Prepping Fabric for Hand Embroidery - Redux

I originally posted this in 2011, and, in anticipation for today's release of The Splendid Sampler, I thought I'd re-share. I'd added some updated comments in blue.

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So much to do and so little time!  A friend asked how do I prep my fabric for embroidery because I don't use a hoop so I thought this would be a good time to share.  The below instructions work for me, and I hope you find them useful for yourself!

If you are participating in a Block of the Month (BOM), prepare all your squares (plus one or two extra) ahead of time.  That way, when you are ready to transfer your new pattern, the squares are all ready to go!  I like to prep 1 or 2 extra squares in case something happens when I'm transferring the pattern.  If I don't need them, then I can use them afterwards for a quick project to give as a gift (like the Mug Rugs I made last month).

Embroidery 101: Prepping the Fabric

1. I love Kona Cotton (though I will use others if it suits the project). I always buy more than I need, wash it, label it, and set it somewhere safe. Note, not all white fabrics are equal so always ensure you have enough for a project because matching it later will be impossible.

I STILL love Kona cotton, but, for scrappy projects, I will mix and match my background.

2. When cutting, always cut slightly larger than needed to allow for edges shredding or a little distortion when embroidering. For Birdie (image above), my finished block is 8.5" square so I cut it into 10.5" square.

3. When pressing, I like to use Mary Ellen's Best Press to give the piece a little stiffness and a very smooth surface.  

And I still LOVE Mary Ellen's Best Press. It's light, does not leave residue on your iron or ironing board, and does not spot on the fabric.

4. I cut a piece of Pellon's lightest fusible interfacing about a half inch smaller than my fabric and fuse it to the wrong side. Several good tips to keep in mind:

• Make sure your fabric has no lint or pet hair on it prior to fusing - it will show!
• After I fuse, I let my fabric rest for a moment or two giving the interfacing time to cool/adhere.
• JoAnn Fabrics sends out regular 40% off coupons so I buy my interfacing by the bolt.

5. Using my fabulous light box (also purchased with my 40% off coupon), I will transfer my design to my fabric.

• Print pattern and cut any extra paper away from the design.
• Tape pattern to the light box. To prevent the tape from permanently adhering to the box, I will apply the tape to my jeans first and then use it to tape the pattern down (fuzz on the tape prevents it from permanently sticking to my light box which causes a bumpy transfer surface later).
• Tape the fabric to the light box (centering it using a ruler) and tape down with more "fuzzy" tape.
• Trace pattern using color Pigma pens. I always trace the lines in the same color I will use to stitch because it guides me to color placement later and is covered by the floss.  Here is my February block for Birdie Stitches: 

6. After transferring the pattern, I will carefully remove the fabric from the box and peel off all the tape. Then I will press the fabric (no steam) to set the ink. 

I've had phenomenal success with these techniques and hope they help you, too. 

Elisa

Ah, Fabric!

I found the fabric for the next stage of my butterfly metamorphoses!

Another Memory Quilt

It's been a tough week here - a very dear man, one of the sweetest souls I've ever met, has passed. The family has spent several days traveling for hours for the viewing and the funeral. This man, a "people person" like my late Mother, always had a twinkle in his eye (not kidding) and always genuinely wanted to know how you were. He would sit riveted until you answered, and he would listen. He laughed; he hugged; and he loved his family.

I think that's why working on the latest memory quilt has been so tough on me. A coworker has brought me several bags of clothes. His mother-in-law passed several years ago, and he wants a quilt to give his wife for Christmas.

The toughest part of these projects is normally deciding which pattern features the fabric to the best effect. Not this time....

I pulled out a sweater and there's a safety pin attached with red, white and blue beads.

She made many of her own clothes. I can see her stitching and tucks to make the skirts fit. I also see fabrics I used in my own quilts from when I first started out,

There's the sweatshirt with the fabric painted handprints of her grandchildren.

There's a nightgown with straight pins still pinned to the bodice. Have you done that? While stitching late at night you pull out a straight pin from the project at hand and pin it to your nightclothes so you don't lose it later? I do that all the time.

She loved Disney characters. I've found shirts with embroidered Mickeys, Eyore, Pooh, and more.

The one thing that gives me peace is knowing that my coworker's wife will have a tangible reminder of her late mother. Mine passed decades ago and I mostly have pictures... And my sister, who takes after her.

Hug your loved ones today.

Elisa

I Found Fabric!

I must really like this fabric...

Why? Because, when I cleaned up my quilt room, I found a yard-cut, 1/2 yard cut, AND a fat quarter of each!

I wonder what I bought them for?

Well, you'll see what I do with them... Tomorrow.

 

Happy stitching!

Elisa

 

 

A Moment Now Will Save Many Later!

Ok, so you're in the shop, and they're about to cut a nice yard or so off the bolt for you.  As you look down, you see a spot (a hole, a misprint, a mark, a stain, a blemish) on the fabric.  Buy it at a discount?  SURE!  I'm a scrap quilter.  But this is only a deal if you're smart about it later!


This is not sale fabric!

When I get home, before I forget, I always mark the defect on the fabric.  Whether it's a piece of masking tape or a garage-sale dot, I cover the blemish.  That way, when I go to cut it that night, next week, next year, I don't forget about it. 

Hard lesson learned?  You betcha!  Once upon a time, in my early quilting days, I cut up an entire cut of fabric only to find I was one block short because... I had forgotten about that hole.  Fabric is too expensive to take chances.

Happy Saturday!
Elisa

Mark It Up!

Ok, so I'm getting ready to work on Miss Shabby's Birdie Stitches and lo and behold!  Have you ever noticed how similar "white fabrics" look?  Yep, you guessed it.. they were all in the same box.  And manufacturers normally don't label their solids in the selvages.

So, big deal, eh?  Well... Moda white and Kona cotton are not the same fabric.  Different shades of white, different weaves.  Different textures.  And here I have a pile of white scraps!  What to do?

Luckily, this isn't the first time I've made this blunder :)  After washing solid colors, I always label the manufacturer, style, and (when I know it) project right on the raw edge.  Notice it's the edge I'll slice off when I'm ready to cut?

Ok, I'll stop patting myself on the back now. Nobody likes a smug quilter!

Thanks for listening!