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10,000 Years Of Machine Embroidery Experience In One Place
Whether you're new to machine embroidery or have been at it for a long time, you're sure to find articles here that help make your embroidery better, faster, prettier, or just make the process more fun. Topics include designs, staibilizer, hooping and everything to do with machine embroidery techniques.
As a member of ArtisticThreadWorks you'll have full access to all the articles below. And if you do have a question you not covered in one of these articles, then it's time you click into our Discussion Forum and ASK THE EXPERTS!
Our members have combined experience of thousands of years of machine embroidery experience! Ask your questions and I guarantee you'll get a great answer!
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158 Machine Embroidery Tips
Download the 158 Best Machine Embroidery Tips from our members. Find out the best ways to do everything in your sewing room. Free download as soon as you have created a username and password at ATW.
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5 Keys To Successful Machine Embroidery
Today is Christmas Day 2008 and there are many first-time embroidery machine owners starting to search the internet for help with getting going. This article covers 5 key things you MUST know about this hobby... Copyrights, Sharing, Learning Curve, Friends, and one more key that's above all the others . . .
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VIDEO: Stitching Our Mylar Embroidery Designs
VIDEO: Stitching Mylar Embroidery Designs Holly shows how to stitch out a mylar embroidery design. A quick two-minute video covers all the basics. If you have any questions, please ask in the FORUM where Holly can see your question and answer quickly. . . .
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VIDEO: DeDuper Software... Holly Talks With Clay Stovall
Here's a video of Holly talking with Clay Stovall from GransWorkRoom.com. In this video, Clay talks about his DeDuper software. DeDuper opens zip files, removes the embroidery designs from inside the zip file, saves them onto your computer, deletes the formats you don't need, and removes all the duplicate designs that you have saved in various folders around your computer leaving you with just one copy of each design in the format that you use. This software can reclaim LOTS of wasted storage space on your computer's hard drive! . . .
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VIDEO: Loralie Designs Interview With Holly
Here's a video of Holly talking with Loralie from Loralie Designs about several new designs Loralie has created and how they can be used. Loralie uses designs to make embroidered cards in a different style from Holly's embroidered cards and they are a great project too... . . .
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VIDEO: Embroidery Button Maker
Here's a video of Holly talking with Hope Yoder about her embroidery button maker. It's a press that has been designed for using embroidery designs stitched on fabric to make buttons, compact mirrors, decorative buttons, and so on." This may be a quick way to set up your own small business at home... . . .
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VIDEO: The Zip Clip Tool
Here's a video of Holly talking with Barbara Hershey Handler about the Zip Clip Tool. Holly brought one of these tools home from the AEC with her and was using it yesterday when she stitched out some designs. It keeps hoops from getting sticky with KK2000 or other spray adhesives. . . .
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FATC's And ATW
Fabric Art Trading Cards or "FATC's" were a 1 year project contest on ATW during 2009. Members were invited to make at least one FATC during the month based on the month's theme and enter a photo of the card into our contest for the month. The members voted on their favorite card and the winners received prizes for their entry. . . .
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Embroidered Greeting Cards
In these videos, Holly Pike shows how to make embroidered greeting cards and how to finish them off with decorative touches. Watch as Holly shows all the details of how they're made and how to personalize them as your own! . . .
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VIDEO: "Cross Stitch Me" Stitch-Out Sequence
A couple people have asked me about the process for stitching out a "Cross Stitch Me" design...
The setup for stitching is just like any other machine embroidery design. You either hoop stabilizer use sticky to hold the fabric or garment in place, OR you hoop the fabric or garment itself using stabilizer. This is just like "normal" machine embroidery.
The only difference is that the cross stitch design will have more jump stitches to cut than regular machine embroidery. This is because there are no layers of thread to hide a running stitch under. But the number of jump stitches you need to cut are surprisingly small as you wil see in this video
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VIDEO: Identifying Fonts For Embroidery
"Wow! I'd like to use that font for the embroidery design I have in mind... but what font IS that?"
In the following 3 minute video, I'll show you how to identify fonts easily. Once you have identified the font, you may choose to buy a commercial license to use it, or you might find a free version of that font or one that's close enough.
Remember that fonts, just like artwork, were created by somebody and belong to somebody. Read license agreements before using any font that you're not sure of already.
Also, before buying a font . . .
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January 2010 Contest...
Holly and I came up with an idea for a fun contest last night while we were having supper. We LOVED all the great projects shown in the Christmas card design contest we did in Decemb . . .
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Video: Making Embroidered Gift Tags
Maybe you've already started making your own embroidered Greeting Cards or embroidered Christmas Cards and now you're wondering "What's next?" Well, here's Holly's latest project, embroidered Gift Tags!
The designs used were made to sew out well on card stock. That is a very heavy-weight paper available in hobby stores (think scrap-booking stores, JoAnn's, Hobby Lobby, Wal-Mart craft department) or in office supply stores. The craft stores will simply call this type of paper... . . .
