Machine embroidery is easy, it’s the placement that’s tricky! That’s the phrase that I’ve said hundreds of times either on Sewing With Nancy or during seminars. Now I can confidently say, Machine embroidery is easy and now you can have perfect design placement! The reason? Perfect Placement Software—Wearables. The software provides two types of embroideries: Placement guidelines and beautiful embellishments.
This software is a team effort—aren’t most things in life? Eileen Roche of Designs in Machine Embroidery has the software know-how, and I worked on the placement guidelines concept. The software combines Placement Guidelines (embroideries that are outlines) plus ten decorative embroidery collections. Using the Placement Guidelines, you can see the exact design placement on your garment before you ever sit down to sew. Plus, the embroidery designs can be resized, rotated, and perfectly positioned. Let me show you how!
Step 1—Select the Placement Guide—it’s an embroidery
Here are the categories of the Placement Guidelines: pockets, yokes, pocket flaps, V-necklines, pant yokes, cuffs, and collars. Plus, you can see some of the embellishing embroideries.
- Select the icon on the menu for the placement outlines.
- Select the outline that visually resembles your project.
- Print out the template.
- Cut along the lines and position on your project to test if the two shapes are compatible.
- Save the template for future projects. (Lands’ End will be getting a lot of free advertising during this blog!)
- Check if a modification is needed to the outline. The center front line on the outline is too wide for my cardigan. I measured the distance between the marking on the template and the actual center front. The vertical outline should be moved 5/8″. One of the great things about the Perfect Placement Software—Wearables is that the outlines can be customized. (Wow, I need a new tape measure!)
- Here’s a screen shot of how I moved the vertical outline, using the inch grids as a guide. (In the software you can choose to work in inches or millimeters.)
Step 2—Merge your favorite embellishment design
- Next, select the Embroidery Icon and choose one of 10 design collections, or import designs that you already own. I selected designs from the Nancy Collection—imagine that!
- Position the designs within the outline. The software will allow you to rotate, flip, and perfectly position the designs exactly where you’d like them to be!
- Print out a template and double-check your work. If necessary, reposition the decorative embroidery designs.
- Next, copy the design in the software and flip it for the right side embroidery.
- Add additional embroidery if you’d like.
- Again, double-check your work.
Step 3—Hoop a Sticky Back Tear-Away Stabilizer; stitch the Placement Guide.
- Choose a stabilizer of your choice. I chose a sticky back tear-away stabilizer. Another option would be to hoop a tear-away stabilizer and then use a spray adhesive to make the stabilizer tacky.
- Stitch the outline or placement guideline.
- Use a pin to perforate the paper covering along the outline stitching and the area that will hold the garment to the stabilizer.
- Tear away the paper cover.
Step 4—Smooth the wearable onto the Placement Guide.
- Align the garment to the stitched placement guide.
- Notice that I pressed a cut-away fusible mesh stabilizer to the underside of the cardigan. The addition of that stabilizer makes it easier to remove the garment from the sticky stabilizer.
Step 5—Embroider!
- Attach the hoop to the machine.
- When embroidering knits, add a wash-away top stabilizer.
- Then, let the fun begin. Embroider the decorative designs.
Step 6—Clean up your work!
- Remove the top stabilizer and trim away the underneath stabilizers.
- Note: I used a strip of painters tape to keep the upper neckline attached to the stabilizer.
Step 7—Add the embroidery to the other parts of the garment
- I used the same hooped stabilizer and patched the openings with scrap pieces of the sticky back stabilizer.
- The right front embroidery was moved down in the hoop before I stitched the placement guideline.
- It was magical to see that the right side embroidery was a mirror image of the left side—aside from the addition of the fourth embroidery. The placement was perfect due to the alignment with the placement guides!
Perfect Placement Software—Wearables is brand spankin’ new! Let me know what your next embroidery project will be and a random winner will be chosen on February 9. Thanks to Designs in Machine Embroidery for working with me on this project.
Bye for now,
Baby quilts for babies with mothers in prison , closes for them.
I have nominated you for One Lovely Blog Award and The Very inspiring Blogger Award. http://marlaken.wordpress.com/2013/02/20/the-one-lovely-blog-awardthe-very-inspiring-blogger-award/
A quilt block for a friend’s son who has ALS.
BTW, this software looks AMAZING! I hope you have it at the Expo here in WA at the end of the month!
