Free Machine Embroidery

Developed from my textile appliqué workshops, many students delight at making fabric illustrations but are anxious about using the free machine technique and not wanting to ruin their work. This workshop looks at that aspect in depth, going back to basics and creating confidence in using your machine successfully and in a new and exciting way.

A beginners’ workshop on free machine embroidery (free motion/freehand).

Using their own sewing machines students will learn the basics of free machine embroidery, pick up handy hints and tips and trouble shoot previous issues and problems.

day will be full of wonderful exercises to build confidence in using our machines in this exciting and dynamic way.

We will create a visual reference or dictionary of patterns and mark making to use in future creative projects and stitch work.

We’ll consider the machined stitched line as a drawing tool and we’ll look at the application of this technique in various craft projects.

Students will gain confidence in mastering the popular technique and we will combine both free machine embroidery and appliqué.

STUDENT REQUIREMENTS

Please ensure that your sewing machine is able to drop the feed dogs, if not, that it comes with a cover for the stitch plate (please check before signing up), a darning or free machine embroidery foot, and your machine manual.

Essential:

- Sewing machine - Please ensure that your sewing machine is able to drop its feed dogs, these are the ‘teeth’ that help feed the fabric through the machine. If it doesn’t please check that it comes with a cover for the stitch plate.

- Please also bring an open or closed darning foot or free machine embroidery foot to sew with, check with manufacturer for the suggested foot if you don’t have one.

- Your machine’s operation manual.

- Basic sewing kit – Scissors, pins, spare machine needles, un-picker, fabric pencil.

- A small range of coloured machine threads.

- A small amount, can be scraps, of fusible webbing, bondaweb or similar.

- Pencil, pen, notebook, plain paper

- Selection of fabric scraps, including printed and plain fabrics.

- Eight to ten pieces of calico/plain coloured fabric about A4-A3 size (medium weight) pre cut. Please bring some extra fabric for additional samples.

4 to 5 piece of fusible webbing such as bondaweb cut to the same size as your fabric pieces approx A4-A3.

We will make up some calico/bondaweb sandwiches with these pieces as a base to sew on.

Useful, but not essential:

Embroidery hoop, please bring one if you have one, but please do not go out and buy one especially, I will have a selection for people to borrow. Approx 8-10 inches in diameter or

Suitable to use with the size of fabric you have brought.