Volume 106 of Designs in Machine Embroidery magazine is in print and also available online for current "hard copy" subscribers.
In this issue my friend Reen Wilcoxson has an article (and a FREE embroiderygarden.com Design download) for her ever-popular In-The-Hoop cord wraps. Speaking of friends, Marie Zinno wrote detailed steps in her Hemline to Hipline article so you could embroider your own designer jeans. In her continuing T-Shirt saga Denise Holguin has done it again . . . taken a plain T-shirt and added a Bright Idea to turn a top into work of art!
I'm happy to call three of these ladies friends. I know firsthand that they each love sharing their ideas and instructions so you can put them into practice and make pretty things with your own personal embroidery machine!
Personally, I consider it an honor to write for this magazine! Each issue features innovative ideas and includes something for everyone who is interested in embellishing with machine embroidery. The September/October issue is so full of beautiful pieces and fun projects that I'm tempted to write a review of the entire magazine! However, time and space are short so today I'll just hit some highlights and give you a few tips to complement the dress article I contributed for V106.
In this issue my friend Reen Wilcoxson has an article (and a FREE embroiderygarden.com Design download) for her ever-popular In-The-Hoop cord wraps. Speaking of friends, Marie Zinno wrote detailed steps in her Hemline to Hipline article so you could embroider your own designer jeans. In her continuing T-Shirt saga Denise Holguin has done it again . . . taken a plain T-shirt and added a Bright Idea to turn a top into work of art!
I'm happy to call three of these ladies friends. I know firsthand that they each love sharing their ideas and instructions so you can put them into practice and make pretty things with your own personal embroidery machine!
Personally, I consider it an honor to write for this magazine! Each issue features innovative ideas and includes something for everyone who is interested in embellishing with machine embroidery. The September/October issue is so full of beautiful pieces and fun projects that I'm tempted to write a review of the entire magazine! However, time and space are short so today I'll just hit some highlights and give you a few tips to complement the dress article I contributed for V106.
McCall's Pattern #9026
I'll start by saying that I always have far more information I'd like to add to each article but I am of course only allowed so many words and pages. However, thanks to the never-ending pages here on letsgosew.com I can provide extra goodies and supply you with added tips and techniques that would be too lengthy to fit in the confines of a magazine article. Lets start with the pattern featured for my Connection Perfection dress. Pretty enough for a princess and flattering for ALL figure types, you simply can't go wrong with a princess seamed pattern! Multiple seams mean opportunities for taking in or letting out as necessary.
I used View D and raised the neckline about an inch for a little less scoop. Now for the good news/bad news - M9026 has apparently hit the "out of print" list. The good news is the fact that princess seam patterns, both in knits and woven styles, are always available from one of the major pattern companies.
Sure, you could embellish the front area of a full front dress by blocking off a center section but by picking a princess seam pattern you can work with a smaller section of fabric.
This makes the whole hooping process easier as you are not struggling with a large expanse of fabric.
This makes the whole hooping process easier as you are not struggling with a large expanse of fabric.
Here you can see the markings for the neckline area. I started with an oversized piece of knit jersey stabilized with fusible tricot interfacing. Then I outlined the entire center section. In the article you'll see how I used a high tech built-in feature on the Brother Dream Machine.
If you have this particular feature and you have never used it I hope this article will give you the confidence to give it a try. I'm well aware that there are many machine owners reading this that have other models of embroidery machines. There are in fact many ways to stitch continuous connected embroidery designs. To help you explore other options for perfect "connected" placement I have a Free tutorial/tip sheet for you. CLICK HERE to download a Free resource sheet.
I like to trace the original "cut on the fold" tissue pattern onto pattern tracing cloth so I have one FULL front piece.
Here you see how embroidery ends just above the line marked as the hem fold.
When the embroidery was complete I placed my traced pattern on top of the embroidered panel with the centers aligned, and then cut out the embellished dress panel.
To match the embroidery I cut strips of bright pink thin knit and inserted them into the adjoining seams, sandwiching the strip between the layers of the seam like you would if you were adding piping. Voila! The color scheme ties together nicely and the dress gets an upgrade with trim that matches perfectly. Ahhh yes, embroidering by machine and then sewing from scratch provides endless opportunities for customizing and creating a unique finished garment! I hope you'll be inspired to create something special yourself.
Feel free to leave comments and questions. I'd love to know if you have embroidered continuous connected designs with your embroidery machine! Was your placement perfect or do you still need help with this technique?
Feel free to leave comments and questions. I'd love to know if you have embroidered continuous connected designs with your embroidery machine! Was your placement perfect or do you still need help with this technique?
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