​Bobbin thread: The first thing to do is check your manual and see what your machine manufacturer recommends. Chances are, the suggested thread is very specific to your make and model. Bobbin thread weight is thinner that the top thread and geared for premium results with the bobbin case supplied with your machine. This is true whether your machine is sewing & embroidery or embroidery only. I've seen some messed up machines that behaved badly just because of the thread they were fed.

As a Brother Ambassador working with Brother machines, most of the time I stick with Brother branded thread for the bobbin. This thread is found both on spools to wind yourself or put up on re-usable pre-wound bobbins. These pre-wound bobbins are the same bobbins that come with Brother machines so they are very well made. Side note: Cheap generic bobbins are something I stay away from. Good quality bobbins make a big difference in how your machine operates in both sewing and embroidery mode! While I do actually enjoy winding my own bobbins,  another advantage of pre-wound is the fact that they are wound to hold the maximum amount of thread that can be squeezed onto a bobbin. This bobbin thread is available in both black and white. You should be able to purchase both at your local Brother dealer in quantities you prefer. 

Other machine brands should check with the manufacturer's reccomendations

Now let's talk embroidery thread. Unless stated other wise, standard embroidery designs are made for 40-50 wt. embroidery thread. Highly magnified, the 40 and 50 weight embroidery thread wold look virtually identical. Good quality polyester fiber is the preferred choice because it is strong and colorfast.

Rayon is an option for embroidery, but you must take great care when washing rayon as it can bleed when wet. It can also fade and does not have the shelf life that poly has. In addition, it breaks and shreds more easily. The prime reason someone would choose rayon would be for color selection. Rayon can be dyed in greater shades because it is more porous. It is also just a tad softer when finished. I rarely use rayon and when I do I take all these precautions into account.

Brand wise, I would stick with the following major brands, Brother, Madeira, and Exquisite. These are the ones I use regularly in my own sewing space.

Below is a link to Brother Brand thread: 
https://www.brother-usa.com/search#q=embroidery%20thread&t=tab-Supplies-and-Accessories&layout=card

Outside the Brother family, I also like Madeira Polyneon 40wt. thread. You can usually find this on both large and small spools so it's an option when you need more or less thread.

Last but not least, I am a huge fan of the Exquisite line of thread sold by DiME. Their Kingstar metallic is excellent as well. By the way, they also sell pre-wound class 15 (one time use/disposable) bobbins in a 60 wt. and a 70wt. I like the 70 wt. best but I do switch out my bobbin case to the one with the purple dot when I use that thread, as it is a bit finer.

Several sewing /embroidery models include this bobbin case with the machine. I like to call it the "just in case" bobbin case. the bobbin case found as the default with the machine has a green screw that is painted  and this screw is meant to be left alone. However, the case with the dot inside has an adjustable screw so you can modify the tension as needed. Note that different machines behave differently. Make a sample when using third party bobbin thread and see if you need to make any adjustments. Sometimes I find it necessary to the alternative case for finer bobbin threads.

Below is an *affiliate link to DiME products and the high quality polyester Exquisite brand thread by DiME. 

CLICK HERE for DiME embroidery products!

Leave a note in the comments if you have more thread questions or want to share your thoughts.

Happy stitching!

*Affiliate link: I only recommend supplies I use and love. If you purchase through this link I receive a tiny commission.

Let's Make Labels was my topic for the  recent live show I presented for friends of Sewing Machines Plus. I'm a big fan of labeling your custom creations and wanted to share three easy ways to make memorable labels. In the beginning of the show, you'll see labels printed on printable fabric using simple and free online programs for the basic templates.

In the show I talked about using business card templates, typing into the box and adding my logo. In the past, I've used templates from avery.com and from the Brother Creative Center at www.creativecenter.brother/en-us https://www.creativecenter.brother/en-us

CLICK HERE for a label project using the free Brother program.

​Here is an example:

After stitching the labels created in software, I cut a matching piece of fabric for the back and fused the layers together using FuseMe lightweight fusible webbing from my friends at DiME.

To finish these, I simply cut them apart using a pinking blade on my rotary cutter. Now they're ready to stitch or fuse to any custom crafted item. For another option, you could add a ribbon to the ones with backing, and use them for a tag.

The third option I presented was the method for using the Brother My Design Center feature to create a label using your own hand writing. Take a look at one example below:

​
Watch the video replay!

Here are some additional resources for items you can purchase from Sewing Machines Plus:

BES Blue Embroidery & lettering Software:
https://www.sewingmachinesplus.com/SABESBLUE.php

Printable Quilt Label Fabric sheets
https://www.sewingmachinesplus.com/JT403.php
​
Whole sheets of printable fabric
https://www.sewingmachinesplus.com/7550-1.php

Dime Fine Line thread
https://www.sewingmachinesplus.com/exquisite-t20.php

Dime Sticky Hoops
https://www.sewingmachinesplus.com/searchresults.php?search_field=Dime+sticky+hoop

I had the privilege of presenting an educational segment titled Zip it up! Zipper tips and tricks, on a recent Sew Fest show hosted by Sewing Machines Plus. To watch this segment on their YouTube channel you can CLICK HERE. You'll find my 30 minute segment running from time stamp 1:59:44 to 2:31.

During this live show, I shared many of my top tips for successful zipper stitching and gave a detailed explanation of various zipper feet. I'm following up the show by including information on the feet here in this blog post. Keep in mind, as a Brother Ambassador I'm showing feet and referencing part numbers from that manufacturer. However, you'll find most or all of these feet available for just about every modern machine model around.

At the end of this post, you'll find links to zipper stitching videos and even more detailed information to help you zap your fear of zippers!

​This snap-on foot is the “new kid on the block” in the Brother world.  Sleek and narrow from front to back, this foot offers excellent visibility and the opportunity to sew very close to zipper teeth on all kinds of zippers. IMPORTANT! If you’re using SA208, you need to make sure you use just two needle positions, either the far-left straight stitch (7.0) or the far-right straight stitch (0.0). This foot is ideal for accurate topstitching on many zipper applications and sits very firm and flat on the fabric layers. It’s ideal if you want to sew close to zipper teeth while maintaining good contact with the fabric layers as well as excellent visibility.

