Machine embroidery could possibly be your passion, or maybe it’s something you’d like to try. If you’re a newbie or want-to-be embroiderer, Eileen Roche, Nancy’s friend and Sewing With Nancy guest, will show you how to learn Machine Embroidery in 6 Easy Lessons on a 2-part series.
The embroidery process comes down to six key learning points. Learn lessons 1–3 in this first episode.
Lesson #1—Embroidery Basics
We begin with the embroidery basics. Eileen shares her checklist of what to look for in a machine and supplies in order to begin your embroidery journey.
- If you are overwhelmed with all the features available on embroidery machines, no fear, we’ll tell you what basic features are needed.
- We’ll also give a list of supplies and notions that will help you in your embroidery journey, like painters tape. How unique is that! (The photo features a onesie that is hooped and ready for embroidery.)
Lesson #2—Types of Designs
The star of your embroidery is obviously the design. Knowing the types and categories of designs—there are many—can help you make wise embroidery choices. Lesson 2 of our Machine Embroidery Class is simply, Types of Designs.
- We’ll start by showing you how designs are stitched. Think of it as an anatomy of embroidery! We like to know how designs are created.
- When it’s time for monogramming, learn why stitch underlay of designs is so important. (Side note: Monogramming is the most popular type of embroidery. After all, who doesn’t like monogrammed towels?)
Lesson #3—Placement
Machine embroidery is easy; it’s the placement that can be the tricky part! For that reason, Eileen has chosen Embroidery Placement as the 3rd Lesson in this series. Without perfect placement, even the most beautiful embroidery doesn’t make the grade.
- We start with the elementary way of placing embroideries, making a template from stitched designs. When embroidery machines were first introduced, this was our only option of perfect placement. Now there are many alternatives.
- One speedy placement option is the Embroidery Placement Ruler.
Machine Embroidery in 6 Easy Lessons is our featured video. Watch Sewing With Nancy shows online at www.nancyzieman.com. Or, watch on your iPad, iPod Touch, or iPhone.
Next week, you can tune in to watch the remaining lessons. Plus find all machine embroidery guidelines in Eileen’s book, Machine Embroidery in 6 Easy Lessons, and the Sewing With Nancy DVD.
What’s your biggest embroidery stumbling block? Post it below and we’ll choose a random winner. The winner will receive Eileen Roche’s book, Machine Embroidery in 6 Easy Lessons from Designs in Machine Embroidery.
The randomly selected winner of a copy of Travel Gear Made Easy from Mary Mulari is Betty Tolan.
Her comment is: There are so many great projects in this book. I am perplexed as to which one I would make first. I certainly have plenty of fabric to get started on some right away. I have quite a collection of ideas and patterns from Nancy and Mary. I have met both lovely ladies and sure miss our “Nancy.”
Have Fun Embroidering,
Team Nancy Zieman
Nancy Zieman Productions. LLC.
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Lining material/garment along with a stabilizer into the hoop is the biggest challenge for me. Any helpful hints would be welcomed.
My biggest stumbling block in embroidery is matching continuous designs. The stumbling block is in my mind because I just won’t try them. I need someone to show me how.
I’m terrified of messing something up. This book might just give me enough confidence and courage to continue.
I need help with using my machine!!!
Jane,
Please contact your local dealer specific to your type of sewing machine. If you have a general question, I would be happy to try to help you.
Thanks.
For me it is the embroidery tension… when it is off, which one needs adjusting
I have a brother se400 embroidery machine and i have never embroidered with it. I don’t even know the beginning steps on how to set it up, let alone change a color. I need lots of teaching skills on this machine.
Thanks for the opportunity to win Nancy’s 6 week instructional book. This is probably exactly what i need to get me started. Thanks again
Stabilizer!!! What do I use for what fabric??
Hi Karen,
A good stabilizer prolongs the life of your machine embroidery projects, helps keep the stitches intact, and keeps your sewing machine running smoothly. Stabilizers play a key roll in producing professional looking embroidery designs. Here’s how to choose the right stabilizer for each project: http://www.nancyzieman.com/blog/embroidery-2/stabilizer-know-how/
I recently bought a new to me embroidery machine and don’t have a clue how to use it. I could sure use some tips.
I have problems with placement.
