Check out these machine embroidery tutorials!
Machine embroidery is an EXPENSIVE hobby. Machines, software, supplies, blanks, and everything else you need add up quickly. Not to mention, as a beginner I constantly made mistakes, costing me more money and time. However, I’m a thrifty gal who can pinch a penny and get the most out of my money. So, check out…
Whether providing an image to a digitizer for logo embroidery or transferring an embroidery design from a computer to your machine, having the correct embroidery file format is essential. Not all image and embroidery files are created equal, so knowing the differences between the fundamental types will make your embroidery journey smoother. Let’s dive into…
Did you know you can use Silhouette Studio to direct your Silhouette Cameo to cut applique fabric for machine embroidery files? How cool is that?! One way Silhouette Studio excels over many competitors’ software is that you can directly import embroidery design files into the software and create cutting lines for applique fabric. Why is…
When I first purchased my embroidery machine, I had NO idea all it could do. For example, I soon learned I could stitch in-the-hoop designs, make free-standing lace, and even quilt with my embroidery machine. In terms of quilting, my machine can piece blocks, create applique blocks, make crazy quilt blocks, and even add quilting…
If you’re not a digitizer extraordinaire, manually turning a photograph of a person, pet, or place into an embroidery design can be very difficult. It would mean plotting out every stitch in a photo by yourself and picking exact thread colors to provide visual depth. While digitizing simple images (like single-color logos) is easy, photos…
When we visited Dinosaur World, my daughters got solar-reactive souvenir shirts that were white but changed colors in the sun. \They were a hit, and I wanted to find a way to create projects with similar properties. Now, I’d heard of SolarActive’s color change threads years ago, but after spending years scouring local sewing shops…
I’m an eye doctor who saw too many laser retinopathies in practice; thus, lasers make me anxious. However, I’m also a gal who loves precision when sewing and embroidering, so I’ve gotten used to working safely with lasers. For instance, my Brother Luminaire embroidery machine has laser options for precise seam allowances, and I love…
One of my first “aha” moments with my embroidery machine was that embroidery was NOT as fast as I thought it would be. In my mind, I’d load my design, press start, and watch my embroidery machine speed through a design. Turns out, some of these 100,000 stitch designs took hours for my single-needle embroidery…
When I started machine embroidering, I had no idea how long a spool of embroidery thread would last. As a result, I ran out of thread in the middle of a design a few times, which was NO FUN. So, how do you prevent this mild fiasco and calculate how much embroidery thread you need…
I don’t know about you, but I’m usually over it by the time I’m left with just adding the binding and label to a quilt. Thankfully, creating labels with an embroidery machine is quick, simple, and painless. So, are you also ready to put the finishing touch on your quilt by adding an embroidered label…
Whether you need a specific embroidery thread hue for your next project or just want to catalog color possibilities within your favorite thread brand, machine embroidery thread color charts can be beneficial. Not to mention, if you run an embroidery business, color charts with thread samples are helpful to show clients desiring custom colors. Having…
When creating beautiful projects, you can choose from thousands of different machine embroidery threads. However, what if a new design you plan to stitch lists thread colors in a different brand than the ones you own? How do you find the closest color from within your stash? Two helpful tools for this dilemma are a…
As a beginner embroiderer, not only is it essential to differentiate between types of stabilizers, but it’s also important to know how to position and even remove stabilizer on your embroidery projects. Want to learn more about how to use embroidery stabilizer? Read on! I’ll first start by explaining the types of stabilizers and follow up…
There’s nothing more annoying than being in the middle of an embroidery project when your machine starts acting up! My Luminaire recently started messing up when I was (last-minute) finishing a quilt for entry into an upcoming show. Thankfully, the issue turned out to be a worn-out bobbin case, and I was able to replace…
New to machine embroidery and still figuring out how stabilizers work and what to use when? If so, you’ll soon discover that tear-away and cut-away stabilizers are two of the most common stabilizer types. While these stabilizers may look similar, they differ in how they’re constructed, when they’re used, and how they’re removed. Having both…