​Misc. Zipper tips:
 

• In most cases, it’s best to purchase a standard zipper at least two inches longer than what the pattern calls for. Extend the top part of the zipper beyond the edge to avoid having to stitch next to the bulky zipper stop. Pin zipper above the tab to protect form zipping off zipper when cutting to final length. 
• The term zipper coils and zipper teeth are used interchangeably. “Teeth” can be molded or made form metal. It’s okay to stitch over polyester coil zippers but never sew over metal zipper teeth.
• Create a new zipper stop when necessary, by stitching a bar tack over the zipper teeth.
• Always interface zipper area to keep fabric from stretching or distorting.
• Consider adding ribbon or strips of fabric with added decorative stitches to extend the width of standard zippers and make them suited for decorative application as exposed zippers.

You'll find videos for sewing slotted, lapped, & concealed zippers, plus lots more free information you can download HERE on this page of my website. Enjoy and please leave your comments and or questions below. I'd love to hear from you!

Hemstitched items have been around for many years. Formerly created with tedious handwork, in the late 1800’s a machine was developed to produce hemstitching in a fraction of the time it took to create by hand.

Somewhere along the line a specialty needle called a wing needle was developed for modern, household machines. Combined with special decorative stitches suited for use with a wing needle, sewing enthusiasts can now create hemstitched effects as easily as sewing a straight stitch! In this tutorial you’ll learn more about creating these delicate, delightful stitches yourself. Are you ready? Let’s go sew!

You'll need some basic supplies to get started.

• Fine, smooth thread such as 60 weight silk finish cotton, 80 weight cotton, or 100 weight silk. Feel free to experiment with other threads. In general, natural fiber threads work best. You’ll want the thread weight not to exceed 60 weight. Thicker thread will not produce pretty stitches. Check the numbers on the spool and always use good quality thread.
• Optional – Fine crochet cotton or thin decorative cord, for threading through wing needle stitching.
• Large-eyed tapestry needle for threading crochet cotton through holes.
• Wash out marker for marking lines on fabric.
• Preferred fabrics include natural fiber fabrics that are not tightly woven. I have successfully hemstitched on the following: Linen, linen/ramie or linen/cotton blends, cotton batiste and cotton lawn. Feel free to try other fabrics, keeping in mind the fact that holes created by the needle are more prominent on lightweight natural fibers without a tight weave. Polyester has memory and does not produce wing needle holes.
• Adhesive backed water-soluble stabilizer, such as Brother product #SA5906
• Ordinary fabric spray starch or other wash out stiffener. Read more about temporary fabric stiffener in this post HERE.
• Wing needle, size 16 to 19.

More about the wing needle: This specialty needle is large, with wide “wings” or flanges on each side of the eye of the needle. When used with stitches that enter the same spot on the fabric multiple times, the wing pierces the fabric and spreads apart the threads that make up the weave of the fabric. Stitches then fill the area around the hole, keeping the threads separated and creating a lacy, open work look. It’s essential that the fibers are easily pushed apart and the thread is thin so that the hole is not filled up from the thickness of the thread. Natural fibers work best because they stay in place. Synthetics have memory and tend to “bounce back, while the natural fibers stay pushed apart.

Below are some important set-up guidelines and general rules to follow for hemstitching: 

• Begin with a clean machine. Pop up the throat plate and clean out the dust bunnies. Be sure your bobbin case is seated correctly when you put the machine pack together.
• Wind a matching bobbin with your chosen thread. When threading the machine do not use the automatic needle threader. Simply thread the eye of the needle by hand. In addition, do not use the auto cut function or the scissors key.
• When sewing, be sure to stitch at a slow to medium speed so the holes have the chance to form properly. I like to pull one or two vertical threads out of the fabric to both mark my lines of stitching and give the wing needle an improved chance of spreading the fibers apart. If this is easy for you to do, go ahead and try it. If not, it’s perfectly okay to skip this step.
• Pre-treat fabric with spray starch to make it smooth and somewhat firm. If you choose to use strips of the water-soluble stabilizer you will not need to heavily starch your fabric. However, without this stabilizer you’ll need several applications of starch, ironing until the fabric is completely dry between each application of spray. Tip: I prefer an old-fashioned flat bottom dry iron for this process. The addition of strips of water-soluble attached to the wrong side of your fabric underneath the stitching area makes it really easy to stabilize the fabric for this type of stitching. I like to save leftover strips from embroidery to use for decorative stitching like this. Peel away the paper and apply the adhesive to the wrong side after lightly starching the fabric. See image below:​

I like to mark stitching lines either by pulling thread(s) along the grain of the fabric, or using a wash out pen. Tip: If you're able to pull a few threads, you'll find that wing needle holes are more prominent in your fabric.

Insert needle in machine, making sure it is pushed all the way up. Select menu in your machine with included hemstitches. Hemstitches vary but they all have one thing in common, the needle enters the same spot multiple times. This is essential for forming the distinctive holes. Tip: Feel free to experiment with other stitches that have the same characteristics of hemstitches, making certain that your stitch width stays between 5-6 mm. Important! Hand walk the stitch with the flywheel before you start to sew.

Sew along the lines with various hemstitches. Tip: Stitch No.3-06, shown below, is commonly found stitch on many machines. I like to call it the star stitch. It is one of my all-time favorites for wing needle stitchery. 

I like to experiment with different threads but the 60-weight cotton is what I tend to use most often. Stitches shown below were created with the cotton 60-weight thread. 

I switched to the 100 weight silk thread for stitches No.3-21 through No.3-24, shown below.

When you’re finished with stitching wash out all markings and stabilizer, and then lightly starch your fabric for a smooth finished look. I hope this tutorial encourages you to try your hand at hemstitching!
 
More Options and Ideas:
 

• Traditionally, hemstitches are done on white or off-white natural fiber fabrics, using matching thread for a tone on tone look. However, don’t overlook the possibility of experimenting with alternative colors and other fabric selections. Just know that the fibers need to separate easily for the featured holes to form.

 

• Hemstitches are popular in the realm of heirloom sewing but once you see them stitched out it is likely you’ll find ways to use them in many other projects.

