How to do Cutwork Machine Embroidery a Step-By-Step Tutorial

Hi Friends,

I am so getting ready for Easter and spring too!  Our trees are starting to bud and I've started my garden seeds indoors.  Warmer weather is on its way!! 

I want to show you a really sweet project cutwork Easter project.  It is a cutwork egg with Easter bunny inside.  You can read below what I am going to do with them.

This pattern comes from Advanced Embroidery Designs.   My machine's largest hoop size is 5 x 7 and this pattern is 5 x 8 I was shocked, but it works.  I don't understand why.  I figured it would say pattern too large for my machine, but it still fits inside my hoop.  I can't promise for your own machine though.  I actually picked this pattern up free last year.  They have monthly free designs.  If it wouldn't have been free, I would have been afraid to purchase it in thinking it wouldn't work for my machine.

This really is an easy project so don't let the name of the website fool you.  It took me about 1 hour 30 minutes to complete. 

1.  Choose your fabric.  Best to use a small print.  I used a bright pink tone on tone for the first one and white thread.  For the second I used an off white tone on tone fabric with pastel variegated thread.  Have a full bobbin wound for this project too as well as a fresh sharp embroidery needle.

2.  Hoop fabric right side up with a water soluble stabilizer underneath.  Both are in the hoop.  Hoop tightly. 

3. The first stitch out is a straight stitch around the outside of the egg. Remove your hoop from the machine and cut away a bit of the fabric on the outside of this stitching. I cut away about a half inch which you can see below.  Look closely.  The stitching is on the INSIDE of where I cut.  I cut out a half inch on the OUTSIDE of the stitching.  REMEMBER THESE TWO THINGS:  1. ONLY REMOVE YOUR HOOP FROM THE MACHINE. DO NOT REMOVE THE FABRIC FROM THE HOOP!  2.  DO NOT CUT YOUR WATER SOLUBLE STABILIZER.  ONLY CUT AWAY THE FABRIC!  (I'm not trying to sound bossy here ;-)  I just really want to emphasize these two things.) 

 

Cut very close to the stitch line for best results. On the first sample I did, the pink one, I was afraid to cut too close and that left frayed edges that were difficult to clean up. On the second sample I cut as close as 1/32" to 1/64" of an inch, very close to the stitching!

 

4. The second stitch out is an outline of the inner part of the egg and an outline of the interior design.

5.  Again remove the hoop from your machine and cut away only the fabric between the bunny and the inner egg.  Keep the stabilizer intact.  An applique scissors is a very handy tool to cut close to the stitching line.

6.  The third stitch out is all the lace work and design.  This is the part that takes the longest.  Just sit back and check out some blogs and read a bit while the machine does it's magic.

7.  For the fourth and final stitch out it is a decorative stitch between the inner and outer egg lining.  You can change thread color if you like for this.

8.  Remove hoop and remove fabric from hoop.  Cut stabilizer close to the outside of the egg and place entire project in water.  This will dissolve the water soluble stabilizer.  Dry.  Press.  Enjoy!!!

I'm going to glue the pink one to the outside of an Easter card and attach a pretty ribbon as well.  For the pastel on the right I'm going to stitch it to a placemat.  I'll either put that placemat in the center of the table with a basket of candy or I will make 6 more of these and make a total of 7 placemats for everyone at our Easter dinner.  I've got to decide on that first. 

Enjoy and Easter Blessings to you,
Nancy
This post links to:
_