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"Halloween" FATC Contest
(September 2009)
The September 2009 FATC contest photo posts. The theme was "Halloween"! The winners of this FATC contest were announced shortly after 10/1/09.
Members could make their FATC's and enter the photos until September 26th 2009 when voting started. Good luck to everyone in the contest! . . .
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"Back To School" FATC Contest
(August 2009)
The August 2009 FATC contest is now CLOSED for photo posts. The theme was "Back To School"! The winners of this FATC contest were announced on 9/1/09.
Members could make their FATC's and enter the photos until August 26th 2009 when voting started. There are some great machine embroidery techniques explored in these contest entries... . . .
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"Christmas In July" FATC Contest
(July 2009)
The July 2009 FATC contest was themed as "Christmas In July"! The winners of this FATC contest were announced on 8/1/09.
Members made their FATC's and entered the photos until July 26th when voting started. There are some great ideas for machine embroidery in the photos from this contest... . . .
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TIP: Using Two Computers For Embroidery
I save my designs on my lap top usually, but I use my desk top to connect to my embroidery machine. Therefore, when I'm ready to use a design, I e-mail the design to myself and then open the file on my desk top. That way, I don't have to burn a CD to get the design on the other machine. . . .
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VIDEO: Free Motion Embroidery
Holly first started doing embroidery in the 1980's using her Bernina 1230 machine. It was a sewing machine - not an embroidery machine. And it was called "Free Motion Embroidery". In free motion embroidery, you trace a pattern onto the fabric then fill it in as if it were a coloring book. The difference is that you use thread instead of crayons. And it's a little more difficult . . .
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Machine Embroidery On Baby Clothes
"What is the best way to embroider on baby clothes, like oneies? Also looking for a place to buy diaper covers, cloth bibs, oneies at a good price. Right now I am buying from local stores." Here are great answers from our ATW members! (design shown is from Embroidery Library) . . .
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Embroidery On A Toddler Knit Shirt
"I want to try embroidering my first project on a toddler knit shirt. What stabilizer do you guys use?" Here are great answers to the question of getting started on baby clothes embroidery from our ATW members . . .
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Can I Stitch This Embroidery Design Out Faster?
Here's a question from one of our members... We stitched out the CUTE animals that I downloaded from you in school today. The Hippo was adorable!! Can't wait to do more tomorrow. Is there a way to make the stitching time shorter? The Hippo took 47 minutes to stitch! But definitely worth it! . . .
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What Can I Digitize Legally?
The question comes up all the time... "What can I LEGALLY digitize?" It's not as easy of a question as you'd think, and at times it can get downright "sticky" when someone asks you to digitize something for them. Here's how to protect yourself from future problems . . .
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FATC Contest May 2009
"Berach" Theme
The May 2009 FATC contest posts are shown in the photo gallery below. The theme was "The Beach"! The winners of this FATC contest was be announced on 6/2/09.
Members made their FATC's and entered the photos until May 25th when voting started. Feel free to use ideas shown below in your own embroidery projects! . . .
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Machine Embroidery Hooping Mistakes
This time I'll cover one of the most common problems people have with stitching out a design... hooping incorrectly. But this topic is a "show and tell" type of thing. I could write a couple thousand words to explain to you what I can show you in about 5 minutes of video. . . .
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Bobbin Problems
Third article in our series on "What's wrong with my design?" covers what can go wrong with your bobbin and how to fix these type of problems . . .
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Feb '09 FATC Contest Winners
We have the winners from the February 2009 FATC contest! Here's a prize winners list. Thank you to EVERYONE who entered a card. The voting was really close with less than 2% points . . .
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VIDEO: Machine Embroidery Applique The ATW Way!
Machine embroidery applique sews out a design outline three times.
The first time around is the "placement stitch", showing you what area needs to be covered by the applique fabric. Once the fabric is in position the second time around adds the "tack-down stitch" holding the fabric in place. Once you trim away any excess fabric outside the tack-down stitch you put the hoop back on the embroidery machine and it runs the "cover stitch" that covers up the tack-down stitch and the edge of the fabric that you trimmed.
You can get more details about how this is done in this 8 minute video article . . .
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Embroidery Thread Recommendations
What's a good brand of embroidery thread to buy? Everyone asks this question when they're starting out and re-examine the issue every year or two. Why is it a question that comes up again and again when you thought it was settled in your own mind years ago? Here's an in-depth look at the question of embroidery thread purchased on ebay . . .
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Cross Stitch Machine Embroidery?
Here's a question about machine cross stitch that started out in our discussion forum and is worth sharing with the world! Thanks to Grandma Lola and to everyone that answered... "Have any of you done cross stitch on your embroidery machines. DO you know where I can find instructions on how to do it? Do you actually use CS fabric???" . . .
