Machine Embroidery

My darling asked for a folding dice tray for an in-person role-playing game they are in. I happened to have this delightful machine embroidery design by String Theory Fabric Art. So many fun and nerdy designs!

This is the largest size of the Feature Fabric Appliqué Portable Dice Tray ITH design. I used some gray marine vinyl and some fun dungeon fabric I bought from Spoonflower a couple years ago. The snaps are KAM snaps.

My favorite tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Creative Grids 4.5" x 12.5" Rectangle Quilting Ruler

Fiskars Rotary Cutter replacement blades
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
Fiskars 8-inch scissors

Magna-Glide bobbins (absolutely the best for my embroidery machine)

Pellon Stitch-N-Tear

Snaps: KAMsnaps kit (this is the kit I purchased, it includes a rainbow of snap colors and the tools you need to set the snaps)

Multipass

When I saw this recent embroidery design release by Off With Their Threads I raced to the website to buy my copy. This is such a great geek project. After trimming some slivers off my card, it holds my vaccine card perfectly.  

I was so glad I found this gray vinyl in my collection. Perfect for this project. This design fits in the 5" by 7" hoop and stitches out pretty quickly. 

I backed mine with coordinating gray felt. I think I'll use vinyl as backing on the next one. 

Machine embroidery design: Multipass Vaccination Card Holder from Off With Their Threads

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
Magna-Glide bobbins (absolutely the best for my embroidery machine)
Pellon Stitch-N-Tear, 20" by 30 yd, White

Fiskars curved craft scissors

Luminous Wheels

This week this smashed box showed up on my doorstep. 

Inside, and unharmed, were these wheels, new bearings, and laces for my skates. Because skating is all about the accessories. I bought these from Roller Skate Nation. I don't blame them for the smashed box. I'm sure the box didn't look like that when it left them. 

Here are my skates before the change. I was using the dirty Moxi wheels from my Beach Bunnies on my Moonlight Rollers. 

Here is the after. That's right, I decided to get Luminous wheels. Because I wanted light up wheels. I'm pretty happy with this set up. This is how I roll. 

Skating Sugar Skulls

Last week my new skates showed up, these are Sapphire from Moonlight Rollers. I hadn't seen a comparable blue in other skates and these spoke to me. I'm super happy I decided to give them a try. These are at a higher price-point than my Moxi Beach Bunnies but less than a pair of Moxi Lollies. Unlike my Beach Bunnies these didn't come with toe caps. That got my crafty mind churning.

I used the Moxi toe cap to create a template and cut out some marine vinyl I had on hand. There are loads of tutorials on how to make your own toe caps out there on. Look around and try to find a style you like. Some are sewn, some are put together with rivets, and others are crocheted. So many options!

Then I hooped some stabilizer and took the frame to the embroidery machine.

There is a risk when cutting before embroidery but it seemed the best way. The Sugar Skull key fob design is from Designs by Little Bee. 

Then I stitched up the sides and closed the loop for the laces at the top. Time for the moment of truth. 

And there you have it! I may play with the pattern a little more to fine tune it but they fit, look cool, and should keep from scuffing the toes of my skates. 

I may use a smaller embroidery design in the future. Overall this was a great holiday project. 

Machine embroidery design: Sugar Skull key fob from Designs by Little Bee

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
Juki TL-2010Q
Magna-Glide bobbins (absolutely the best for my embroidery machine)
Pellon Stitch-N-Tear, 20" by 30 yd, White

Fiskars curved craft scissors

In The Hoop

Time to get hooping! My cutting table prior to the real mess. I discovered Off With Their Threads last week. They were having a sale and I couldn't resist picking some fun in the hoop (ITH) projects. I grabbed my tear-away stabilizer and hooped it up.

I decided to use this lime green vinyl I picked up at one of the big box fabric stores a while back. The strap for the claw clasp was a leftover from another project. This is the step in the project I realized I had taped it onto the work the wrong way. I grabbed my seam ripper and got that sorted out. 

I taped down the clasp before the final stitch out just to be sure the needle wouldn't hit it. 

Trimmed and ready for the final steps on the sewing machine. This project is not completely in the hoop but the last couple seams are quick on the machine.

Such a cute little pouch! I want to buy so many different printed vinyls so I can make more of these. 

Lined with a fun printed felt. 

What do you do with such a little pouch? Well, you stuff two or three face masks into it so you will always be prepared. 

Fun little project! I think I should make a couple more. Great to hang on your key ring or handbag.