 

• A common way to use hemstitched fabric is to create an oversized section of fabric, also known as a “fancy band.” Once the fabric has been embellished you can lay a pattern on top and cut yokes, cuffs, hem bands, and other sections of fabric as desired.

 

• Hemstitched fabric makes great accents for home décor too! Pillows of any size and style, including neck roll pillows are beautiful when made with hemstitched fabric!

I'd love to entertain your questions and read your comments. Feel free to share your thoughts!

It’s fun and easy to use upside down stitchery, (also known as bobbin work), to embellish tea towels, table runners, pillows, scarves, jean jackets, & more! These are all ideal projects for embellishing with bobbin work. 

Just what is bobbin work and why is this technique called upside down stitchery? Simply put, bobbin work is an embellishment technique created with thick threads and novelty yarns that would never go through the eye of a needle and are not suitable for the thread path and tension mechanism of a sewing machine. 

Feel free to leave your comments and questions below!

Interested in learning even MORE about bobbin work?

• Brother has a short, silent video showing how to insert the bobbin case here: Brother has a short, silent video showing how to insert the bobbin case here: https://bit.ly/3zLgEvr
• Check out my It's Sew Easy TV video about bobbin work  on the embroidery side of the machine when you click the following link: Machine Embroidered Bobbin Work Pashmina​

Making personalized gifts for friends is so rewarding!!! I created the featured zipper bag with the Brother Luminaire, using several special features, including the ability to create a stamp outline in embroidery edit mode, create an original design using stamp shapes & decorative fill stitches in My Design Center, and select a specific hoop area to fill with the region fill tool. If you have a machine with options like those found in My Design Center you can create a similar bag design.

​Of course, you can certainly use my basic instructions to create a bag using an embroidery design you already have in your repertoire.

This zipper bag was created for the July 21, 2022 Brother Live show, Episode 284,  broadcast on the Brother Sews USA Facebook page and the Brother Sews USA YouTube channel.

With a full lining and neatly covered zipper ends this bag is as pretty on the inside as it is on the outside. Leave it flat or choose to box the corners. Either way, this bag has plenty of room for a variety of items. Finished bag measures approximately 9-inches wide at the top edge, 6.5-inches at the bottom boxed edge, and 7 -inches long from top to bottom.

Take a peek at the inside of the bag and you'll see my custom label created using the special scanning mat. You’ll find a video showing the steps when you CLICK HERE to visit my Let’s Go Sew with Joanne Banko YouTube channel. While you're there, I'd love to have you subscribe and hit the bell for notifications if you haven't already.

Enjoy this project and have fun making this for friends. Please leave your comments and questions below. Happy sewing!

​I've on a mission to tackle some unfinished projects (AKA UFO's), and move on to new shiny objects that I'm more interested in right now. Can you relate to having partially made projects stuffed away in a closet or bin? If I was dishing out advice to a new sewing enthusiast I would encourage them to follow the rule of three. That is, “try” to have no more than three projects you are working on at once. And, if you start something, and it isn't working out, and has no chance of working out, forgive yourself for starting and not finishing, then promptly get rid of it!
 
Forgive yourself you say? Yes! You see, I think sewing folks are some of the most kind hearted and generous folks in the world, but that also means we are good at piling guilt on ourselves when we perceive something is wasteful. I'm a big fan of recycling and hate to just throw things away. How to get rid of the guilt? If you can finish the item and donate it, great! Perhaps someone else will wear it or use it with joy. I remember a suit I made long ago that turned out great but just wasn't me. What was I thinking was all I could thing when I tired it on. I finished it up, promptly donated it, and always wondered who fell in love with it at the thrift shop.

Can't stand to finish up a UFO? A local thrift shop in town collects fabric scraps by the bagful. Not quite sure how they re-purpose the materials but I was told by one person that they re-cycle it, and then a clerk told me they can use it for packing material. Check your local thrift shops and ask if they take fabric remnants and scraps.
 
If I would have received and heeded the “rule of three” advice, I would not be in the predicament I am right now. I readily admit that I have way to many so called UFO's. I'm happy to say that I've been motivated to finish a few this week and finishing is a sure way to get rid of the guilt. I found three unfinished baby blankets stored away when I was doing lots for the Project Linus organization. While I did finish quite a few. My enthusiasm for the project meant that I cut more than I sewed. These UFO's have been hanging around for too long and weighed on my conscience. So, I finished then as quickly as I could and they are now ready for a new home where they can be used and loved. Thought I'd share a few photos with a description of each, with the hope of inspiring you. 

Blankie #1 is made of waffle weave cotton knit. This is the same kind of fabric that used to be common for long underwear. Somewhere in my past, I came across this pretty purplish/pink yardage. I thought it would be a soft and cozy blanket, but it did prove to be a little difficult to handle as it's very stretchy. I stabilized the embroidered area with medium weight cut-away attached with adhesive spray, and embroidered this cute applique from who knows where. Yes, that part was done many moons ago but came out quite nice. I had two identically sized pieces of the fabric all cut and layered together so I simply sewed right sides together leaving an opening, turned, pressed, and topstitched along the edge with a two step zig zag stitch. I knew the fabric would be hard to keep flat. The zigzag actually made it wave a bit on purpose and gave it a cute and durable finish, with opening closed up with the topstitching. Lining the entire piece gave the blanket extra body and covered up all the "uglies" from the backside of the embroidery.

Blankie #2 was a result of my desire to pair a cotton fabric panel with a backing cut from Minky. I remember wanting to try quilting the layers using the Brother Digital Dual Feed foot as it seemed perfect for the task. Indeed, it was! I sewed, turned, and topstitched the two pieces like I did for the previous blanket, this time, using the Dual Feed foot to control the unusual combination of fabrics. Then I quilted it, using a  3.5 straight stitch, stitching down the horizontal and vertical centers and then stitching more lines around the pre-printed blocks. The result was nice smooth Minky backing with virtually no ripples.

My third and final blankie was just a small pice of unfinished fleece. But oh my! What a cute print!  To get this one done in a flash I threaded my serger for a three thread balanced stitch and zipped all around the edge, finishing in less than five minutes! By the way, if you're looking for more fleece finishing ideas I have a Five Ways to Finish Fleece tip sheet HERE.

