Applique Frenzy

We are in the final stages of our packing. 8 more days and we will be on our way to a different life. I have such mixed emotions. I am sad about the life we leave behind. It will be hard not to look in the backyard and see our kids splashing around in our pool, or spending sunny days at the beach or on our boat (well actually not ours anymore- we sold it a month ago in preparation for the move). We leave behind a great church, in fact the best we have ever attended. I won't even begin to get into the great friends (like "family" ) that God blessed us with during our short 4 years in central florida. With great sadness but such anticipation I look foward to see what great things God has in store for our family. I LOVE my life here in FL so God must have some really neat things in store for us in NC because I can't imagine anything better than the life we now lead.
Needless to say over the next 8-12 days my response to emails and release of designs will significantly slow down. I will be back to work digitizing, and sewing (which i haven't done in 1.5 months) on June 7th or so. I will post some pics of the new house when I get to NC. (I get a sewing room- thats something to be excited about).

Step 1. - Make the korker ribbons- I use the tutorial from The Ribbon Retreat (click on the previous words to access the ribbon retreat tutorial). Follow the instructions in the tutorial (only need to do page 1) and make several at one time so that you have a stash of them that you can easily access each time you are going to use this applique. ( I don't want to have to bake ribbon each time i stitch out the party hat so i make several colors, and several dowels worth of korkers). (I used 3/8 inch ribbon but I am going to try the next smaller size -it may be the 1/8 inch ribbon)

2. I went a head and used my sewing machine to stitch the corkers together. this will make it easier for you when you have to tack down the korkers in the applique design. ( I used my button mode and just stitch sided to side in the same place)

3. Load Applique Design into your embroidery machine.

4. Next hoop the material your finished design will be on. There are a variety of stabilizers that you can use. (i will post another entry on stabilizer). I have a pr620 so many times i use my fast frame hoops and I use Sulky Sticky +™, a self-adhesive, tear-away stabilizer.Between the bottom of the hoop and the needle plate I have another 'floating' layer of stabilizer.

5. The Placement stitch for the korker ribbons will stitch out first-You can use any thread color you want; it's going to be covered anyway.

6. Next, you will need to place the end of the korkers right over that placement stitch and hold them in place while the tack down stitch for the korkers sews out. keep your fingers clear of the needle/s. I say that from painful experience. You can use any thread color you want; it's going to be covered anyway.

7. snip the edges of the ribbon below the tack down stitch. (see pics below) If you would like to ensure that the ribbon doesn't fray you may want to use some fray check.

9. Next the placement stitch for the hat will sew out.

10. Place your applique fabric over the outline. You can use temporary fabric spray adhesive or you can hold the fabric in place so it doesn't pucker or bunch up on you. if you choose to hold the fabric in place watch out for your fingers. The tack down stitch will sew next.

11. Remove the hoop from the machine but don't un-hoop! Cut away the excess applique fabric from around the tacking stitch.Get close to the stitches but try not to cut them.

12. steps 6-8 will be repeated for the pom pom circles at the bottom of the hat.

13. Final Stitches- Put the hoop back on the machine and push the button. There should be 2 Sets of stitches your machine will now run another tacking stitch around the pattern. In my designs its a zig zag stitch and it is like a double check in case you cut a stitch or two while trimming. Then the final outline stitch is applied, putting the finishing touch on your applique. This is usually a satin stitch but in some cases could be a vintage, diamond or a variety of other stitches. (make sure to hold the korkers out of the way when the tip of the hat is being stitched)

To buy this design before 2/28/2010 go to My Etsy Store (click on the previous words)

after 2/28/2010 you may purchase The Pink Monogram designs on our new website http://www.appliquefrenzy.com/