IHAN Machine Embroidery Blog Hop and Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the IHAN Machine Embroidery Blog Hop, sponsored by Anita Goodesign.  Before I begin, I want to wish our host for this event, Kelly Jackson (IHAN) a very Happy Birthday.  I truly hope all her wishes come true!




This week eight bloggers will be sharing with  you inspirational projects that they've created using designs by Anita Goodesign.  Many will also be sharing tips, tutorials and hosting a giveaway.   While this blog hop is definitely focused on Machine Embroidery, even if you do not have an embroidery machine, SewCalGal hopes you'll check it out.  I think you'll find inspiration and tips that may also be of interest on other projects besides machine embroidery!

SewCalGal has two dates in this hop, today, as well as this coming Friday.  I've got a lot to share, but I've decided to show you what I've created this coming Friday. I've also had major computer problems, machine problems, car problems, you name it problems.  But, I'm sure you don't want to hear the details. As this post began to grow, I decided that I'd focus on sharing some tips and a simple tutorial with you today, as well as encourage everyone to visit all the blogs participating in this hop.

 I know I'm certainly looking forward to it.   And, I'll share with you insights on Friday, as to the fun I've been having with Anita Goodesigns.


 


Mon., March 18th

Kelly - I Have A Notion
SewCalGal

Tues, March 19th

Cindy - Sew Cindy
Trish - AllThingsCrafty.com

Wed., March 20th

Marjorie's Quilting Bee
Margaret - The Average Quilter

Thurs., March 21st

Rebecca Grace - Cheeky Cognoscenti

Fri., March 22nd

Gene Black - Alabama Artist
SewCalGal

TIPS

• Washaway Adhesive Stablizers are one of my favorites:  There are all sorts of stablizers on the market, each with a purpose and many also benefit quilters, not just machine embroiderers.  For example, there are quite a few washaway stablizers, some with a light adhesive backing.   Small pieces of this type of stablizer can do wonders when you have a torn stablizer, or realize you should have used a  heavier stablizer on your project.  You can simply cut a piece the size you need, remove the paper from the adhesive backing and lay this stabilizer on top of your current layer of stablizer.    I also prefer to use this form of stablizer on projects that I'm doing heavy Threadplay, or even Blanket Stitching, when I want to be sure the stablizer is 100% removed before I quilt it.  While the instructions vary by Manufacturer, you can typically remove washaway stablizers by a light soaking in water and some with spritzing, following by pressing with a soft towel and letting it dry on a flat surface.
• Pre-Wash your fabric.  Any shrinkage of your fabric will impact the results of your machine embroidery. 
• Take time to plan out your machine embroidery project.  Not all designs are appropriate for all types of fabrics.  And, the type of stablizer you may want to vary based on the fabric in your project.  You may want to plan out threads and line them up in the order  you will be stitching.  By doing a test stitch out on some scrap fabric, before you stitch out your project on your official fabric that you've chosen to use, you'll have a chance to easily change colors, or the order.  I'll frequently do a test stitch out on an inexpensive tea towel, allowing me to change my color selection before I officially stitch out my project. And, frequently I end up with a cute embroidered tea towel that I can use at home, or for a gift.
• Placement:  There is an art for placing designs on your project to get them lined up for where you want to stitch them out.  Your design may come with a PDF that you can print, scaled to the size it will stitch out.  There is frequently an x in the center, or cross lines across the design, that mark the center.  You can mark your background fabric with a washaway pen, to mark the center, as well as mark cross hairs on this background fabric for how you want it to line up.  Then, when you hoop your background fabric, line up the center in the hoop. And, before you start stitching out, verify the design will stitch out as appropriately.  You can typically adjust placement within your machine using buttons to move up/down, left/right, or rotate. And, using the feature of telling your machine you have a broken thread, you can use your machine to advance forward and periodically drop your needle down to see where it will stitch.  You can repeat these steps, while having  your project in the hoop, to get perfect placement...and re-hoop, only as necessary!
• Read the specs on a machine embroidery design, before you purchase it, to understand if it will stitch out in the hoop sizes you may have for your machine.  And, if the designs require multi-hooping that you understand how to do this, or are willing to learn.  If not, you could purchase a design that you may not be able or comfortable to stitch out.

TUTORIAL - Multi-hooping
The larger your hoop size the easier it is for you to stitch out large designs, avoiding multi-hooping.  But, not everyone has a large hoop.  And sometimes a large hoop provides more space than you really need, thereby consuming more stablizer than you really need to do to efficiently stitch out a project!

Like perfect placement, the multi-hooping is an art.  It is also a subject that can easily consume a full days class, or many pages of a book.  Thus, this little tutorial is meant to get those thinking about multi-hooping that may not have tried it.  It really isn't difficult.  And, Anita Goodesigns come with  documentation to help you multi-hoop.

Let's think of doing a multi-hoop design using a shape depicted by this basic hexie.  Many designs come ready to stitch out, just like this basic design. They stitch out the shape (and fill, etc). 



And many digitizers that plan out designs for multi-hooping will add in positioning marks, aka placement lines, that typically stitch out as a very light basting stitch that is easily removed.

To multi hoop, you would first stitch out design A.  Re-hoop and before you stitch out B, you would use your machine to rotate the design and move it up to where the placement lines match up with A.  This will most likely require you to use your up/down arrow on your machine, as well as  your left right, and rotate arrow.  Each machine is different, so I am not going to lengthen this post by going into all the details. 

To verify your placement is correct, before you start stitching it out, remove the thread from your needle.  Use the option on your machine for when you have a broken thread and manually scroll thru to find the start and end points of the yellow placement line.  At each point manually drop your needle down to see if it lines up with the actual line in your hoop, when you stitched A.  If not, repeat the steps to move your B design up/down, left/right/rotate, to better match the placement lines.  Repeat with the manually dropping down and repeat this process, as appropriate, until you feel you have it lined up.  Then, re-thread your needle and stitch out B.  Make sense?  It really is easy, but practice helps to build your confidence and skill at multi-hooping. 


Again, I hope you'll visit all of the blogs in this hops this week. I think you'll be inspired with their projects, the quality and beauty of Anita Goodesigns, enjoy various tips, tutorials and, of course great giveaways too.  And, don't forget to come back to SewCaGal on Friday as I'll share insights with you on what I've been working on and host a sponsored giveaway too!


And, if is an area of machine embroidery that you are looking for tips or a tutorial on, please feel free to leave a comment.  While, SewCalGal is not an expert (at anything) I'll do my best to work with all the participants to see if it isn't covered during this blog hop, we'll see if one of us can help you out.