Something everyone thinks they know how to do, but do not really know is hooping embroidery correctly.

Work with your hoop until you get a good design sewn out, then take note how your hoop is set up, the size, stabilizer, design consideration, etc. Always hoop your fabric and stabilizer.

It should be tight like a drum when hooped .. not stretched .. just taunt.

1. Use a hoop that is in a good condition. Note that after hundreds of designs hooped, the hoop will lose some of it's original quali...
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Which stabilizers do you use and when?

Cut-away:
I've used the same product for many years. I have tried different ones, but keep coming back to the same thing. I use the stabilizer from OESD.

Sheer:
A newer product. I am beginning to use this most of the time now. I've also used this product on the industrial side for a good number of years. It works well with light weight and knits. I always hoop it and use two layers, placed with gains running in perpendicular directions. Sometimes I'll use ...
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Embroidery tip about matching your customers thread colours:  Never show your customer the entire embroidery thread chart from your thread distributor. Create your own colour chart using only the colours that you normally carry in stock.  The average embroidery shop owner carries about 30 colours in stock. Any other colour will be a special order. Some embroiderers, when starting off, have been persuaded by their distributor to order the entire assortment of threads in small cones.  Firstly, ...
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Even the most creative of us get to a stage where we run out of ideas.  This week's tip will contain a number of websites where you could go to get free embroidery designs and good ideas.

http://www.emblibrary.com has a number of adorable designs for your Christmas table.

 At http://www.sweetembroidery.com you can a different free design every other day.

Once you have signed in at  http://www.embroidables.com you are able to download a great many free designs licensed from well-known artists .

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Whether you are looking for free patterns to download, directories of embroidery stitches, online collections or information about historical embroidery and embroidery for re-enactors, you will find something of interest in this list of links to embroidery websites.

Alice Kettle
Alice Kettle has established a unique area of practice in stitch, consistently and on an unparalleled scale. She is currently Research Associate at Manchester Metropolitan University.
More on Alice Kettle

Blackwork Arch...
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Another Christmas is upon us and, with that, the inevitable searching for the appropriate gift for every member of your family, colleagues and friends.  However, you have an edge on most people as you have the ability  and the means of making gifts at a fraction of the cost that you would spend on purchasing them from the shops. This embroidery tip aims at giving you some ideas for that very special gift for those very special people in your life.

Let's start with the ladies.  I've yet to find...
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Having a sharp needle is one of the most important factors in machine embroidery.  Note that the embroidery needle has a more elongated eye than a regular sewing needle.

Most makes of machine embroidery needles carry two main lines;  Sharp needles and Ball point needles.

• Ball point needles penetrate between fabric fibers making marks or damage to fabrics less of a concern.  For example, a knit should have a ball point needle to prevent runs or holes in the knit.
• Sharp point needles actually pi...

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Have you ever had to shove another job aside to do the rush job and consequently created another unhappy customer?  Are you in a position to do a rush job?

I have had situations where a demanding customer has come in to my shop and wanted his job done right away or else he would have had to take it someplace else. Initially,  I bent over backwards for these customers when I first started my business and the same customers would continue to do this time after time until I put my foot down and s...
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Customize Your Creations By Making Your Own Label
 
Through out the year we all make special gifts for loved ones. Finish the item with a label that says how much you care. Say you have a favourite neice that has recently became very involved with horseback riding and you wanted her to have something special for her riding lessons. A denim shirt with horse theme embroideries, as well as personalized, seems the perfect answer. But take it one step further. Before attaching the collar, embroider...
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WASHING INSTRUCTIONS
The most embroidery thread colours are wash- and boil-fast.  For best results, however, the following care is recommended:  In case of the same pattern and order, it is necessary for customers to use the very threads complied with an equal Lot No. (Especially, when used in (right and left), symmetrically patterned-embroidery for clothes).
All embroidered items should be washed with mild detergents containing no additives or bleaching agents such as chlorine, peroxide or so...
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