My next project(s) is towel in a bag for my granddaughters.
my next project Nancy, will be to try and finish some of the projects i have already started,,that new software”perfect placement embroidery”, looks like something i could really enjoy using,,something else to save for.
iram
Well, I’m not sure of what my next project will be, I have 1 great grand baby, 2 new ones just in the last few months, another due in March,plus 10 grand children, and the list goes on and on, just not enough time to get all of them done. This book will surely help a great deal, love every thing you do. Have so many of your things, can’t get enough.
My next embroidery project is placing designs on hand towels to be given to seniors at Christmas time. It’s one of our guild’s community projects which I truly enjoy doing. The seniors get a towel with their Christmas baskets. Last year we did placemats which were well received. Nancy, thank you so much for all you share, it makes learning so easy.
Hi Nancy, I always appreciate your knowledge and guidance. I am going on a cruise in May and would like to make a dress for formal night. Something fairly simple that I can embellish upon with some pretty embroidery to dress it up. Placement is always a problem for me though so I need all the help I can get !!
I always have multiple projects going at once. Purses and sweatshirt jackets seem to be my favorite at present. However, I have a new set of sheets that are crying out for embellishment on the pillowcases – so, that’s probably my next project!
My next project will be embroidering on zip up hooded sweatshirts for a little girl and a little boy. This program will certainly make any project with positioning a breeze.
My granddaughters birthday is in March, and I also would like to make a jacket for myself maybe with embroidery down the arm for something different. I might make a hat for granddaughter or a fleece jacket with embroidery. I always appreciate your instruction.
Barb
My next embroidery project I am working on is to sew up 32 tiny chef aprons with chefs hats (toque) to place on some yummy balsamic vinegar bottles. I plan to embroider them with the Vegas Sign and “what happens in the kitchen, stays in the kitchen” with the emblem of the company on it and since I like to personalize things I will put the gift recipients name on the hats (either embroider or iron on). I will make a small pocket to hold a gift card. I have to start now so they will be ready to give out for Christmas to the people my husband works with. (seems like I just finished the personalized rug mugs for 2012 Christmas!). I would love to win the new software so I might be tempted to sew something for myself for a change
My next project is some purses to be used as gifts.
My next project is embroiderying jumpers with matching purses I’m making for my granddaughters. I struggle with proper placement, and think this software sounds great
My next project will be embroidering the jumpers I’m making for my two granddaughters. They love purses, so I’m also doing matching purses, and embroidering their names on them.
I am in charge of the retreat for my guild this year in September and I am starting to work on the ideas for the theme I have chosen (Welcome to Fall Y’all) in September. I have bought a couple of designs to use for some small trinkets for give-aways. So I am trying to figure out a way to make a few a month so I can be done before September.
This looks perfect…Just what we all need help with! My next project is a sweatshirt hoodie…I am nervous about placement…lol Thanks
Nancy, you have rescued me with this embroidery program. I will use it to add neckline embroideries to knit tops i am making! Thanks for such a clear description.
Hi Nancy! I am relatively new to embroidery. Being somewhat of a perfectionist, I am finding I spend a lot of time on placement, so this sounds wonderful. My next project is embroidering a “Daddy Diaper Dootie” apron for my son-in-law. Your creative abilities continue to amaze!
I am going to add embroidery to a recycled sweatshirt.
I’m making quilted tote with an embroidered peacock on the front. I am delighted you’ve found a way to combine the designs with placement templates. I’ve got some tops a friend wants me to embroider but I’ve not been confident about placement. Thanks. This will be my next investment in my embroidery.
Fabulous information! fom just towels or personalized cosy blankets
My next project will be a t-shirt for my son. Hopefully I’ll get it done tomorrow afternoon.
I just finished embroidering on toilet paper as a useful joke for my daughter that is in college. We went to see her and she asked us to bring her toilet paper. She is always telling me that she wants everything monogrammed so I thought I should do what she asked and monogram the toilet paper. She loved it and couldn’t wait to place it on a shelf in the bathroom. Love the looks of the software.
Nancy,
I’ll be making a onesie for our seventh grandson and a T-Shirt for the big brother. This program could help me so much to place the embroidery perfectly. Thanks for the opportunity to win it!!!!!!
I have a jean jacket that is just crying for embroidery. Need to get it done so I am ready for spring. I’ve been waiting for software like this that would help me with placement
Too many projects, not enough time! I am working on doll clothes for my youngest daughter. The flat construction idea is making the sewing much easier. Thanks! I would like to try to add some embroidered touches to them. Maybe to the bottom of a skirt or the edge of the hoodie. The possibilities are endless. This software sound great and I am adding it to my wish list.