Machine embroidery design: Off With Their Threads Mini Backpack

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Creative Grids 4.5" x 12.5" Rectangle Quilting Ruler
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Craft Clips with Tin Box Package, Pack of 100
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
Juki TL-2010Q
Magna-Glide bobbins (absolutely the best for my embroidery machine)
KAM snaps
Pellon Stitch-N-Tear, 20" by 30 yd, White
Premium Metal Lobster Claw Clasps - Wide 3/4 Inch D Ring

Embroidered Tote

This has been the view of my embroidery table for weeks. So much clutter and so little room for new ideas. The first step in the project was finding my table. 

After a little while, sorting things, storing things, and admitting somethings would never get done, I could again find my desk. I hooped up some stabilizer and a tote bag. 

This design is from Urban Threads. 

The design is called Cattery Border. 

Aren't they cute!

This is great medium-size tote to carry books, groceries, or some yarn and your current project. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
tote bag

Machine Embroidery

I've had my eye on this machine embroidery design for a while now. I have plenty of gamer friends that would use one of these fun and easy to take along dice trays. 

Two layers of durable vinyl and some fun embroidery make this a quick and durable project, perfect for gift giving. The design is from String Theory Fabric Art. Direct link.

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
Fiskars 4-inch Curved Craft Scissors
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
Magna-Glide bobbins (absolutely the best for my embroidery machine)
KAM snaps
Pellon Stitch-N-Tear

Geeky Sewing

I've been thinking about adding an applique Gengar (you can do a Google search for Gengar Pokemon to learn more) to a small project bag for a while. Over the last few weeks I've been working on the machine embroidery design. Creating your own applique designs can be both rewarding and frustrating. 

It took four tries for me to get to a point I thought it worthwhile to stitch one of these onto anything beyond muslin. It still isn't perfect, but I was going to end up throwing it all in the trash if I didn't stop and finish the project.

I trimmed around the best one and auditioned the design on several background fabrics. 

In the end, this fun heart print won. 

I added a contrast piece to the bottom and quilted it with some wavy lines. 

After some pretty questionable trimming, I had the panels to make a pouch using the Open Wide Pouch tutorial offered free on the Noodlehead blog. I cut my panels into squares instead of rectangles because I like a deeper bag. 

I'm not going to show you the wonky seams. Just be confident they are there. I don't care, though. It is an awesome bag and I can't wait to fill it with yarn and needles so I can carry my winter gift knitting in style.

Tools and Supplies (affiliate links):
Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Multipurpose sewing clips
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
Juki TL-2010Q
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron

Fan Embroidery

String Theory Fabric Art has some fun fan embroidery designs. This is just one of them. I wanted to stitch up some fun, small, Star Wars themed gifts. The clear vinyl on the back lets you store that ID or other card in style!

Rebel ID badge holder

Imperial symbol ID badge holder

If you see an embroidery design you are interested in, but don't have an embroidery machine, feel free to send me an email and I can work with you. Email contact form on the sidebar. The holiday season will be here before you know it!

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Badge Clips
Retractable Badge Holder Reel
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
Fiskars 4-inch Curved Craft Scissors
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
Magna-Glide bobbins (absolutely the best for my embroidery machine)
Pellon Stitch-N-Tear

Machine Embroidery Snap Tabs

This weekend I had a terrible time managing to crank out a sock. Those of you who are here for all the other crazy projects I guess this is good news. For me, it was cranking five socks to have one suitable sock. I did manage to kitchener some of the toes on socks from last week, so I was productive. 

I decided to take a break from socks to stitch up a snap tab for a friend. 

The design is from String Theory Fabric Art. They have so many amazing and geeky designs.

I know a Star Wars person, or two, and this is the perfect small gift. If you are a machine embroiderer and want to check out String Theory, the Facebook page is a great place to start.

I also stitched this sweet design because I am what some people call a Browncoat. So many great projects and so little time.

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
Fiskars 4-inch Curved Craft Scissors
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
Magna-Glide bobbins (absolutely the best for my embroidery machine)
KAM snaps
Pellon Stitch-N-Tear
3/4 Inch Swivel Trigger Snap Hooks

Custom Embroidery

Darling Husband asked for some patches for a live action role-playing game he was participating in on Saturday. He found the art and I worked up the design in my embroidery design software.

Using materials I had on-hand, I stitched the design onto white felt. Since he would be handing these out to the other members of his faction at the game, I covered the stitching with fusible interfacing and used hot glue to attach the pin backs.

I sewed patches onto his coveralls and matching t-shirt. Little details like this can make gamers happy. 

Then, I just had to clean up the super-sized mess I made getting to the finished product.

Tools and Supplies (affiliate links):
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
Fiskars 4-inch Curved Craft Scissors
Dritz Large Seam Ripper (because sometimes there are mistakes)
Magna-Glide bobbins
Stanley Glue Gun (mine is likely 20 years old, this looks like a suitable replacement)