I'm so happy to see these finished and ready to go to a good home! I'm even happier that a friend of mine who specializes in sewing for charity will see that they are taken to a local hospital that welcomes the donations.

Hope you enjoyed reading about the blankets. Please share your UFO stories an ideas you have for getting rid of the guilt!

Coasters, coasters, and more coasters! Creating coasters with an embroidery machine is so easy and so much fun! These in-the-hoop style coasters finish up fast and make great gifts. Below, you'll see a sampling of some of my favorite coasters styles.

The stipple style coaster design shown above is available for you to download here on my site for free. I originally offered these as a bonus to coordinate with It's Sew Easy TV show 1506-2. You'll find them in different sizes and shapes, with the smallest one sized to fit a 4-inch embroidery hoop.

On show 1506-2, I created coasters with silk dupioni, metallic thread, and included a sheer organza gift bag. You can watch this episode HERE on my YouTube channel.

Visit the Let's Go Sew with Joanne Banko YouTube channel and you'll see two additional coordinating videos showing detailed steps to create in-the-hoop coasters using built-in frame shapes on Brother machines. Basic steps and supplies for creating all the coasters shown here are pretty similar. Watch the two videos and you can confidently create any of these coaster styles.

​Link to video #1: Create Custom Coasters using Brother Built-in Frame Shapes

Link to video #2: Extra Tips for Re-sizing Appliqué and conserving Fabric

Let's me outline general supplies you'll need and the steps to create:

• Select fabric & batting. Quilting cottons, fancy fabrics like silk dupioni, and even ordinary craft felt will work. My preferred method is to cut coaster fabric to fit required hoop size and add a layer of cotton batting or fusible craft fleece, hooping the fabric and fleece together for the top side of the coaster. If you're creating a coaster using my method for adding an appliqué, you'll need contrasting fabric pieces, cut slightly larger than your appliqué shape.  Steps for adding an appliqué shape are  detailed in the video. I prefer to back my appliqué fabric with fusible web such as the Exquisite FuseMe fusible webbing by DiME. Once the coaster is all finished I give it a good press and my appliqué piece is throughly bonded to the coaster.
• Select fabric for backing the coaster. I prefer to use the same fabric on the back as I did for the top part of the coaster. Back pieces need to be cut to meet in the middle if you want to add a water resistant filler to your coaster, but they can be cut larger to overlap at the back if you wish. Felt can be cut single layer but woven fabric needs to be cut on a fold. The video shows how to create a custom pattern to determine size for back coaster pieces. Be sure to securely tape pieces in place to avoid shifting during embroidery. I used ordinary Scotch® Magic™ Tape and stitched right through the tape.
• ​Decorative frame shapes and lettering can easily be added to your coasters. Just remember, you'll want to stitch decorative frame patterns before adding the back pieces. In addition, for stipple fill coasters you'll add the monogram after the stippling is done on top, but before the backing is added to finish the coaster.
• Insert a piece of vinyl shelf liner or cork to make your coaster water resistant.

Follow the steps shown on the video to create custom coasters you'll be proud to use or give as gifts! Feel free to leave your comments or questions below!

Today I'd like to share some information about embroidering garments sewn from scratch or store bought. Embellishing garments with machine embroidery is one of my favorite this to doin my own sewing space. How about you? Are you interested more about this topic? Recently, I covered this very topic as a guest educator on the 2022 Sewing Machines Plus Hoop Fest. This online, five day festival celebrated the love of machine embroidery with tons of product demonstrations, detailed machine features outlined and described by industry experts, plus dedicated educational segments twice a day every day! Broadcast on both Facebook and YouTube, you can find videos for all five days HERE on the Sewing Machines Plus YouTube channel. My segments aired on Tuesday and Thursday.

Tuesday's topic was "Pretty" Perfect Placement, with a show and tell of multiple sample garments, fashion ideas to illustrate flattering placement on garments, and methods to target the placement and prep for quality results. If you'd like to watch this particular segment, you'll find it on this YouTube video, with the 30 minute presentation starting at time stamp 4:34:00 HERE.

Thursday's topic was Tips & Tricks for embroidering on Ready-to-Wear, with the 30 minute presentation starting at time stamp 2:03:00 HERE. I followed up with a few more ideas for placement, tips for using templates, then showed some detailed ways to position and hoop garments. I also shared a special offer for a placement chart with some really specific guidelines for placement on garments and more! You'll find this in a downloadable PDF form HERE on my website.

By the way, if you're looking for a free software program you can use for printing templates plus a whole lot more, look no further than the website of my friends at Designs in Machine Embroidery. They offer a free software program called Embroidery Tool Shed. CLICK HERE to download this program from the Designs in Machine Embroidery website. There's even more to love about this software! It works on both Windows based and Mac computers! I love having embroidery software compatible with my Mac.

To compliment these two segments, you'll find a summary of tips for embroidering on ready mades below. For even more information, I encourage you to watch my It's Sew Easy TV segment from show 1402, with more on this same topic. You'll find it on my YouTube channel HERE!

Tips for adding machine embroidery to readymades:

