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!