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Using Embroidery Stabilizer As A Coffee Filter
-- Holly Pike
I decided this morning to make a pot of coffee using embroidery stabilizer instead of a coffee filter. It didn't come out quite right and I'm wondering if I should have used cutaway instead of tearaway? Or maybe "Totally Stable" but I was concerned about the amount of glue I'd end up with in my coffee if I went that route! So I had one more idea and . . .
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Embroidery Tip: Masking Tape
We have over 1,500 embroidery and computer tips submitted by our members. Watch our site each day for tips you can use and click back through our "Embroidery Tips", "Computer Tips", and "Web-Wize Tips" department (See Left-Side Menus) for previous tips too. . . .
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Embroidery Tip: Hanging On By A Thread
We have over 1,500 embroidery and computer tips submitted by our members. Watch our site each day for tips you can use and click back through our "Embroidery Tips", "Computer Tips", and "Web-Wize Tips" department (See Left-Side Menus) for previous tips too. . . .
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Embroidery Tip: "Grease" The Way
We have over 1,500 embroidery and computer tips submitted by our members. Watch our site each day for tips you can use and click back through our "Embroidery Tips", "Computer Tips", and "Web-Wize Tips" department (See Left-Side Menus) for previous tips too. . . .
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Making Wide Coasters
Lidia Doneddu from Victoria, Australia sent me this terrific step-by-step pictorial article on how she makes wide coasters. I think she did an excellent job of not only putting together the instructions but in taking great photos and putting it all into one photo. Click below to see the complete article . . .
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Embroidery Tip: Glue Stick For Quilting
We have over 1,500 embroidery and computer tips submitted by our members. Watch our site each day for tips you can use and click back through our "Embroidery Tips", "Computer Tips", and "Web-Wize Tips" department (See Left-Side Menus) for previous tips too. . . .
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Embroidery Tip: A Special "Been-There-Done-That" Tip!
We have over 1,500 embroidery and computer tips submitted by our members. Watch our site each day for tips you can use and click back through our "Embroidery Tips", "Computer Tips", and "Web-Wize Tips" department (See Left-Side Menus) for previous tips too. . . .
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Embroidery Tip: Spray Adhesive
We have over 1,500 embroidery and computer tips submitted by our members. Watch our site each day for tips you can use and click back through our "Embroidery Tips", "Computer Tips", and "Web-Wize Tips" department (See Left-Side Menus) for previous tips too. . . .
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Embroidery Tip: More Money For Thread!
We have over 1,500 embroidery and computer tips submitted by our members. Watch our site each day for tips you can use and click back through our "Embroidery Tips", "Computer Tips", and "Web-Wize Tips" department (See Left-Side Menus) for previous tips too. . . .
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Embroidery Tip: Always Check Those CD's!
We have over 1,500 embroidery and computer tips submitted by our members. Watch our site each day for tips you can use and click back through our "Embroidery Tips", "Computer Tips", and "Web-Wize Tips" department (See Left-Side Menus) for previous tips too. . . .
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Embroidery Tip: No One Gets Stabbed
We have over 1,500 embroidery and computer tips submitted by our members. Watch our site each day for tips you can use and click back through our "Embroidery Tips", "Computer Tips", and "Web-Wize Tips" department (See Left-Side Menus) for previous tips too. . . .
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Embroidery Tip: Make A "T"
We have over 1,500 embroidery and computer tips submitted by our members. Watch our site each day for tips you can use and click back through our "Embroidery Tips", "Computer Tips", and "Web-Wize Tips" department (See Left-Side Menus) for previous tips too. . . .
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Embroidery Tip: Save Your Thumbs When Hooping
We have over 1,500 embroidery and computer tips submitted by our members. Watch our site each day for tips you can use and click back through our "Embroidery Tips", "Computer Tips", and "Web-Wize Tips" department (See Left-Side Menus) for previous tips too. . . .
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Embroidery Tip: A Gift WIth A Responsibility
We have over 1,500 embroidery and computer tips submitted by our members. Watch our site each day for tips you can use and click back through our "Embroidery Tips", "Computer Tips", and "Web-Wize Tips" department (See Left-Side Menus) for previous tips too. . . .
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Embroidery Tip: Are You Glad?
We have over 1,500 embroidery and computer tips submitted by our members. Watch our site each day for tips you can use and click back through our "Embroidery Tips", "Computer Tips", and "Web-Wize Tips" department (See Left-Side Menus) for previous tips too. . . .
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Digitizer's Showcase New To ATW
Holly and I know how difficult it is to get started as a new digitizer. Our "Showcase" exposes new digitizers to a LOT more people than they would normally get to visit their website and sample their work . . .
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Babylock Ellegante or Bernina Artista 640E???
Given the choice between these two machines, which way would you go? That's the question posed in this article and a LOT of opinions to go along with that decision. Members are invited to read this article about the Bernina vs Elegante and . . .
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