I am making a quilt and wanted to dress up the 3 inch sash that I am using with some simple embroidered designs, but my smallest hoop is a 4x4.

I went over to the sewing store speak to the “expert”. I told her how I was planning to do it and she promptly told me that would never work and proceeded to instruct me on a very intricate process. By the time she was done my eyes were crossed and I was almost ready to forget the whole thing. Another lady that happened to be standing there while we were speaking also had an idea for the process that she thought was a little easier. It wasn’t and now I am really confused.

However, I am a little bull headed and walked away and thought I would try my original plan to see if it would work, what’s to loose?

1. I purchased some Pellon 950F Fusible Backing.
2. Came home cut my 3 inch sash strips and marked the locations for the embroidery designs
3. Cut small pieces of the backing and ironed them onto the back of the sash strips in the location for the design.
4. Placed the 3 inch sash strips in the center of the 4x4 hoops, with the marks for the designs in the approximate center of the hoop. I did not stretch them very tight in the hoop, just firm and flat.
5. Placed the hoop in the embroidery machine and used the adjustment arrows of the machine to line up the start point right over the center of the mark.
6. The machine started and did a great job.
7. Repeated 4 and 5 until all my designs were on the strip.

Sorry if I bored some of you more experience quilters, but I am just a beginner and this just thrilled me.

I’ll have to go back to the store and show that “expert”.

Thanks for the idea. I am learning too!

Looks really good to me!! But, I'm no expert! :roll:

You know an Expert is just a Drip under Pressure! LOL
Listen, I'm with you just try it what have you got to lose. Maybe a piece of fabric? The only thing, your fabric is really not stable if it not completely in the hoop. But for the size design you are doing it really doesn't need to be.
And Hey it worked for you, and thats what matters.

looks great to me!!! and you have given me ideas, thanks!!!

That is exactly how I do mine!! Good job.

The only issue I would see is that by using fusible interfacing, your fabric is now thicker than other parts of the top and may not hang or quilt similarly. You'll have to see how it goes.

I have also done embroidery for narrow strips of fabric. I don't cut my fabric for these strips until after I have the embroidery done. Then I cut away both sides from the center strip and use them for strip piecing. I need simple ways to do things. If that were me, I think I would have gotten a little flustered trying to figure out what she was telling you to do. Guess I have little patience for stuff like that. Kudos to you for figuring it out and getting it done! It looks fantastic!

Nice job. I'm still learning too, so thank you for the tips.

the other thing u could of done with ur strip is used wash away stablizer, that way u would not of had any stablizeer on the back, but this is how i look at things. if i can make it work , than it has to be the right way for me. if u make it work for u than its the right way for u to.

I do the same thing, except I use a fusible, washaway stabillizer that is made by floriani. When i' m done doing the embroidery, I steam it with the iron & the stabalizer wrinkles up & can be removed. Easily

Thank you so much for this lesson as I am very new to Embroidery also and I am sure I will use this down the line!!

Hey yet another idea to ponder over...really cool....I have to say, :cry: That on Saturday, I picked up my 2 new machines (Janome 6600P, and the 350E embroidery) and can't even set them up...noppers, there they sit waiting...I'm currently working on a quilt that is due by the end of the week for a auction...and I need to rearrange my sewing room...but it is sure great to see new ideas....

It's funny how I got into embroidery and quilting.

A couple of months ago my wife, the quilter in the family, brought home a used Baby Lock embroidery machine. It sat around for a couple of weeks and she did not use it. I got curious and started playing around with it. It was neat, but very limited in function so I traded it in on a Brother PE780D.

I made several Disney quilt blocks for my wife to use in a quilt, but she was busy on another project, so I decided to try making a quilt.

She had me using her 40+ year old Singer, that did not cut it for me. I went and bought myself a new Brother Runway.

Now I'm hooked and it is something my wife and I enjoy doing together.

If your method works continue. A suggestion:1. Hoop only your stabilizer. 2. Use basting spray on the back of your fabric where you plan to embroidery. 3.Place your fabric right side up on the hooped stabilizer. 4. Then stitch your design. The basting spray will hold your fabric to the stabilizer. You can then release the stabilizer when you have your stitching done. (I used wash away stabilizer when I did mine and just put the designs in the sink to remove the stabilizer.Wrapped them in a towel to remove excess moisture and let them air dry. Then pressed. I used flannel rectangles and they stayed true to size.) This is only an idea. It worked for me.