My good friend just got a new Babylock embroidery machine and has so far just gotten it out of the box and is reading the manual. She needs to take a class. But I would just love to give her this softwear to get her going. She wants to put a friend’s name on a sweatshirt, for a guy friend in a wheel chair to cheer him up. To see his name in lghts..so to speak.
I love this software. I have been a little afraid that I might ruin a blouse or sweat shirt with embroidery. This would take the fear out of it. As far as quilts go, my next project will be an embroidered heirloom piece that I have wanted to do for a long time.
About 1 year ago I purchased a heart shaped set of machine embroideries embellishments plus a sweatshirt makeover from you and want to make some sweatshirts into embellished jackets for friends. I have been dragging my feet because of the placement of embroideries. This software sounds like just the ticket for my needs.
I am making a first communion dress for my granddaughter and do not want to make a mistake on the bodice. This software will take away the fear of a mistake. Thanks for making a great product, you always think of the neatest products.
Carol
I’ve only had my machine for a few months, but I’m absolutely loving it! My next garment project to embroider is a chambray shirt which will be a birthday gift for a friend. She and her hubby make and sell Maple Syrup, and I plan to add a maple lace collar, cuffs, and pocket. I’m still on a sharp learning curve…I broke my shoulder 2 months after buying my machine and couldn’t even begin to think about using it for 3 months after the accident. Having this product would be a godsend. Thanks, Nancy, for all that you do! I’ve been sewing for over 40 yrs., but I still learn lots from your program!!! I DVR every episode that is on my local PBS channel. I don’t have much room for other programing. ;7)
Trying to finish up a multi-hoop Santa project. It’s looking pretty good. Would love to try your new software.
I have a jacket that I’ll be working on. The Placement software looks like it would be a great help!
Will this product work on windows 7? The product description says Windows XP
I’m working on embroidering some baby tops for my new granddaughter, And I’m having such a good time !!!! I recently began embroidering and I just LOVE it. I purchased your trace and create Florida bag templates and I’m looking forward to making one very soon. I plan to embroider something on it also. Thank you for all you do for the sewing community.
I have several sweaters I am waiting to embroider, and I have been afraid because of the placement. This package would be a wonderful help, ad I will look like I have new sweaters.
This software is AWESOME! I would love to try it out! I’m making my Granddaughter some t-shirts for her 10th BD and am planning on embroidering them and ‘blinging’ them with all sorts of embellishments!
My next project is a tee with spring leaves embroidered on the front and maybe back. Your new sofware would be perfect for helping me decide where to place the designs. Looks like a must have embroidery tool.
Violet
I’m going to do some neckline embroidery on a knit top next, so this topic really caught my eye!
I have the original Perfect Placement software you produced but don’ think it will work with this goofy Windows 8 laptop so I am glad to see the new version. My next project is going to be a “shoulder spray” of white roses from the left shoulder down to about the bustline on a black knit pullover. Using this would be a LOT easier for correct placement! Thanks to you and Eileen for all your collaborations!
My next embroidery project will be to work with my Accuquilt die cutter and to digitize embroidery placement and decorative elements for the die cut shapes. Then I hope to use those embellished shapes in either a quilt or clothing. We will see when I’m done with the desigining!
My next project will be a shirt with machine embroidery. This information has been very useful for that project.
My next embroidery project will be adding text to the back of my new Grandson, Bohden’s onesies! Proud Nana. It will be great to actually know where the name will appear.
Next project will be pillows; I’d like to do an embroidery with yarn couching in the mix.
I would like t try embrodiery on sweatshirts. Haven’t tried any yet due to placement issues. This new software sounds like the answer.
Thanks
I have ice skating dresses that I’ve designed for my daughter that I really want to add embroidery as embellishment. It took a long time for me to make these and the material is lycra. The placement software would really ease my fear of screwing it up.
I’m working on some in-the-hoop pouches for my sister. Also some embroidered shirts for a dentist as part of my day job. This looks like a great new tool. Thanks Nancy.
My next project is a baby boy quilt in white and blues, each block will be embroidered.
