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How To Free-Motion Embroider On Your Sewing Machine


Do you know that you can create embroidery patterns on your sewing machine even if it doesn't have this function? This technique has been popular with quilts for a long time, but if you don't, it can be useful for you too.
Mastering machine embroidery is a fun way to add unique ornaments to your sewing project and here I will show you how to:

Find all the right equipment

This is not the most challenging sewing technique in the world, but you still need some tools necessary to make the job easier. Of course, you should have had the basics like cloth, thread, a new needle, and a competent sewing machine. There are many machines with embroidery functions, but for this specific technique, all you need is a better sewing machine for beginners that allows you to change the stitch settings.
Apart from these tools, this is what you need:

A darkened foot

Have you ever been in the situation where the fabric is pulled with the needle when sewing? This problem can be solved with a darkened foot. This little tool is often rounded and looks a little different for different brands. Visit the official brand website of your sewing machine to find out which foot to use on yours.

An embroidery frame

embroidery frame
You don't really need to search for a hoop that goes best with your sewing machine. The key here is something you can use from back to front compared to hand embroidery. When placing the hoop on the machine, you must keep the fabric flat.
Feel free to opt for anything you deem appropriate, but the general rule here is that the smaller the hoop, the more control you will have. This is of great importance if you have to follow an intricate design because it allows you to push the hoop the way you want easily.
My favorite is a 6 "to 8" hoop. These hoops work in every type of design I've tried.

Embroidery Scissors

To correct mistakes that may occur here and there, you need a pair of sharp embroidery scissors or a sewing reaper. Usually, I have both by my side every time I board my machine.

Pencil or marker trick

These are to draw the design you need to embroider. Trick marker lines will disappear or disappear after a while. They can be found at a local store or online. This is beneficial in many ways, but the advantage I appreciate most is that I don't have to sew directly on the lines to hide them. I can get out of the lines a little and wash them later.
If you cannot find a trick marker, a pencil will work, but its lines will not disappear as the trick markers do.

Set up your machine

When you have gathered all the necessary tools, now is the time to prepare your sewing machine.
The following steps will consume less time if you have an easy-to-use machine. If you want to know what they are, read this article on What is the easiest sewing machine for beginners in the market to find out.
First, change your universal presser foot on your machine to a darkened foot. If this is the first time, consult the manual for instructions on how to do this job. If you can't find the user manual anywhere, check the manufacturer's website for that information.
The next step is to adjust the tension. Embroidery is something you want other people to see, it is important to create soft stitches. Having the correct tension setting is a determining factor to ensure that the thread and fabric cooperate. For the normal project, the setting is probably 4 or 5. For embroidery, you want to reduce the upper one to 1 or 2.
When you're done with the tension, you now need to get the dog out of the way. Some machines allow you to lower it, others do not. If yours belongs to the last category, there is a tool that I really love called the supreme slider. You put it on the feeding dog and sew right on top. It has a slippery surface, so your project will slide easily.
The reason here is that the feeding dog is the mechanism that directs the fabric through the machine. When you embroider, you want to have total control without anything in between.
The stitch length should be set to the lowest (usually 0) so you have more precision.

Start sewing

Now that you have all the tools you need by your side, the machine is set up correctly, it's time to start embroidering.
The hoop should hold the fabric well. For beginners, sometimes the lines wrinkle but don't worry too much, this happens to all newbies. You will get used to controlling it if you practice.
The test is necessary whenever you restart your machine. This will ensure that everything goes well when sewing your main piece of fabric.
When you practice, start with something easy like free lines and then venture into curves, round shapes or zigzag. The more ways you can do, the more possibilities you will have to embroider intricate designs.
However, remember to do your own experiment with fabric and thread too. Machine embroidery is more of a trial and error effort. Do not limit yourself to a type of design or a specific type of fabric, play and you can discover your strength or your favorite style.
When you are sure of your skills, try to make a bigger design to have a chance. You can always divide it into smaller sections and use the hoop to address each of them.
This technique does not require much when it comes to tools and sewing machines, so feel free to be creative in your best basic sewing machine, and if you need help finding one, here are some suggestions: BestSewingGuide.com for more information.

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