April Embroidery Lesson

Pin tuck heart

The software embroidery lesson for April was heirloom embroidery techniques. Years ago, I did a little heirloom sewing and so I was excited about working through this lesson. The first part of the lesson was to create a heart with pin tucks. I used a double needle with my embroidery unit. I wouldn't have thought that was possible!

I stitched the heart on a piece of pink cotton that looks like taffeta. I used a light interfacing under the pin tucks and then inserted a tear away stabilizer when I was ready to stitch the decorative edge. This heart would be a cute embellishment on a pocket.

I may have had less fullness at the top of the heart had I used a 5.5mm stitch plate. I don't have one and decided that I wouldn't use one enough to warrant purchasing one. The directions also stated to use a number nine darning foot or the number 15 embroidery foot. Usually, I use the number 26 embroidery foot; however its opening is too small for the double needle.

Circular design made with a wing needle

Part two of the lesson was to create a piece of embroidery on linen using a wing needle.  I don't have linen fabric in my stash; but, someone left a strip of toweling like fabric on the free table so I picked it up for this project!

I used a wing needle to create the design. I didn't do all that well getting the design centered; but, in my defense, the toweling isn't square. For the sample on the left, I used the wing needle to create the outer edge treatment. For the sample on the right, I used a regular size 90 top stitch needle. I used a water soluble stabilizer and perhaps, I should have also used a tear away stabilizer.

It was fun watching the design stitch; but, I don't know how I would use this technique in my stitching projects.

Part three of the lesson was to create a piece of shadow embroidery. I was supposed to use cream batiste for the bottom layer. I didn't have a cream batiste so I used a light weight muslin fabric. I used a water soluble stabilizer as well as a piece of tear away.

Shadow trapunto

The first time I stitched it, the red flowers weren't round and so the candlewick stitches stitched at the end of the process didn't match the design. I tried different fabrics; I tried different stabilizers. After three hours, I stopped trying to make the red flowers round.

The leaves didn't distort. Perhaps, I should have tried a different underlay pattern for the red flowers. Perhaps, I should have stitched the circles after the leaves. I decided to save that learning for another day.

Entredeux example

After stitching the flowers, I overlaid a piece of organza on the top. For the piece on the right, I free motioned stitched in cream silk thread a line around each of the leaves and flowers.

I can see these made up a sachets. I might try it again if I could have better results stitching the flowers. I did find switching back to the single hole stitch plate gave me better results.

Part four of the lesson was to create a piece of Entredeux. I had planned to use a 60 weight cotton thread on a light weight cotton fabric; but, then decided to stitch it on a piece of organza using a 40 weight polyester thread. Again, I got to use the wing needle and water soluble stabilizer.

I had some puckering as I created the design and possibly a lighter thread would have helped. Perhaps, I should have used an extra layer of stabilizer.  I took the photo before I rinsed away the stabilizer. This technique would make a great cuff embellishment.

Part five of the lessons was to join two pieces of linen together using faggoting as the method. I should have let my feather stitch overlap a bit more of the fabric so I would have had a wider space; but, it wasn't hard to create this little sample.

Faggoting example

This might make a fun way to join quilt sections together. . .at least it is a technique to consider! While my samples aren't terrific, I created and stitched them. I'm doing better than I ever have as I have completed all four of the lessons! I'm patting myself on the back!!

Last month, I trained nine lifeguard instructors in a review session. I enjoy these trainings because I get to work with a dear friend. We can finish one another's sentences!!! I trained 19 in Basic Life Support CPR. I trained 18 in lay rescuer CPR and I trained 10 babysitters.

I also went to a service award banquet and was awarded a 25 year of service plaque. Gosh, it is hard to believe that I will have my 26th anniversary of employment at the hospital in May. The time has flown!