While some hobbies are easy to pick up in a few hours, embroidery takes longer to learn. Of course, you can unbox your first embroidery machine and stitch a test project pretty soon after that. However, learning to produce professional results takes much longer. So, how long does it take to learn embroidery exactly? Here’s…
I stepped away from my Brother embroidery machine yesterday, and it managed to stitch almost 1,000 ugly stitches with my bobbin thread showing on top of the embroidery. Thankfully, I caught my machine before I ruined the entire project, and I could spot the cause and backtrack my machine. However, troubleshooting bobbin thread problems isn’t…
I despise when my embroidery machine thread keeps breaking in the middle of a project when I’m on a strict deadline. Whether it’s late at night or I’m in a rush to finish something, my machine often has a mind of its own, and that’s when things start going wrong. Luckily, I have a sequence…
Having a needle break on an embroidery machine is not only dangerous to you and your machine, but if your machine keeps on stitching, you can also ruin your project. Thankfully, when my needles start breaking, there’s usually an apparent reason: user error (aka me being careless.) However, the answer isn’t always so obvious or…
While working on my latest machine embroidered quilt, I continually ran into a problem with my Brother embroidery machine skipping stitches. It drove me batty that my machine would, out of nowhere, irregularly skip long-length basting stitches and longer-length fill stitches. Thankfully, following basic troubleshooting steps fixed the issue, and I could breathe easier. Is…
At some point, your embroidery machine will likely need either routine servicing or repairs. I remember the first time I dropped one of my machines off for maintenance–I had no idea how long it would take, how much it would cost, and what to expect. Thus, if you’re new to needing embroidery machine repairs or…
Using the wrong embroidery bobbin thread in your embroidery machine can cause thread breaks, skipped stitches, and even tension problems. And one frustrating aspect for beginners is machine manuals (well, mine at least) lack in-depth details regarding compatible machine embroidery bobbin thread. Thus, if you need extra help with this topic, read on to learn…
My new embroidery machine finally has compatible magnetic embroidery hoops, and I love the new possibilities! For instance, I can use my embroidery machine to easily finish quilts without hooping or using stabilizer. I can also work with delicate fabrics like leather or vinyl without worrying about hoop marks. Even projects that used to be…
If you’re new to machine embroidery and feel overwhelmed with the jargon, you’re not alone! The terms embroiderers use are unique and sometimes just plain odd. To help you navigate learning the terminology of machine embroidery, I’ve put together this list of embroidery terms and definitions. And, at the end of the post, you can…
Do you have hand or machine-embroidered clothing that needs a good wash? With two young kids, I always do. So can you even wash embroidered clothes without damaging the design or causing threads to bleed? Why yes, you can! Here’s how to wash embroidered clothes so your garments continue to look their best. Hand vs….
Want to personalize your wardrobe? Embroidered clothing is a perfect way to add style and uniqueness to what you wear or gift! So, how do you embroider clothes? What do you need, and where do you start? Let’s talk about how to embroider clothes with an embroidery machine! I’ll cover clothes of all types and…
I despise cutting fabric by hand into intricate shapes, especially repetitive, intricate shapes, and I’m not the biggest fan of appliqueing with my sewing machine. However, I LOVE my embroidery machine, and I LOVE my AccuQuilt Go! Thus, when I saw most of AccuQuilt’s applique dies had FREE machine embroidery applique designs with them, I…
While embroidering stable, woven fabric is a breeze, machine embroidery on unstable, stretchy fabric requires more knowledge, expertise, and troubleshooting. Especially if the fabric is lightweight, loosely knitted, or super stretchy. These knits stretch in the hoop and shift around if not prepared perfectly, which leads to ugly embroidery. However, don’t be too scared! If…
We’ve all made a mess of embroidered items before, right?! Whether it’s because I stitched two sides of the fabric together, used the wrong thread color, forgot to rotate the design, or even got a giant bird’s nest on the material, I’ve found many instances where I need to remove embroidery. While this is not an…
While using sewing scissors when machine embroidering is technically possible, having different types of embroidery scissors in your craft room can make embroidery tasks so much easier! For instance, when it comes to clipping applique fabric, trimming jump stitches, and doing in-the-hoop projects, embroidery scissors help make cleaner cuts. So, what are the best machine…