• “It’s best to test!” I dig into my stash or purchase a small amount of fabric yardage that’s as close as possible to my ready-made and test the design and stabilizer combination before embellishing my actual garment. Of course, if you have a similar garment you can use for a test, that works too.
• Denim is ideal for many embroidery designs, usually needing only a layer or two of light to medium tear-away, or a layer of wash-away stabilizer on the back to achieve good results. Jean jacket backs are a great canvas for added embroidery. Steer clear of bulky seams and consider adding trim to compliment the design.
• Light weight fabrics and fabrics that stretch benefit from a stabilizer bonded to the fabric. My “go to” stabilizer for knits or fabric with a stretch factor is fusible no-show (cut-away) mesh. If you're using non-fusible no-show (cut-away) mesh, you’ll need to adhere stabilizer with temporary adhesive spray such as Sulky KK2000. 
• If possible, pre-wash garments before embroidering. This takes care of any shrinkage issues and eliminates excess dye.
• Stock up on stabilizers. This subject is too big to cover in one short show but keep these general rules in mind: Knits and thin fabrics benefit from a stabilizer that is temporarily or permanently bonded to the fabric. Tear-away or wash-away generally works well for stable woven fabrics. Avoid hooping stiff tear-away with your garment. Use a medium weight stabilizer instead, or consider “floating” the tear-away under the hoop. Any fabric with nap or texture requires a water-soluble or iron-away topper to keep stitches from sinking into the nap or texture and getting lost in the fabric.
• Use the smallest hoop possible, whenever possible, and you will have better registration with your designs.
• For ease in embroidering, choose garments that can open up perfectly flat. However, don’t let lined garments stop you from adding embroidery. Carefully open up lining as much as needed to establish a generous flat area, and then either hoop traditionally or use wash-away or tear-away sticky stabilizer to temporarily hold fabric in place. Clip or tape excess fabric to keep it out of the way while stitching.
• If you have a piece that is impossible to hoop, embroider on a sheer or complimentary fabric, and then trim, treat with seam sealant if necessary, and use hand or machine stitches to apply to your piece as an appliqué. If sewing is not at all possible, select suitable fabric glue and glue in place.
• Design templates make embroidery easy and very accurate. Learn to use a software program to print templates and your embroidery life will be so much easier. Your design placement will be more accurate too!

I'd love to hear your comments and answer any questions you much have right here on this post. Please leave your comments below.

Be sure to check out the bonus video at the end of this post!

If you've never embroidered on vinyl, you'll be surprised at how easy it is! And, if you have already embroidered on vinyl, you know how fun it is! Take a look at this vinyl desk tray design with a custom monogram in the center.

I've found that desk trays can be the perfect gift for someone who seems to have everything. Great for organizing, they're perfect for catching clutter on tables, desks, and countertops.

This particular project was created wearing my Brother Ambassador hat and is posted on the official Brother blog. You'll find instructions for making your own when you CLICK HERE. 

While this project is full of techniques accomplished with the Brother Luminaire, you'll find that I also included instructions for creating a tray using an embroidery machine with a 4-inch hoop capability. You don't need top of the line features to make a nearly identical tray. Take a look at my alternative monogram design idea for smaller hoops.

The Brother post also includes a link to the featured design shown above. I have good news for you! This classy design is free for a limited time and you can download the .pes file during the month of June 2022.

Bonus #2, here is a download (in PDF format) of my instructions for using special selection and grouping features to create the monogram frame with the Brother Luminaire:

By the way, once you learn the basic techniques, this tray can be made using other sizes, either square or rectangular. Looking for more gift ideas? A square tray is ideal as a holder for matching custom coasters. CLICK HERE and you'll find my coaster instructions from a previous episode of It's Sew Easy TV.

I hope you enjoy the project, the free design, and the bonus video featured here. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the project!

I had the opportunity to talk sewing with my friend Janice Ferguson on my most recent Sew . . . Tell Me YouTube Live show. We had a great time and the live chat was full of friends enjoying the conversation, loving all the great sample photos and enjoying the great tips Janice shared with everyone.

I invite you to watch the replay below, and then follow up with the information included below the video.

Janice is well known for her heirloom sewing expertise, with a long history of designing, writing, and teaching for well known heirloom magazines such as Martha Pullen's Sew Beautiful magazine and Creative Needle. Sad to say, neither of those are being published these days. If you have old issues you know how valuable each and every one of them was.

In more recent years, you can see Janice's beautiful work published on Stitching Sewcial, the official Brother blog. Her projects span a wide the range of items, including children's wear, home decor, and stunning gift projects, with each project chock full of tips and detailed instructions. 

Many of the projects highlighted during the live show are from the Brother blog. I've included some specific photos from the show with links for you below. Simply click the image to go to each project page and see Janice's projects with complete instructions.

Both Janice and I would love to hear your comments or answer any question you have. Feel free to share your thoughts on the YouTube video HERE as well!

Cover up an ordinary canning jar and use it to hold a bouquet of flowers or anything else you choose! This is my most recent project created for Brother while wearing my Brother Ambassador hat. It includes a free design available for a limited time from Brother. You'll find complete instructions, plus a link to the lacy butterfly design when you CLICK HERE.

In addition to producing the project and instructions, I covered the project during the Brother Sews live show. You can watch the replay video below:

There are a few different ways you can use this project. Options include creating greetings for other occasions. Take a look at the samples below for more ideas:

These quick to stitch greetings are embroidered on inexpensive craft felt, using frame shapes built in to Brother embroidery machines. In the instructions and the video, you'll see that I created another oval for the back. This back piece has buttonholes that serve as a way to mount the greeting by slipping it onto an ordinary chopstick.

Note that the original instructions show the buttonhole markings vertically on the felt.  I apologize for the error, as seen in Figure #4 in the original instructions. The images you see in the photos above show the correct layout for the buttonholes.

--------------------------------------------

The free butterfly design is sized to fit within a 4-inch hoop. However, if you have larger hoops sizes you can consider embroidering multiple butterflies in one hooping. By rotating and moving the butterflies, I was able to stitch a total of four in my SA448 6-inch hoop.

I'll repeat the fact that you'll find complete instructions when you visit the official Brother blog. I'd like to make you aware that there are two errors in the instructions. The first is the orientation of the buttonholes as shown above. Be sure to stitch them horizontally. 

Also, you will need two fabric rectangles AND two fleece rectangles. Below, you'll see a corrected copy of Figure #7 from the original instructions.

I hope you enjoy this project! Feel free to leave your comments or questions below. Happy sewing!

Are you curious about machine embroidery software and want to learn more? Then keep reading. This post and with video highlights is for you!!! I had the privilege of interviewing Roy Garland on one of my Sew Tell Me YouTube shows. Roy is the Chief Technology Officer at Designs in Machine Embroidery. In this interview Roy shared some insight into what digitizing is all about. He also shared some of his incredible embroidered artistry with friends of Let's Go Sew.

Here you'll find some highlights from this fun filled show. You can watch it from beginning to end by clicking on the arrow above, or go directly to the timestamps listed below for specific parts of the interview. Enjoy!!!