My major problem is storing purchased and free designs. They often download as a number. I have tried to add a description, but the embroidery software will not recognise this. Any ideas would be welcome.
I WOULD THINK PROPERLY PLACING IN HOOP!
I guess hooping straight is one of my biggest issues. Getting a design right where you want it is always a concern.
I have a new embroidery Baby Lock which I have used very minimal because I struggle with the basics! This book looks like exactly what I need to get over my fears and give me the push I need.
I’m terrified of placement on clothes.
Trying to match up designs in the hoop for multiple hoopings is my biggest buggaboo. I can never get them to align up right.
I am a perfectionist so when I did my first embroidery design I had to use the precise correct color in my design. This design had 27 color changes. Since my threads were not listed on my machine, I had to use a color chart to convert the colors. It took me over an hour to get the right colors. I did this for every design I did. It took a long time for me to finally realize that the colors were my choice which makes the process so much more fun.
I just got a machine, and want to learn how to do multiple hoopings so I can use larger designs. Plus I want to digitize some of my own designs.
My biggest stumbling block is trying to figure out which stabilizer to use and how many layers.
I agonize over placement!! I spend more time trying to get it correct than anything else. Sweat band required!
I struggle with placement. How to get things in the proper position, and keeping it centered where I need it to be. Also, the proper stabilizer to use with each kind of fabric.
Hooping bulky items (like towels, terry robes, etc.) is my biggest problem.. In addition, I have problems with placement on clothing, etc.
I use my machine a lot to make my quilt labels; the labels don’t require any positioning.
Thanks for the opportunity to win this prize.
Stabilizers are my biggest struggle…..like for terry towels: I don’t want a “leave-in”, but all the tear always I’ve tried are too fibrous, they don’t tear away cleanly. I am always afraid of messing up my embroidery by trying to tear away the stabilizer! The more open the design, the more difficult to tear. What is a good weight or brand to use?
Would love to know where to find that beautiful roses design used in the beginning?
Melody,
The rose designs are from Amazing Designs Antique Roses Embroidery Designs collection:
https://www.nancysnotions.com/antique-roses-embroidery-designs.html?utm_campaign=1901&utm_source=nz_blog&utm_medium=blog&utm_content=AntiqueRosesEmbroideryDesigns&code=REDRCT-1901
Enjoy!
Thanks for your comment.
Even though I have an embroidery machine, I am not comfortable with all the special features available. There are so many projects I would like to complete. I definitely need help with placement for my embroidery designs. This book is exactly what I need to improve my embroidery technique and inspire my creativity.
I become so nervous with monogramming! I second guess myself on font size and placement! I am attending a lot of weddings and I need to become more confident when making monogrammed wedding and baby gifts. Hoping Nancy’s book can calm my nerves!
I sometimes have difficulty with correct placement. I think it is right and after embroidering I second guess where I put it
I need more help with choosing the right stabilizer backing for my different fabric. To me that is very confusing.
I have trouble doing embroidery on towels. It just disappears into the towel. Got any recommendations. I use tear away underneath and dissolvable on top.
My problem is that I don’t use my embroidery machine that often and I have to start at the beginning each time. This book would be great to have as a reference.
When it comes to large designs, I always struggle with re-hooping and placement of the next pattern.
May biggest fear is placement. I don’t know how to get the design where I want it.
Being new to machine embroidery – my trouble is having a machine with limited hoop size. I have a hard time figuring out how to place things and how to do a continuous design with multiple hoopings.
I would love to win that book, I have been embroidering for many years, but going back to basics and learning new things and ideas are needed.
Thanks,
Nancy Taylor
My stumbling block is placement. The tools listed should help.
Just getting started is very intimidating.
I still have a hard time with placement. I’ve had my sewing-embroidery machine for 6 years & still don’t know how to use it to it’s full capacity when it comes to embroidery.
I have a machine with an embroidery unit that I have never used (for over several years) because I don’t really know how to do embroidery. There, I have said it! This book looks just like what I need to get me over all my fears about machine embroidery. Thanks!
My biggest issue is choosing the right stabilizer. I do enjoy making “in the hoop” projects.
Proper hooping: selecting the best stabilizer for the fabric & design and then trying to get it lined up & hooped without blood, sweat, and tears. Funny, but oh so very true!
Placement is always an issue. I use the little placement snowman stickers, but they’re so small. A little bit off with your sticker has a big impact on the final results.
