How do I do embroidery with a sewing machine? Is it possible?
I have a ton of excess denim from making a purse out of my friends never woren jeans she got rid of. Now I decided to make a bracelet with embroidery… how do I do it with a sewing machine? Also, have any other ideas on what to do with the scraps?
Sure, you can do free-motion embroidery with any machine. You need to drop the feed dogs or cover them in order to do it, but that’s easily accomplished. Best beginning book I know of is Robbie and Tony Fanning’s Complete Book of Machine Embroidery — you’ll probably have to get it from your library, as I believe it’s now out of print. Want to knock your socks off? Check to see if your library has a copy of Singer Instructions for Art Embroidery — everything in the book was done on a straight stitch treadle machine, and it’s gorgeous.
Here’s a professional free-motion embroiderer at work:
http://www.taunton.com/threads/pages/tvt032.asp
Embroidery machine you must get.
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Many machines have built in patterns that you can use creatively, but the overwhelming problem with doing embroidery on most sewing machines is under the foot that feeds the fabric in a straight line. Embroidery machines clamp the fabric, but the foot and underneath are smooth – you have to move the fabric to make the pattern. Normally the fabric is held taut in a ring.
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You can do freehand embroidery on a normal sewing machine. Make sure you select the right stitch for what you want to do. You won’t be able to do anything fancy like flowers and the like, but if you have a decorative stitch on your sewing machine, you will be able to have some fun doing free hand sewing. Make sure that you can drop the feed dog on your machine, otherwise you will only be able to go straight. Also, you will need an embroidery/darning foot so that it does not hold down the fabric. Some machines have a hoop that you can attach to allow you to do more embroidery, you will have to contact your dealer for more info. You definately don’t need to buy an embroidery machine, unless you want to do fancy stuff.
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To embroidery without an emb machine is easy but it helps to have a zigzag machine. Set it to the widest zigzag and no stitch length. Lower the feed dogs. Put your material into an emb hoop. There are springs you can buy that go around the needle to hold the material down as you do not use a foot but you must remember to drop the pressure foot lever. It will help you to learn if you pencil in a design or letter (s). Using smooth, fast motion work back and forth to cover your design. Sideways is best. Turn the hoop if you need to go in a different direction so that you can always go sideways. Keep your stitches fairly short and even and close together but try not to overlap. Practice will make you a pro.
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My own experience, having taken lessons at my local Bernina shop. I used my Pfaff – brand does not matter.
Embroidery with a regular machine is called freestyle embroidery. _Knitsew has given you the best explaination, but what everyone has forgotten to mention is that you want to draw out your design and then do a practice piece before you ever try do it on the item you intend to make for real. I don’t like the embroidery hoops that are made for freestyle so I use a regular hoop with rubber bands around the inside hoop to prevent slippage. Practice, practice, practice, and get the feel of your machine and how fast to move your hoop to do fill-in or monograming. If you change to a straight stitch it will give you a different look than the zigzag. Try both and see which you prefer for the type of design you are doing. Also if you are working on a light material you can sew the outline and use crayons to do coloring then iron the material to make the crayon permament, it is pretty cool!
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Class given by Sulky representative.
I’d just like to add something to what agm said: If you have a newer machine, yes, do drop your feed dogs. But if you have a basic old machine (like mine), the feed dogs don’t drop. But don’t despair. I’m a quilter and have done free motion quilting, which also requires you to drop the feed dogs, on my machine. Just *cover* them. Some machines come with a little plastic cover. I don’t have one, so I can’t tell you how to put it on the throatplate. I just cut a piece of cardboard to fit and tape it on. Works perfectly!
References :
my personal experience only
Sure, you can do free-motion embroidery with any machine. You need to drop the feed dogs or cover them in order to do it, but that’s easily accomplished. Best beginning book I know of is Robbie and Tony Fanning’s Complete Book of Machine Embroidery — you’ll probably have to get it from your library, as I believe it’s now out of print. Want to knock your socks off? Check to see if your library has a copy of Singer Instructions for Art Embroidery — everything in the book was done on a straight stitch treadle machine, and it’s gorgeous.
Here’s a professional free-motion embroiderer at work:
http://www.taunton.com/threads/pages/tvt032.asp
References :
45+ years of sewing; 50+ years of hand embroidery