Check out these addtional designs created by Roy, using the DiME *My Lace Maker software.

It's always fun to take a plain tea towel and transform it with a bit of embroidery and some colorful trim!  I created this towel for the Brother Stitching Sewcial blog for the month of April 2022.

The featured FREE design is available for download in the .pes format and fits a 4-inch hoop size. If you read the instructions in the Brother blog posted HERE on their site, you'll see that I used a special method I call "off site" embroidery to avoid stitching directly on the towel. Please see my important note at the end for a link to the free design.

Essentially, "off site" embroidery consists of stitching the embroidery design on something else, and then applying it to the project as an appliqué. There are lots of advantages to this method. In this case, I wanted the backside of the towel to be free from the customary, unattractive "wrong side" stitches. There are other reasons to use this technique. If you'd like to learn more, below you'll find links to other "off site" embroidery projects I stitched in the past.

• Dress with Blue Roses-It's Sew Easy TV show 1204-2
• Pashmina Mania-It's Sew Easy TV show 1703-1
• Wrap Dress-As seen in Designs in Machine Embroidery

Below you'll find the addition of the Brother Sews YouTube show where I walk through the project with show host Angela Wolf. I shared lots of tips in this video. Enjoy!

No embroidery? No problem! Appliqué is an easy way to add a design element to your tea towel in place of embroidery. I found a cute tea cup design on the Quilting Daily website HERE. Appliqué is an easy way to add colorful accents to your projects. CLICK HERE for an appliqué tip sheet. 

Now, back to the embroidered tea towel project. In celebration of April being National Serger month, I used the serger to make the ruffled trim that ties together my pretty purple color scheme. Follow the instructions and you'll learn how to use a gathering foot on the serger. This foot makes it easy to gather one strip and sew it to a second strip all in one quick pass.

Of course you can use any color combo you choose for the project. The tea cup itself is made up of just three different colors, making it easy to change for your own personal color palette.

I'd love it if you would visit the Brother blog and then come back here to leave your comments. I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have too!

Happy stitching!

Below is a PDF version of the project you can view or print.

The February edition of the Let's Go Sew with Joanne Banko LIVE show (held on 4th Monday of the month), was full of information, fun conversation, and lots of friends sharing thoughts and asking questions in the chat. We had a live give-away too and at the end this post you'll see how you can enter to win another give-away right here.

​This time around, the show turned into a virtual learning session on sewing machine needles, as we learned from industry expert, Rhonda Pierce. Rhonda gave us all insight into everything it takes to understand the dynamics of sewing machine needles and gave guidance as to how to select the right  needle for the sewing task at hand.

Have you ever been confused about what needle to use? Wonder what all those numbers mean on the needle package? Questioned whether changing the needle before it breaks is really important? And really, why are there so many choices?

Click on the arrow above to watch the full replay of this show. You'll get answers to all of these perplexing questions and come away with more knowledge about needles than you ever thought possible!

Rhonda's personality is the perfect fit for her role as she teaches about the most important 2” piece of steel in the sewing machine – the SCHMETZ needle. 
​
Let me tell you a little more about Rhonda:

Rhonda Pierce has a dream job! As VP, Marketing Director of Euro-notions, and Spokesperson for SCHMETZneedles.com North America.

She is THE expert when it comes to needles! You may have seen her with her favorite prop, the SCHMETZ 17-inch “Super” Needle with all of the features and parts a real "true live size" needle has. She publishes the Constant Contact eight year All Star Winner SCHMETZ newsletter and inspirational e-zine, SCHMETZ Inspired to SEW. Rhonda is a certificated FitNice System Instructor and earned a Brendon Burchard High Performance Certificate. Her quilt, Color Splash, was displayed at three International Quilt Festivals. 

Rhonda’s personal blog documenting sewing & quilt projects is www.SewMoreStitches.com. Let's take a peek at some of her inspiring blog posts!

A true blue sewing enthusiast and extraordinarily creative sewing artist, Rhonda has made many beautiful creations! In the above photo she's wearing her latest garment creation. Read all about Tunic Tease on her blog here:
​NZP Tunic (sewmorestitches.com)

Here you see Rhonda wearing her favorite Citrus Berry Sweatshirt Jacket. Check out the details on this project here: 2018 SEW Retreat (sewmorestitches.com)

An accomplished quilter, Here you see Rhonda with her 1000 Half Square Triangle quilt. This was her first completed Pandemic Project, Thangles Christmas Salad Quilt. Read all about it here in this blog post: Stay-At-Home, IX (sewmorestitches.com)

During the show, Rhonda shared so many resources with us. Helping us to select the right needle for now and in the future, and keeping us all inspired to sew, embroider, quilt, and craft! Check out the following links:

UPDATE! Announcing the winner of the Schmetz My Pad Needle Keeper, PLUS four runner up winners!

Click on the arrow to watch the wheel spin and see the random selection of winners!

First Prize winner of the Schmetz My Pad Needle Keeper is  MaryAnn S!

Four runner up prize winners will receive a Schmetz Luggage Tag Color code Chart and ABC Pocket guide:
Winner #1 - Lucy D.
Winner #1 - Marjorie S.
Winner #3 - Connie M.
Winner #4 - Phyllis B.

Thanks to everyone who left a comment on this post and congratulations to the winners. You'll be notified by email.

Now that you have your head full of needle knowledge, head to your sewing space and enjoy some happy sewing time!

P.S. Save the date! the next Sew . . .  Tell me LIVE show will air on my YouTube channel on March 28th. I have yet another great guest lined up for you!

As you can imagine, I get lots of questions on the topic of Machine Embroidery! This post includes a link to a recent LIVE show with a Q&A session with a focus on selecting stabilizers for your embroidery projects and preventing puckered embroidery. The show lasted almost 90 minutes and was packed with interaction, input, and tips contributed by those who participated in the chat. If you missed Q&A part one, which was a mix of sewing, machine embroidery, and serging, you can watch it HERE.

I do believe this idea of a Q&A LIVE show is going to be a regular feature so watch for more. If you sent a question that hasn't been answered yet, you can be sure I have it on my list for the future.

