Needful Things

Well, we haven't done a "clean sweep" but we have cleared out a little corner of the Shop to put all those needful things we find we need from time-to-time. It may be anything from applique to stippling or maybe just some tips on tools and supplies or how to do a particular technique.

I hope you enjoy your time rummaging around in our Needful Embroidery Things and that you come up with just the right needful thing. Be sure to stop back by every once in a while because we'll be adding more needful things as we come across them.

Please feel free to drop us an to let us know what you think of this new little corner of the shop and if you have any suggestions.

Machine Applique

Have you thought about trying your hand at machine applique but wasn't sure how to go about it? Well, here's a tutorial on machine applique. It includes a PDF file with complete step by step directions and photos of each step plus a designs to get you started.

Click here for the applique instructions and the dove design in the pes, hus, sew and xxx formats. Please e-mail me if you need a different format.

Needful Tools

I use a couple of different sizes of applique scissors.

The scissors on the far right are great for getting into little corners! A friend gave me one pair and I picked up another pair at a local sewing show but the person I bought them from does not have a website. You can probably find them on-line if you do a search.

Plain Buttonholes

Someone asked for some plain buttonholes in one of the sewing forums I visit so I thought you might like them too.

Going from the left top to the bottom right here are the types of buttonholes included in the set:

Standard
Narrow Standard
Heirloom
Keyhole Square
Keyhole Point
Keyhole Round
Round End
Round
Stretch

The openings are all the same size. I just didn't take the time to line them up before I sewed them out.

5/8ths Size:
ART HUS JEF PES SEW XXX

1 Inch Size:
ART HUS JEF PES SEW XXX

3/4th" Sizes Coming Soon!

Needful Tools

I use these buttonhole and eyelet tools all the time. You can find them on the notions wall of most sewing and quilt shops.

The first two awls along the top have hollow tips. The third one has a solid pointed tip and it's tapered so it's easy to get the hole started and enlarge it. It's probably my favorite.

Of course we have our standard button hole cutter and little cutting mat.

Click on the links above for buttonholes in your machine format:

A few of my favorite stabilizers as you'll see them in the notions isle in your local sewing center or craft store.

Solvy on the left and Fabri-Solvy on the left.

Needful Stablizers

Ah, the endless debate over stabilizers...

I have used many types and brands of stabilizers but, so far, my favorite is the Sulky® line of stabilizers.

I get a lot of questions on what stabilizer to use for "In-the-Hoop" projects. In the the old days we used to use two or three layers of the clear plastic like stabilizer such as Sulky's Solvy^TM stabilizer. Solvy is really a topping type stabilizer that you would use anytime you don't want your stitches to sink down into the fabric. Like when you're embroidering on a towel. I also use it when I embroider on t-shirts. Solvy is a great stabilizer for a topping but, as with any plastic type stabilizer, you need several layers to use it as a base stabilizer.

Fabri-Solvy ^TM is a fabric-like water soluble stabilizer. I normally use just one layer for my in-the-hoop projects

*I have used and highly recommend using Sulky’s Fabri-Solvy and KK 2000 spray adhesive. These are two must haves for all your “In‑the-Hoop” projects! Instructions for using Fabri-Solvy are available on Sulky’s website: http://www.sulky.com/stabilizers/fabrisolvy.php. Instructions are also available for dissolving leftover Fabri-Solvy in water to make a brush on stabilizer so save all those scraps! Fabri-Solvy is available at your local sewing, fabric or craft store or call 1-800-874-4115 for a mail-order source for Sulky products. (Sulky is a registered trademark of Sulky of America.)

Coming Soon:

Stippling