My biggest obstacle is lack of a local source for education and guidance to become a beginner machine embroiderer. Driving an hour and a half each way to the nearest retailer who offers training is just not something I can do. There is so much to learn and nowhere to go for training where I live.
My greatest stumbling block is the puckering of the fabric around the design that was machine embroidered to the fabric. Sometimes it happens. Sometime it doesn’t happen. It’s a mystery to me…
It’s still a mystery to me: perfect placement! I think I have the item hooped perfectly, used the correct stabilizer and it all looks great until I stitch it out! It looks a bit off, a bit lopsided. Oh No! What happened??? Start over….
My biggest obstacle is intimidation. I bought an older used (like new) Disney PED Embroidery machine about 5 years ago, and all I have done is look at it with fear. I did buy the extra program for it off eBay. So with over $200 invested, I just have no where to turn. What stabilizer should I use? What thread? And on and on. One of these days I will conquer it or maybe just sell it. Thanks for reading. It’s my first admittance of this fear in public.
My biggest stumbling block is getting the fabric/item tight and smooth enough in the frame, and preventing puckering!! Sometimes I’m a bit confused with the proper stabilizer – which might help with the puckering!
I now have an embroidery machine in “foster care”. A friend of mine has lent me one of her older models. So I need help/overview with all of the how-to with machine embroidery. Currently I am perplexed by thread types.
I love machine embroidery. I especially like in the hoop projects. I guess I would need help with placement and stabilizer use on t-shirts.
have trouble with placement.
Proper use of stabilizers.
I just finished my first project (personalized Christmas stockings for the family). It was a simple project but was really stressful getting started. My challenge was sizing and centering our names on the stocking cuff. They turned out great but I was lucky. I’m looking forward to the 6 Easy Lessons series above. The book will be a great addition to the tutorials. Thanks!
Problems: TIME, where to place items, which stabilizer. So many thing to think about!
Stabilizers! What is the best one to use in which situation and on which fabric.
Getting the right needle & tension on bobbin! I really have a problem with thread breaking!
Placement is a difficult skill for me as well as choosing designs of the correct density for the fabric along with the correct stabilizer. This book would certainly provide a lot of answers!
Hooping!! Getting it level or straight and tight enough, ugh.
Placement. You think it is correct, then you notice it might be a little off center.
I feel I need help with many things – placement is a big one. My designs are slightly crooked or not where I want them. I’m also confused as to which stabilizer to use and how much. I don’t feel I’m using my machine the way I should so many times I don’t use it at all. I need help!!
My embroidery experience so far is trying to utilize the special stitches on my sewing machine. I really would like to learn to do some actual embroidery. I have a list of many items to make from Nancy’s Notions! Thank you, once again for helping creative people to continue to learn in and easy, well constructed manner!
I struggle with the whole process. I figure it out but when I go to use it again I have to relearn the whole thing. A book that I could go to or watch would help me alo t . It is frustrating to not be able to retain this .
I have only used cut a way stabilizer. I need to be educated on all the different types and how to use them. Got my embroidery machine in the late 1990,s Just a little behind the time.Thank You KATHY
My biggest issue is placement. No matter how careful, I struggle with proper placement and my designs are always slightly askew.
I’ve not done a lot of machine embroidery to date, but so far my biggest stumbling block is choosing the right stabilizer from the myriad of choices on the market. There are so many to choose from that it makes my head spin.
I would love this book! I have an embroidery machine and haven’t touched anything to do with embroidery. This would be the kick-start I need. Thanks!
How to center and embroider t-shirts. They never look very good!
Which stabilizer to use?? So many choices?? I’ve tried a couple of the basics so far, so the next challenge is tricky fabrics like minky!
So far I have only done embroidery on pieces of fabric that I then use in a project. I’m not sure if I could get the placement right on a piece of clothing.
It’s really hard for me to start a project. Fear of failing.
I just bought an updated sewing/machine embroidery machine just a few months ago and I am learning how to embroider with new things. It is so exciting.
I recently purchased an embroidery machine. There are so many things I want to make, I don’t know where to begin. This book would be a tremendous aide.
getting the design straight on the fabric
No matter how much I try, I cannot embroider on T-Shirts. I don’t know how many knit shirts I have thrown away!