Learning to Embroider (TGIFF) and OMG

My new Bernina has an embroidery unit and I have never done machine embroidery. I really thought it would be fun and I am in love with it. I haven’t done much but I think this summer will include a lot of playing around with it. I did try two little projects a few weeks ago and finally put the finishing touches on them.

First up is a towel project. This is from the Kimberbell Fill in the Blank series. I did get a few of these for the beginning of the year, and only have done 1 so far. I am feeling a whole lot more confident about it, so I hope to get to the others soon.

This is my version. Now there were two towels that came with the project, and I was not so fond of the green BUT I can say that I love the finish product. It does look exactly like the picture, so this won’t be the way I operate most of the time. I need to learn a few more things so I can make labels and design some fun little projects. But this kind of project teaches you a little about stitches and what you like. For instance, I really like the writing on this project.

The second finished item is this little wallet. The heart design came with my Bernina. The wallet is a free pattern from The Sewing Loft and I love it. It was fun to make and fast.

Of course, figuring out the placement of the piece took two tries, but that was totally my fault. It is a nice size to carry my business cards and pins. I will make more of these, but I think I would use a stiffer interfacing rather than batting.

The snap tool* I bought months ago and love the way they work. I bought them to make ribbons for wearing masks, and I find them handy for other sewing projects. I highly recommend this little tool!

I haven’t been signing up with Patty of Elm Street Quilts and One Monthly Goal for the last few months; not for any good reason but just missing the deadlines. The stars have aligned and I am signing up for June. My plan is to do one more embroidery project…I have 3 bags to do and I will do the one in the picture above. It will be nice to bring when I travel later this summer or to give as a gift to my hostess.

Coming Up on the Blog:
12″ House Block/s
Fairy Tale Hop on 6/21
Tips and Tutorials on the 22nd! – 6/22

Link Up:
June One Monthly Goal
TGIFF
UFO Busting #147
Friday Foto Fun #180

Follow:
0
Disclaimer: *Links with asterisk indicate an affiliate link and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Your price is not any different, but a small percentage of the sale will go to supporting my blog.

11 Comments

  1. June 4, 2021 / 7:56 AM

    Those are darling towels! I have barely and rarely used the embroidery options on my Janome and need to explore that. I love the wallet! Now I’m thinking I need a snap or grommet tool. That is a really cute project you have planned for OMG.

  2. June 4, 2021 / 8:01 AM

    Fun and useful little projects! 🙂

  3. Gene Black
    June 4, 2021 / 8:07 AM

    I love the results I get from my embroidery machine but I don’t use it nearly enough to justify having it. But people love getting embroidered items.

  4. June 4, 2021 / 8:31 AM

    your projects are cute 🙂 machine embroidery is very addicting — I love it!

  5. June 4, 2021 / 8:34 AM

    I have embroidery features on my Janome and I’ve never tried them. I also have a snap set similar to yours, and it’s so handy for bibs, little wallets, etc. I get more use out of mine than I thought I would!

  6. Brenda @ Songbird Designs
    June 4, 2021 / 9:18 AM

    Oh Kathleen, you are going to have SO much fun with that embroidery unit!! I love doing applique in the hoop! I started yesterday working on my next block for Sunshine Cove. You did a great job on your towels and little wallet. And be careful when stitching over the vinyl, but you probably know this already from regular sewing. Those snap tools are wonderful! Even my granddaughter enjoyed playing with mine when she made a crazy quilt pillow sham. I look forward to seeing your OMG! Have a great weekend!

  7. June 4, 2021 / 1:57 PM

    Hi Kathleen! Your tea towel looks great. It is a whole new learning curve so I’m glad you are giving yourself plenty of time to learn all the new tricks and such. That bag is adorbs! I look forward to seeing your version. And Brenda (Songbird Designs) is a fabulous person to know – she loves embroidery. ~smile~ Roseanne

  8. June 4, 2021 / 2:04 PM

    Kathleen, it is fun to do embroidery!!! If you haven’t yet, check out Kreative Kiwi designs … they have a ton of free ones and they are good. As well, Sweet Pea designs has a few free ones (the zipper / dog is easy!) and lots of other goodies!

  9. June 4, 2021 / 2:20 PM

    I have never had an embroidery machine, but they do look like they would be fun to use on occasion. I look forward to seeing your travel bags come together this month!

  10. June 6, 2021 / 3:01 PM

    Have fun learning something new, Kathleen!! Looks like you’ve made a good start.

  11. June 9, 2021 / 12:39 PM

    I got away from using my Bernina embroidery unit but I should get it out again especially after seeing your pretty makes!

My Favorite Tools

Pins with Numbers & Arrows
Annies Soft and Stable Foam Stabilizer
By Annie’s Clear Vinyl
Heat N Bond Iron On Vinyl
Omni Thread, Purplelicious
Aurifil 50 weight thread
Hobbs Tuscanny Wool Batting
Freezer Paper Sheets
Binding Sasher
Nexcare Clear Skin Tape
Cluck Cluck Sew Tape
Simple Folded Corners Ruler
Free Motion Quilting Workbook
Shape by Shape Collection 2
Shape by Shape
DayLight Wafer 1 Light Box
Freezer paper
Siteground Web Hosting
Dream Cotton Batting
Sidekick Ruler
Hex N More Ruler
4″ Circular Plastic Needlepoint
Awesome Ocean Pattern
Schmetz NonStick Needle
Sulky Totally Stable
Barn Quilt by Sherry Shish
PrintNFuse
Applique Pressing Sheet
Mary Ellen’s Best Press Starch
Clover Bias Tape Maker 12mm
Woven Diamonds Pattern
Hobbs Premium 80/20 Batting
Woven Star Pattern
Wefty Needle
Quilt Hanger
Fat Quarter Shop
Accuquilts
Westalee Sampler Template Set
Mettler 60 wt. Cotton Embroidery Thread
Sandboard for Hand Sewing/Appliqué
Clover Needle Threader
Sewline Black and White Pencil
Sewline Grey Pencil
Backyard Birds
Wing Clipper
Quilt Pounce
Hobbs Thermore Batting
Clover Chaco Liner – silver
Turnabout Patchwork by Terese Mairal Barreau
Sewline Glue Pen
Fusible 1″ Hexagon Paper
Fusible Appliqué Paper
Electric Quilt 8
Quilter’s Dream Select Batting
Quilt in A Day Log Cabin
Judy Martin Log Cabin
Emiko Toda Loeb
3M Command Strip Clothespins
Paper Templates for Lucy Boston
Lucy Boston Templates,MPP
Lucy Boston Patchwork of the Cross
Clover Wonder Clips
Thread magic
Clearly Perfect Angles
Spritzer
Slotted Triangle Trimmer
%d