My next project is a twin sized quilt for my granddaughter. It will be white and ecru and each block will be embroidered.
thank you Nancy & your team for continuing to broaden our horizons and creative options; I see this as a great tool to turn something simple into something special; sewing through my stash, I am donating whatever my imagination turns into something useful. I do have older model embroidery machine, and limitations. I find your ideas useful for me to try to adapt to my needs
My husband has some shirts and a jacket he would like me to embroider. My past attempts have been poor placement and designs that are not sized properly fir the garment…results=ripping out and trying over, or another good garment to wear while doing some ugly job. The software would help me have fun and produce a quality product I can be proud of.
Hi Nancy, I am new to embroidery and have done wearable T-shirts for the grands. I can’t wait to do somethings for myself. I am learning so much from you and would love to do some spring sweaters and jackets!
My next projects are some knit tops with round and v shaped necklines. This would help alot as I’ve never attempted this.
My next project is a child’s size 3 jacket with Easter embroidery o it. Could really come in handy for placement.
I have some sweatshirts waiting to be made into jackets. This would be an excellent trial for placement designs before attempting to do a sweater. Love the color and your design on the sweater. Keep designing.
Would this help me embroider quilts? Love making personalized quilts! I’m making one for my great-nephew who is due on Valentines Day and I want to put his birth info on this special quilt…..
My next project is to embroider on 7 inch squares names and wedding date for mason jar tops for a country style wedding for a friend. My friend is mother of the groom and she wants to fill mason jars with colored M&M’s the color of the wedding that say Marry Me and pictures of the bride and groom on the M&M’s. I would love the Perfect Placement software to held me for placing in the middle of the fabric to do more than one in the hoop. I watched Eileen’s video and it made it so much easier.
My next project is a Mother of the Bride outfit. This would be great to have for that important event!
This would be the PERFECT software for 2 Henleys that need a bit of a facelift for the new season. TERRIFIC idea.
Since all of the grandchildren are past the “please sew this for me” age, I need to find more ‘ME’ ways to use my embroidery machine. This looks like a great addition to anyone’s sewing ‘notions’. Thanks for ALL of your creative ideas.
My next project will be to embroider a sort of Scandinavian design on a sweatshirt. Your project here is of great interest to me and would really help since I’ve only been doing machine embroidery for a year.
thanks!
My next project will be blanket sleepers for my two baby grandsons. I want to give them each their own design.
Hi Nancy….My next project will be some old linens and tops of my aunt’s that I have been afraid of ruining. I cannot wait to try this new software.
Thanks
I have some of my aunt’s linens and tops that I have been afraid of ruining. This software will definitely make me more confident, It will be my first when I win this!!
Hi. I am new to machine embroidery. I will be attempting to monogram a bag for my daughter. This looks like a must have product. Thank you for the giveaway.
My next project is a shirt for my grandson. This software is the perfect confidence booster to try more involved projects.
I’ve got a black linen blouse that my mother gave me and it is screaming for embroidery. I’ve hesitated putting it under the machine for fear of placement issues. This sounds like the solution. Yeah
My next embroidery project is going to be a “mini-quilt” handbag, by Eileen Roche, that is featured in the “Designs In Machine Embroidery”, Volume 78 magazine, or the Machine Embroidered Quilt Class that I purchased a few weeks ago, with the same techniques from Craftsy.com, by Eileen Roche! So excited to try these! I know I would like to have the Perfect Placement Software, but need to put this on the back burner for right now!
My next embroidery is a demin vest for my grand son
Hi Nancy,
I attend lots of classes, have a great machine, but am so afraid to try anything on my own! I have great ideas!! Just need help!!
Thank you.
Sweatshirts from Embroider it yourself. It will be my first attempt. Looking forward to it.
My next project is a knit top for DD. Would love to use this for the project!
My next project is for me! I’m going to Florida 2/20 and need a large over the shoulder bag and wanted to do it without a pattern, just use my imagination then put a knock out large embroidery on it with bling.
Hi Nancy,
My next projects are jean pockets and shoulders of T-Shirts. Great software! Thank you!
My next project will be a sweatshirt embroidery for my husband.
My next project is a sweater I’ve just purchased for the purpose of embroidering something on the front. I could use all the help I can get.
I have several shirts I want to do but haven’t, due to being unsure how it will turn out!! Lol. Would love to win the software. Thanks
My next project is a white shirt I have been putting off doing.
Finally, a way to put embroidery on garments and get it where you want it. Nice software and will have to order.
Thanks
Hi Nancy! My next project will be one of the bags you designed. I purchased the book and CD at a recent “For the Love of Sewing” conference in Shreveport, Louisiana. Thank you for a wonderful time.