Sewing is not just for making clothes at home. It is a life skill that can provide a rewarding career in fashion design, textile art, pattern drafting, home-based business or as a teacher and sewing instructor.
With computers popping up wherever you look, even sewing machines are being designed with on-board computers chips. Sewing stitches is now as easy as pushing a button. Today's sewing machines embroider as easily as choosing a design that allows the machine to stitch by itself.
Everything we wear is sewn or embroidered by a machine operator in a place of business, by a small manufacturer or by someone at home. From underwear to bridal gowns, stitches hold the fabric together and a sewing machine is used to complete the task. Today's sewing/embroidery machines are linked directly to a computer through a disk or cable or a read/writer box that translates the information to the machine. The computer is used to customize designs or program embroidery stitches to be used with the embroidery unit that comes with certain models of machines.
Most sewing machines come standard with electronic components. Some machines come standard with a built-in touch screen that allows for easy stitch and function selections. There are features such as on-board tutorials or a sewing advisor that helps the user in choosing standard sewing options (needle, foot and stitch choices). The ability to embroider is a great bonus that helps otherwise plain garment come alive with creativity.
The following is one way to use an embroidery sewing machine for a satisfying sewing project.
Supplies
* Sewing machine with embroidery capabilities
* Square pillow form
* Solid white or cream 100% cotton fabric
* Coordinating fabric for the front piecing
* Coordinating fabric larger than the pillow form for the backing
* Tear-away stabilizer
* Embroidery and bobbin thread
* Embroidery design of choice
Construction
1. Cut a piece of cotton fabric 4'' larger than the embroidery hoop.
2. Stabilize and hoop the fabric.
3. Embroider the design; changing thread colors when necessary.
4. When the motif is complete, remove the hoop from the machine and remove the fabric from the hoop. Press the design on the wrong side of the fabric with a press cloth.
5. Trim away the excess fabric within 1'' from the design. (A)
6. Measure the width and length of the pillow form (B). Measure the width and length of the embroidered fabric (C).
7. Add 1'' to the width and length measurement of the pillow form to allow for seams.
8. Cut two pieces of coordinating fabric the width of the embroidered fabric by a measurement that equals the length of the pillow form. With right sides together and using a 1/4'' seam, stitch the fabric to the top and bottom of the embroidered fabric as shown (D).
9. Cut two remaining piece of coordinating fabric the length of the pillow form measurement by a measurement that equals the width of the pillow form. With right sides together and using a 1/4'' seam, stitch the fabric to the left and right of the embroidered fabric as shown (e).
10. Press the seams toward the darker fabric.
11. With right side together, place the pillow top over the backing fabric and cut out the backing fabric. (F)
12. Pin and stitch the two layers together using a 3/4'' seam allowance. be sure to leave a large opening to insert the pillow form. (G)
13. Turn the pillow cover to the right side, insert pillow form and hand sew the opening closed. (H)
Optional: If those pesky corners stick out like cat ears, fold the top corners down (and the bottom corners up) 1-1/2'' - 2'' to each side of the pillow to form a mock box pillow. Secure with hand stitches and add buttons for a fashion accent. (I)
There are many great ideas that can be created from an embroidered piece of fabric. Students will love embroidering pieces they can make themselves such as purses, gift bags, stuffed animals, book covers, cards, pillows, shorts, jeans, t-shirts and CD holders.
Jeanine Twigg is the author of "Embroidery Machine Essentials" (Snap Source, ©2001).
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