Add a three-dimensional look to your projects with embossed machine embroidery. These designs tamp down the fabric nap, and the negative space allows the design element to stand out for an eye-catching and textural look. These project instructions will show you how to tackle your own embossed machine embroidery project step by step.
Supplies & Materials:
- Light and flexible fabric (to show the puff in this demonstration we used lame)
- Tearaway stabilzier
- Cutaway stabilizer
- Scissors
- Cotton batting
- Temporary spray adhesive (such as Gunold KK100)
- Embroidery thread
The designs used in this tutorial include:
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Applique designs that include batting will always involve at least two hoopings. "Hooping A" will become "Piece A". In this hooping, all of the initial details will sew first. "Hooping B" becomes the final design and gives this applique its puff effect.
Spray the back side of your fabric with temporary spray adhesive, then smooth it onto tearaway stabilizer. For this demonstration we used lame fabric.
Hoop the stabilizer and fabric together. Make sure that everything is hooped drum tight and that there are no wrinkles.
Attach the hoop onto the machine and load the first hooping or embroidery file - "Piece A". Use a size 11 or 75/11 sharp sewing needle rather than an embroidery needle. A sharp sewing needle has a smaller, finer point than an embroidery needle. This will make smaller perforations in the stabilizer, providing more support.
Embroider the design. The first thing to embroider will be the inner details of the design.
The next step will stitch out the dieline. This dieline will be used later to cut out the applique shape.
Remove the hoop from the machine and unhoop your fabric. Tear away the stabilizer from the backside of the design. Tearing this away will help make the fabric more flexible and malliable for batting.
Spray the backside of "Piece A" with temporary spray adhesive, then smooth it in place on top of cotton batting.
Cut around the stitched dieline. Set aside for now.
Prepare the fabric that "Piece A" will be embroidered onto. Here, we are using cotton fabric with cutaway stabilizer.
To begin "Piece B", hoop the cotton and cutaway stabilizer together.
Attach the hoop to the machine and load the second part of the design or file "B". The first thing to stitch out will be the dieline. Unlike the previous dieline, this one will be used for placement.
After the dieline has sewn, remove the hoop from the machine, but do not unhoop the stabilizer. Spray the back side of "Piece A" with temporary spray adhesive and carefully smooth it in place within the shape.
Then return the hoop to the machine and continue to embroider the tackdown.
Follow the color change sheet to embroider the inner details.
Finish the design by sewing out the finishing boarder.