Watch the replay by clicking on the video below. As always I would love to see your comments posted on the YouTube video HERE.

Thanks so much to all who attended live and all who watch the replay. Live shows like this are your chance to learn something new and visit with sewing enthusiasts who share your passion for sewing and machine embroidery! I was thrilled to see so many participate in the chat. By the way, you do need a YouTube or google account to actually chat on YouTube. I'd also like to encourage you to subscribe to my YouTube channel and click the notification bell if you want to know when new videos come up on the channel. It was great visiting with everyone who joined the live show!

Below you'll find a slide show with highlights from the show. Many of the featured projects included here are from my book titled Wrapped in Embroidery, my design collection titled Just Jackets, and blog projects created as a Brother Brand Ambassador for the Stitching Sewcial Brother Blog.

It's Sew Easy TV show 1407-3: Machine Embroidery for Ready-Made Garments

I hope you enjoyed the information in this post! Feel free to leave your comments and questions here.

Ta Da!!! Here is my finished big block of appliquéd Folk Art embroidery designs!

It was great to see so many embroidery and appliqué enthusiasts join in on the fun live show this past week! Being on with Ashley Jones, lead educator for Designs in Machine embroidery was a real treat!

My appliqué quilt block was still in a work progress as I showed the steps to take an appliqué file from my Brother embroidery machine to the Brother ScanNCut to pre-cut all my pieces, in prep for placing them on my pretty Folk Art block. Designs shown above    are part of Folk Art motifs included with my new Just Jackets embroidery and appliqué design collection. Any and all of the appliqués from the collection could be prepared in the same manner.

If you missed the show, you'll find the replay below.

Just to re-cap, our goal for the show was to present a wide variety of options for getting all those appliqué fabric pieces cut in preparation for stitching, with the Just Jackets collection as the featured set of embroidery appliqué designs. My new collection is for so much more than Just Jackets! You can purchase this item as a direct download from Dime, or as a physical package HERE on my site. I encourage you to check out the options and see what works best for you.

Of course, the techniques covered in this close to 90 minute video will work for other appliqué designs as well. With or without software, and with or without a digital cutter, watch this show and learn how to cut appliqués by trimming in the hoop, using an electronic cutter, printing a template, and stitching a template directly on the appliqué fabric.

Check out the links for specific instructions:
Time stamp 20:25 - Overview of the many ways to cut with Ashley showing trimming in the hoop and pre-cutting with a stitched template. Both of these methods work with no added software or equipment needed.

Prepping fabric with Serial Magic fabric stiffener and then an application of the Dime Fuse Me webbing is something featured in our projects. I like to use this light weight fusible web a majority of my pieces, using a small craft iron and fusing as I go by carefully taking my hoop off the machine and placing my hoop on top of my Totally Tubular Hooping Station.

Time Stamp 32:01 - Discussion of the Fuse Me fusible webbing product.

Time Stamp 39:57 - Making use of a digital cutter, with a demonstration of "coding" the appliqué using the combination of a Brother machine and a Brother ScanNCut with the capacity to read the appliqué data from the machine. I used the Brother Luminaire and the Brother ScanNCut DX for my demonstration. Check with your Brother dealer for compatibility of other machine models and ScanNCut pairing combinations.

Time Stamp 57:40 - Last but not least, Ashley showed how to use the Dime Patches and Applique software program to turn appliqué cutting data into the file formats usable on various brands of digital cutters. With a few simple clicks in this new and full featured software program, you're ready to head to your cutter so your pieces are ready to such when you start up your embroidery machine.

Comments were coming in fast and furious so I'm sure I missed the chance to answer some of your questions. Feel free to leave your comments here and I'll do my best to answer. The subject of Embroidered Appliqués is quite a broad topic. It's one that I'm passionate about and I plan to delve more into this in  future blogs and videos so stay tuned for more!

You've got questions and I've got answers! I wrapped up  a year of monthly Let's Go Sew LIVE shows by broadcasting a show filled with questions sent in by fellow sewing enthusiasts on my email list. The questions I received included a variety of subjects. They were very insightful and I'm convinced there were many others who benefited from hearing answers to the questions they submitted. I know I had a great time visiting with everyone who joined the live show! You can watch a full replay of the 1 hr 23 minute show by clicking on the video below.

Before you read on, I'd like to tell you that I had so many questions, I'll need to schedule a Q&A part two in the near future!

Question #1 - Connie from Kirkland WA asked about thread storage, which led to a discussion of threads, bobbins, and bobbin cases.

If you are changing bobbin cases for any reason, be sure to check your manual or machine manufacturer to be sure you are removing and replacing parts correctly. CLICK HERE for a tip sheet showing how to remove the bobbin case from most Brother machines. 

Question #2 - Cindy in Gladwell MI wants to know more about embroidery categories. She knows about Applique embroidery and In-The-Hoop embroidery but would like me to shed some light on bobbin work, redwork, & regular embroidery designs. Video shows samples of the following:

• Fill stitches, also known as tatami stitches. These run stitches are used to fill up large areas of an embroidery design and they can be even or created in a way to form a wide variety of patterns.
• Satin stitches (Steil stitches) which are zig zag stitches placed close together. They’re commonly used for lettering, outlines, and some details in a design.
• Running stitches, they are the same kind we are familiar with on the sewing side of the machine. Bobbin work embroidery designs are made up of long straight "running stitches that have no tie off. 
• Bean Stitch, AKA a triple straight stitch. This is just a straight stitch but sewn three times on top of itself, producing a thicker, more prominent stitch. Redwork designs might be made up of a bean stitch or a regular running stitch stitched one or more times. Note: Redwork can be any color and is often referred to as redwork because designs mimic the old fashioned iron-on transfer designs that were stitched by hand in red embroidery floss.

​Learn more about Bobbin Work HERE in this video and HERE in this free tip sheet.

Learn more about Redwork in this blog post HERE.

Question #3 - ​Margo writes from Fayetteville GA asking what Osnaburg fabric is used for.

