Insights For Successfully Putting Designs on Garments

This project, while it doesn't show the classic templates method for positioning designs, demonstrates some other very important points on the way to create beautifully embroidered items. Pay attention to the elegant way of matching colors, and finding the perfect position for your designs on garment.

The tips below have been emailed to us by June Knobbe from Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Thank you, June! And here they come, "as is".

Stitchinging Acorn Designs On Blowse

When I saw this acorn design, I knew I wanted it for one of my favorite blouses. It had that Old English look.

Placement was tricky. I always like to test sew out a design on similar scrap material first to see how well it sews and what the color combinations look like. Then I cut out the design and use it to help decide upon placement:



That along with lines drawn with a fabric pen that washes out is the method I use.

I'm not going to give a lesson here on how to hoop. The directions that came with your machine are probably much better than any I could give you. Plus each machine is different. I will give you a hint. If you are sewing a design around the neckline, I have found that for a blouse, if you hoop it upside down, and then flip the pattern, you don't have a lot of material in your way. Just make sure to flip the pattern. For this blouse, since it's stretchy, I used a thick stabilizer underneath. Since it has a slight nap I used a water-soluble stabilizer on top. I usually use a thin water-soluble stabilizer on top on just about every fabric. In my opinion, it makes the stitches stand out a tiny bit and looks more "finished" to me.



With only 4 color changes this pattern was a breeze to sew out. I put it on one side of the neckline and then reversed it on the other side. I changed the suggested colors to 3 various shades of brown, and a highly contrasting shade of green so that the design would show up. (Notice the cute little pattern on the tops of the acorns? I think this is a nice touch to this design.) Using the same thread color as the material is a very elegant look, but not what I wanted here. It always helps if you can visualize the look you want before you even begin your project. It doesn't always turn out that way but it's a good plan.

After stitching, I cut away the back stabilizer, and rinsed away the water-soluble stabilizer on top. I let it dry and it's ready to wear:





  • If you're curious about the design used for decorating this lovely blowse - it's from Decorative Ornaments collection.
  • Cutaway stabilizer and water soluble topping, necessary for embroidering on stretchy items like this blowse.


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