Multi-hooping and cutwork

Both techniques are some of the most difficult techniques to do in machine embroidery, but, my class last weekend, found out that it is the most easiest technique. Multi-hooping can be done in so many different ways, and I myself have tried a multitude of them, until I finally settled on one: an oldie but a goldie. When I first started machine embroidery, I always wanted to create table cloth or a bed cover that was embroidered all over. Part of that is heritage, as embroidery is considered a woman’s forte and she has complete control over it. Coming from an Eastern culture, where women were not considered equal to men, hand embroidery, hand sewing or for that matter anything with a needle and thread was considered a woman’s domain. I learned to embroider and sew at a very young age. I was six when I first took needle and thread in hand to sew clothes for my younger sister’s dolls. When it came to embroidery,  I was the preferred one in my family, especially clothes belonging to my Mother.

When I purchased my first embroidery machine, my dream was to create embroideries that would be all over the item. The first technique I ever used was the Embird basting box around the design. Interestingly, since then I have used many other techniques…only to return to the one that I used at first. It really is a simple technique and requires absolutely no guesswork or templates. Last weekend, the ladies in my class found it out as well, and it was such a joy to see their finished projects, and especially their expressions. Not only did the ladies learn how to multi-hoop without any extra gadget, except their embroidery machine, stabilizer and hoop, but they also learned how to embroider the edge cutwork technique the easy way.

I had taught the same technique two weekends ago, and it has been a joy receiving their emails letting me know how much they enjoyed and learned in the class. I was particularly impressed, when I received an email from one of my students letting me know that she finished the other pillowcase by herself at home. YAY! Here are the pillowcases that were finished in class.  And to think these ladies did all this in three and a half hours….such professional results. Yes, I’m a proud parent/teacher, LOL.

What impresses me the most in every one of my classes are the colors selected by students, and how different each and every one’s project looks when finished. The design is from Vintage Borders I collection, which is one of my favorite ones as far as cutwork goes. Well…they are all my favorites, but in this collection I had introduced a new way to create the cutwork edges. Usually cutwork is created using satin stitches and the trick in creating the cutwork edge is to create a tight enough satin which will seal the trimmed edge of the fabric. This has to be done properly otherwise the edge will roll and after several washes it will mimic a roller coaster. What I mean by that is that the edge will not lay flat. The best way that I found in creating cutwork edges using the satin stitch, was to create an underlay that would flatten the fibers, yet help the top satin stitches in being raised even when set at a loose density. This is considered the ideal cutwork edge and I have several collections where I use the technique. In Vintage Borders, however, I created a motif stitch, which when doubled onto itself locks the fabric edge, but keeps it flat. It is definitely a great collection for cutwork embroidery for bedsheets, pillowcases, or any other home decor item.

I look forward to my next class on the same technique and teaching more about learning an advanced technique….only to find out that it is a “cinch”.