If you read my blog post on redwork you’ll see me mention one of my favorite fabrics, Osnaburg cloth. An economical fabric, it looks a little like muslin, but it is thicker, more loosely woven and has characteristic brown flecks. 100 percent cotton it has a homespun look that is great for curtains, crafts, and anything where you want and more natural or old-fashioned look. I l love using it to make table toppers, napkins, tea towels, & bread bags. It pairs beautifully with natural colored lace such as Cluny lace. As a bonus it's easy to fringe! Always pre-wash as it shrinks a bit.

Here is a link to the table runner project featured in the video: Fringed Osnaburg Table Topper

Question #4 - ​Jan in Greensboro NC  asked the following serger question, What is the cleanest way to end a serger stitch? The slide show below shows the steps.

Question #5 - Patti W. asked about choosing and using serger stitches. Aside from tips in the video, you'll find more serger info in this blog post HERE.

Question #6 - Cindy Ball asked if I use a cover hem machine and we talked about an alternative which is to use a 4.0mm stretch twin needle. Patti W. also asked what causes skipped stitches/broken threads on a cover hem machine. 

Watch It's Sew Easy TV show 1611 HERE and you'll see me sew a dress/swimsuit coverup with cover hem stitchery!

You'll find a PDF with more instructions HERE.

Question #7 - Lucy from Georgetown TX wanted to know the secret for sewing decorative stitches that stay straight. On the Brother Luminaire the laser gridlines can be extra helpful for stitching straight, especially with the oversized decorative stitches. Re-size the grid until it matches the right and left side marking and sew slowly, keeping the lines parallel. See image below for reference.

Question #8 - Cyndi B. had the following question for me, “What is the most difficult sewing challenge you have ever been asked to do. I shared the story of a velvet dress and cape made from very expensive fabric, and I showed some embroidery samples that were quite a challenge, including the lapels on a ready made jacket shown below.

Question #9 - Last but not least, Cindy from Odessa TX, wanted to know more about my design collections. Here is what she wrote: How do you come up with your Inspirations for your Design Collections? Your Jean Jacket collection is so Beautiful, as is the Wrapped in Embroidery. I didn’t know if you have an Art background that gives you the ability to create your Beautiful Collections? Would love to hear how you decide on your designs and transfer that to Embroidery.

Watch the video for my plain and simple answer. You can learn more about Wrapped in Embroidery HERE, and the Jean jacket collection HERE.

Many thanks to all everyone who sent in questions and watched the show live, or via the replay. I can't wait till next time when we talk sewing and tackle even more topics!

I had the chance to spend some time with my friend Eileen Roche from Designs in Machine Embroidery as a guest on her Between Friends show Thursday December 16th. The topic we chose to talk about was something that has become common and somewhat essential in the world of embroidery these days, and that is embroidery software. I know, some of you are software aficionados and others are skittish about using software.

Truth be told, I remember the very first software class I had many years ago and I am here to admit I left the class in tears. I was used to making a sewing and embroidery machine sing and dance. However, the idea of having to mix that fun with what I perceived was the high-tech, new, and unknown world of software, threw me for a loop! So, yes, I sulked for a few hours but then the well of determination within me said wait a minute! No . . . I won't be beat by this!!!

In actuality, the gentleman who taught the class that left me tearful was a die-hard techie and he didn't realize thee were those sitting in class who only had a molehill of experience compared to his mountain of knowledge. I'm sure I wasn't the only one who left class confused and bewildered. As is typical, when you are already confused, you don't tend to ask questions for clarification. When I later began to teach software myself, I never forgot that experience. As a result, I strive to guide "wanna be" software users slowly and gently into the big world of embroidery adventures made possible with software options.

Today, software is something I use almost daily to enhance the potential of my embroidery projects. Below, you'll find the full video replay of the 35 minutes Eileen and I spent talking about the benefits of software and showing software tips and tricks. 

Could you use a few quick gift bag ideas? If the answer is yes, this post is here to help you stitch a few quick and easy projects. Previously posted on the Brother blog, note that these all fit into the "easy" category and are made from low cost, readily available materials. I created some of these for an embroidery machine, while others require only simple stitches on your sewing machine. First, I'll share the newest one with you.

Note: Pages on the Brother blog load slowly. Be patient when clicking on the images.

This little bag is currently featured on the official Brother blog. Made from inexpensive felt with a free embroidery design for you to download, be sure to snatch the free design before December 31, 2021. Click on the above image of the bag to view and download the written instructions. Below, you'll find a recent video where I demonstrate the steps for making this bag during a Brother live show broadcast on YouTube and Facebook.

The next little bag is one of my favorites. Instructions call for small bits of fabric to make confetti and the bag itself is made from commonly found polyester organza. 

This bag is one of my all time favorites. It takes a bit longer to make but is truly a gift in and of itself, one that will likely be kept and put on display. Add the family name to the roof for a fun custom touch!

In this project you'll learn some neat ways to use Frame Shapes included in the embroidery menu on all Brother embroidery machines. You only need a 4-inch hoop for this project! If you don't have an embroidery machine consider cutting appliqué shapes that mimic the ones you see here and add buttons or trim to accent the shapes. Click on the above image to view and download written instructions for the bag. 

You won't find the wreath design in the instruction file, so you'll need to download the design separately HERE.

Sew up this bag with festive fabric and add some trim for a quick and easy last minute gift package. Instructions call for a special pearl sewing foot to apply craft pearls found on a string. You can skip this step if you like, or simply add trim of your choice. Click on the above image to view and download written instructions for the bag. ​

This fifth and final bag features pearls at the top edge just like the previous bag. I made mine from polyester organza for an extra elegant look but you could use ordinary quilt weight cotton or something similar if you like.

Custom printed ribbon is a unique addition to this bag and the ribbon itself can serve as a gift tag. The Brother P-Touch Ribbon & Tape Printer is a creative tool that allows you to print custom messages on satin ribbon of various colors. Decorative patterns are built in to the printer, with themes celebrating all sorts of hobbies and special occasions.  custom printed ribbons are sure to get ooohs and ahhhs from everyone who sees your pretty packages! Check your local craft supplier for machine availablity, or look for a retailer online and find out more about this item HERE.

I hope you enjoyed this ideas for hand crafted gift bags. I'd love to read any comments you care to share!