Thank-you. Thank-you. Thank-you!!!! I have a machine with the same 4 inch limitation and have had a strong desire to add embroidery to a quilt. You've given me a starting point.

I know first-hand this method does work. This would certainly work for the sashes. I have not done flannel, but sounds like a great idea to try out.

Necessity is the mother of invention. And some of us don't like being told we can't do something.

Purvissp, You did great. My suggestion, also, use a wide piece of fabric the next time you do any embroidery in the hoop..at least 5" wide. Using a stabilizer is also a better idea than a fusible interfacing. You'll find better help on this Board than at most stores. Eiltcoq.

I embroider napkins with my 4x4 hoop. I hoop Glad Press 'n Seal with the sticky side up. Place napkin and pin each side close to the hoop. Float stabilizer underneath and stitch. I even repair my press 'n seal for the next napkin by placing a smaller piece underneath ... just need enough to stick to the one hooped. Never had a problem and have stitched dozens of them. I use polyester thread and for the white ones, bleach in the laundry when needed.

Enjoy your "together time"...... :) ....just don't fight over the stash :(

I think you are the smart one!!!!
I have done embroidery this way too.

A lot of time, you just have to go with your guts-no matter what an "expert" tells you-looks great!

Great ideas ladies and love this tutorial. I'm sooooo new to the embroidery / quilting world so my question is... could you also use tear away stabilizer underneath, or should you always use something on top? Hope this makes sense. Thanks for the great info!

floriana also makes a stabilizer called PERFECT STICK, you hoop it, score it with a pin, peel top slick layer off and it's sticky underneath. i've used tons of it, works great.
donna

You did great! I quilt all of my baby quilts on my embroidery machine. I use single stitch designs, and leave my hoop on my machine at all times. I only move the quilt. It works great. I love it cause I am one of those that CANNOT learn how to stipple.

Very good job.

I have found that the impossibe is possible when you don't know it is impossible. Great job!! :thumbup:

Looks good to me to, keep up the good work.

I love this idea. Never would have thought of embroidering on the sashing but it looks great and I will sure try it. ♥

How cool is that...good for you! Bet the wife is happy too, she's got a partner in crime! LOL

The only problem with tear away is that is can distort your stitches and fabric if you are not careful. The only time I use something on top of the fabric is if the fabric has nap, like terry cloth, toweling, velvets, etc. and it is usually something that dissolves with steam or water, but I am not an expert, I just do things that have worked for me. Hope this helps.

Some folks are just too smart for their own good and think there is only one way to do things.

Great work purvissp...Some people just make things so complicated....

Julia9967 - you mentioned embroidering instead of stippling... I presume you mean though the top,batting and backing,you also mentioned single thread designs where would I look for those... Thank you for any info

Can you elaborate just a little? I am very interested.

Also, I would think one might be able to do several small designs on a strip and then cut and use at corner stones? I have been toying with that idea but haven't tried yet.

Marysewfun

You did well to find a workable solution for an already cut 3 inch border. For machine embroidery, I use a wider strip, and cut away the excess fabric for strip quilting later. I often use both the (top) clear plastic stabilizer and the washaway tearaway med. weight stabilizer (underneath). I have a brother Innovis and sometimes I just place a stabilizer square ( 8" X 8") under the closed hoop laying flat on the feed dogs. It works just fine. If your fabric is 100% cotton, you can first tear away the stabilizer around the edges of the design, then just soak the rest in a basin of cool water.Then let it air dry on a hanger then press flat. It comes out perfect

I like how you did this . I put designs on satin sashes all the time and I use a tearaway stabalizer the size alittle bigger than the hoop then I spray 505 craft glue on it and center the satin strip. the ones I do are usually 4 inches wide but same concept.

Looks great, neat idea. I am still learning on my project runway.
Was wondering if you needed to have the whole hoop covered or if you could do strips, now I know
Thank you

You might want to try a sticky back stabilizer. Some times when I want to do several small items, I stick the stabilizer to the large hoop, and then I move the design to where I want it placed.