Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Morning Glories & Dragonfly Embroideries





This design works beautifully on the front of a bag or can be used in the center of an embroidered and quilted wall hanging. Read the "how to" tutorials to learn how to create compositions of multiple embroidery designs like this one.

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I am frequently asked, "what type of embroidery thread did you use on that design? It's amazing!" The answer is that I always use rayon thread. Rayon thread has a nap similar to velvet. When it is stitched into a design, the light reflection is affected by the direction that the thread is going. In other words, rayon thread reflects the light from one direction and it absorbs the light from the opposite direction. This gives the embroidery tremendous depth. In contrast, polyester embroidery thread is smooth and shiny all over and cannot give a stitched design the depth and variation of light reflection that rayon thread can.

Polyester thread works great for machine embroidering on kids clothes. Multiple washings do not affect it. Rayon thread gives a richer look and is the better choice if you are machine embroidering a wall hanging, pillows, or clothing you are willing to give some tender loving care.

The machine embroidery design shown above becomes three dimensional when it is stitched using rayon thread. The flowers and leaves actually seem to change shape as you move around the room because the light dances and changes on the rayon embroidery thread when viewed from different angles.

If the machine embroidered work is quilted after embroidering, the effect of the light reflection on the rayon embroidery thread is even more enhanced because the surface of the fabric is no longer flat.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Two Leaves and Luna Moth Machine Embroidery








 


This is a design group includes designs from the Skeleton
Leaves Collection
and a Luna
Moth
.

The Skeleton Leaves
Collection includes the skeleton leaf shown and an assortment of stems. You can
assemble the parts as you please to fit your personal projects. Design work is
easy using printed paper templates. No computer work is needed other than
printing the paper templates that are included with each download. Click
here to view the easy tutorials
to learn how to work with templates to make
large complex designs the easy way.
 


Friday, July 18, 2008

Today I was supposed to do the paper work. Pay the bills etc. I sort of started on it. And I was supposed to sew two quilt backs. Boring. But you've gotta make the backs so that they can be machine quilted. Not by me. That's where I draw the line. I have a plan. I will pawn these off on my friend Monica who will quilt them with her long arm machine. For a fee which I will cheerfully pay!

It is time to make dinner so now I will resume sewing the quilt backs. I'll make a salad. That's fast. Bibb lettuce, goat cheese, green apple, toasted almonds.... Yum! This way I can sew up the second quilt back in time to take it to Quilt Guild first thing in the morning.

Rats! No goat cheese. It's 9:00 pm and I've got to back up and rethink dinner. Frozen turkey leftovers! He will love it....

Little Embroidered Bags


from



These little machine embroidered bags are a lot of fun to make. You can make one from a third of a yard of quilt weight fabric, a third of a yard of Pellon's Fusible Fleece, and a bag & tote zipper. The bags above show the three butterfly designs from my collection of Japanese Family Crests Embroideries, but you can choose any from this collection or from my collection of Texas Cowboy Crests Embroideries because all of these embroidery designs will fit on the fronts of these little bags! Decisions, decisions....


This is a very versatile group of patterns. You can easily add a fabric covered rope handle to convert a simple zippered bag to a wristlet bag, a necklace bag, or an upscale fanny pack. My Little Turning Tool makes covering rope with fabric easy!