Creative Machine Embroidery

Dear Readers, There’s nothing more quintessentially summer than butterflies and flowers, and we’ve got a healthy dose of both in this issue of CME! Do you have summer adventures on your list? Whether you’re planning quality time abroad, in your garden, at the beach or simply in your sewing room, we’ve got summer stitching inspiration for you. Got some travel on your summer agenda (finally!)? Sew up a set of Packed & Pretty (page 28) and keep all your essentials organized in style. And don’t forget to join our summer stitch along— get all the details on page 14, grab the design free, and stitch up a cute toy for your fave feline. Picnicking is my favorite summer sport. At the beach? Even better! Stitch up the handy Beach Blanket on page 42 for…

PRACTICE MAKES PROGRESS If you’re new to embroidery, pick up some second-hand clothes to practice on. If they turn out well, wear them. If not, it’s no great loss. Laurie A., Facebook HOOP ON THE DOUBLE When making many similar projects, purchase an extra hoop to save time. Hoop one project while the other is stitching out. Without needing to stop and hoop the next fabric, you’ll be done in half the time. Patricia Z., Facebook LEARNED LETTERING When embroidering lettering, use the same color thread in the bobbin as in the needle. The letters look tidy and are easier to read. Patricia L., email SPRAY STAY Place fabric or stabilizer in a small, shallow box when spraying with adhesive to prevent overspray. Angela B., Facebook STICKY BUSINESS When using adhesive stabilizers, check the needle for sticky residue during color changes. Clean up…

1. If you’re looking for an upgrade (or an addition) to your studio, look no further than the new Memory Craft 550E, Janome’s largest stand-alone embroidery machine. This stand-out machine includes the new RE35b hoop that allows for a 7.9" × 14.2" embroidery field so you can stitch more without shifting the hoop around, and we think bigger is always better when it comes to hoops! You’ll have so much fun browsing the 180 built-in designs and six fonts to bring your creations to life through the LCD color touchscreen. (Contact your local dealer for pricing; www.janome.com) 2. If you put yourself on a new fabric buying ban this year, it may need to stop today—because Riley Blake Designs is always dropping the latest and greatest solid and printed fabric for…

HOOPS • Most machines include at least one hoop and offer additional hoop sizes for purchase. Hoop size depends on the machine sewing field, so check with your machine dealer to see if other hoop sizes are available. The larger the hoop size, the larger the design that can be stitched. However, for best results select a hoop size as close to the design size as possible. STABILIZER • Choose high-quality stabilizers. This makes a noticeable difference in the finished design appearance. Poor quality stabilizers make even the best digitized design look bad. • Keep at least one cut-away, one tear-away and one water-soluble stabilizer and topper in your stash. Use cut-away stabilizer when embroidering on knits or stretchy fabrics. Tear-away stabilizer is suitable for a variety of projects, especially when combined with a…

STITCH ALONG WITH US Register at sewdaily.com now through July 31, 2022, and get this fun cat toy design and how-to free! Then stitch the catnip fish with us completely in the hoop! THE DESIGN Your feline friend will love playing with this little tropical fish toy. It’s easily stitched in the hoop using felt, then stuffed to give it some dimension. Use dried catnip for the stuffing to really get your cat excited to play! You’ll enjoying being able to share your love of embroidery with your beloved pet. This design is made to look like a yellow tang, but tropical fish come in lots of colors. Mix and match your favorites for a school of brightly colored toys. You can use cotton for this project, which provides some fun print options. Just keep…

STRONG SILK A common misconception about silk is that it requires special handling because it’s fragile and best suited for light and delicate dresses or lingerie. However, did you know that parachutes used to be made out of silk? That fact should help prompt us to ditch the descriptor of “fragile” right away. Silk isn’t just for special occasions; it’s a versatile fiber that lends itself to constructing garments, accessories and home-dec items to enjoy and use. One clue to the strength of silk is that a standard size 75/11 universal needle will dull quickly when stitching silk seams. A size 70/10sharp or microfiber needle produces better results because the sharper point is able to penetrate the silk surface more smoothly. The smaller needle size also creates smaller, tidier holes in the…