranded cotton in beige
• double sided interfacing for the applique

You can choose how much of the design you want to applique. Below you will find a close up picture of each flag where you can see what parts of each drawing I chose to fuse and applique.

Tracing and fusing the applique

Trace the applique on to the double sided interfacing. I only used interfacing for cotton fabrics. The felt pieces weren’t fused, just pinned in place and stitched by hand.

Cut each shape roughly leaving some space around each shape and fuse to the fabric, then to the triangles following the manufacturer’s instructions. I used Heat’n Bond, the light variety.

After ironing, cut each shape and place on the flag. Place all shapes together and fuse at once.

Draw the eyes, the snowman buttons and any other lines you will be stitching along.

After the fabric is fused, cut the felt pieces and stitch to the design. See the picture below for an example. Notice where I have drawn some lines on the reindeer legs.

Now iron on the lightweight fusible interfacing to the back of the triangle. The interfacing will make the bunting sit better but it will also act as stabiliser for the applique.

Now the fun part starts. Using black thread stitch all around the applique edges as in the original paper sketches. Don’t worry if your lines aren’t straight, mine are pretty rough. This is the first time I’ve used this technique so it was expected. Go around each line at least twice. I used the darning foot but didn’t lower the dogs so I could move the fabric enough. I found that I didn’t have so much control with the dogs down.

You will end up with a lot of threads at the end of it. Just cut them close to the fabric.

All done. I must admit I was a bit scared it would turn out to be a disaster but I quite like the result.

Close ups