My good friend Barb started a little machine embroidery group last month. We meet once monthly, so Tuesday we got together and learned how to make free standing lace (FSL). Most of us seemed to be in the mood to make Christmas ornaments, but there are designs for FSL bookmarks, coasters, bowls and baskets, insets for v-neck tee shirts, all kinds of things. I've wanted to learn how to do this for a long time, so I was very excited about it.
The basic idea is to stitch out a design on water soluble stabilizer, then rinse away the stabilizer leaving just the stitching. Each stitch has to be locked so the finished product doesn't fall apart; so if you're new to machine embroidery, look for designs that say "free standing" lace. This is Peggy's design still in the hoop being stitched out. 
The large santa face was the first one I stitched out, and I had a bit of trouble with looping. After changing the needle I had no trouble stitching out the mini ornaments. Aren't they cute?
Last month we learned how to embroider a tee shirt. Because I have lots of trouble with this finicky machine of mine, I pulled a shirt out of the rag bag to practice on. Under Barb's tutelage, I managed to stitch out a nice design with nary a pucker. I'm encouraged to try a stitch out on a "real" tee shirt. Next month we're doing machine embroidered applique. Can't wait!
What a great way to learn from each other, I just signed up for a six month class where we will actually be sewing and learning different techniques. I sometimes wish I belonged to a sewing circle or knew enough people that were interested and I could host it at my house weekly or biweekly. It's so wonderful to be able to work together and share ideas and scraps!
ReplyDeleteI was doing a search engine for the 'quilters block case' for a person and you came up second in line one the search engine and this entry....wow...pretty impressive!!! your things look great...
ReplyDeleteWish I lived close enough to participate in your group! I've always wanted to try free standing lace....saw a great quilt in Hawaii a couple years ago where this technique was used on quilt blocks..... Love your socks!
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a pretty high-tech machine.(that is from someone without even a low-tech one)
ReplyDeleteThe ornaments are unbelievable. The socks are great too. I love that tweedy wool.
Looks like a really fun group. I miss that. After your rinse & dry the larger ornament you can trim off the loops close to the stitching. The stablizer you leave in keeps it together!! Have fun...
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful opportunity to learn machine embroidery. It looks like everyone is enjoying the class.
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