Applique is easy--just watch those fingers!!!

While at the Atlanta Gift Market recently I had the chance to talk to other industry professionals regarding different tips and techniques for machine embroidery. There are a bunch of creative people out there and I draw a lot of inspiration from them, especially when doing applique work on seersucker items from the Mint line.

When I first bought my Babylock EMP6, there were certain buttons on the LED screen that I chose to ignore--mainly the odd orange applique buttons. But a couple of years ago I took the plunge and started playing around, making some 4th of July and other holiday tees for the Homemaker children. Through my own version of "play" grew a fondness for applique work. Last summer at Market, I got to see closeup the applique handiwork of Amy Fitzgerald from The Flossy Fitzy and was blown away by her use of applique on all of the different styles of bags from Mint.

I returned home armed with plenty of new ideas and couldn't wait to play around with some designs. Amy graciously shared a couple of her favorite sources for applique frames and patches--Applique Cafe and Planet Applique--and I plunked down a handsome hunk of change on dozens of designs.

I never received any formal instruction on how to do applique (I am ADD-leaning), tho I did try to follow a couple of tutorials; however, the main technique I observed involved stitching the applique fabric to the item and then trimming the fabric after it was sewn onto the item. An arm wrestling injury (LONG story, but true) has rendered my right arm somewhat useless, causing my hand to shake--and that's not good when using applique scissors. Rather than risk ruining items, I fumbled my way through and happened upon a technique through trial and error that works for me.

First of all, select a darling canvas for your work! For this example, I chose Mint navy seersucker boxer shorts. Next, choose your design in your embroidery software. (I use the Husqvarna Viking 4D Embroidery Suite. Have not been able to swallow the cost of the upgrade yet.) I selected a small, square patch applique and inserted the single initial "R" into the design, then loaded it on to a USB stick for my machine.

Once loaded on the machine I set the different applique buttons that correspond to the thread order on the design--applique material, applique position, applique. Depending on what item I am hooping, I then determine whether to use an actual hoop or Fast Frames. Since the boxers are small, I use a combination of the two.

I hoop some lightweight sticky stabilizer (I prefer Eco-Stick from American Embroidery Supply) and score it with a pin, then gently peel away the white coated layer to reveal the sticky stabilizer.

Then I adhere the applique fabric to the stabilizer.



Load the hoop onto the machine and press the start button.



Once the outline is stitched, the machine will stop. Remove the hoop from the machine and unhoop the stabilizer and fabric patch. Flip the fabric over and trim close to the stitch line.



Set the patch aside and prepare your item for applique placement. Since the boxer shorts are so small, I switch to my Fast Frames system and use the 3 x 4 frame. I adhere sticky stabilizer to the frame, flip the boxers so the leg opening is facing the back of the frame (and ultimately the back of the embroidery machine, slip on the frame and press onto stabilizer. I always secure the item with pins. Then I mark a center point where I want the patch to be located on the boxers and load onto the machine.



Then reload the design on to your screen setting applique material, applique position and applique stops once again. This is important when switching from hoop to Fast Frames. Once the design is loaded, rotate it 180 degrees on your edit screen, then move the needle position over your center point (see yellow mark on picture above). Go to your sewing screen and skip the first thread color (applique material), then push the start button and your machine will stitch the applique position then stop.


You can either remove the frame from the machine or leave attached. I usually leave it attached. I spray the back of my applique patch with 606 Spray and Fix and line up with position on the applique item then press in place.




Hit the start button and let 'er fly!


I some times will hold the patch in place while sewing the tack down stitches just to be sure the patch does not shift, but be careful if you do this--I actually was distracted while sewing these shorts and the needle stitched through my thumb--ouch! I'll spare you the picture of that, but for those interested, I did post on Facebook ;-). When the initial is stitched, remove the frame from the machine and gently pull the item off of the stabilizer.


Clip all jump threads, turn shorts inside out and adhere Dream Weave Fusible mesh to the back of the patch to cover stitching and protect baby's delicate skin.


I paired the appliqued shorts with a contrasting red seersucker stitched with a name (at top) for an adorable gift for a precious baby boy!

Ode to a lunch box

It's hard to believe that summer is almost over. I remember as a child counting how many days were left of vacation. It was right around the beginning of August the nerves and excitement surrounding back-to-school season started and Mom started stocking up on the myriad items my brother, sister and I needed for the first day of classes. From clothing, to shoes, to notebooks and pencils, perhaps nothing was quite as exciting as getting a new lunch box!!

Of course, when I was a kid, those metal, lead-laden lunch boxes (it's amazing we lived to tell about it) depicting images from television shows were all the rage. My favorite had to be the Partridge Family box with the picture of the colorful bus and cameos of the show's stars--David Cassidy was just so hot!!! (I realize I'm showing my age....)

Now that I have school-aged children of my own, I'm tickled to see them get excited about the prospect of a new lunch box! And since I am Suzi Homemaker, I just happen to have the most wonderful array of lunch boxes at my fingertips just waiting to be personalized!

My favorite line of products is by far frommint. Not only are they well-made (all products are 100% guaranteed: if anything breaks due to materials or craftsmanship within a year of purchase, they'll replace it) and lead- and pthalate-free, but they also are just the cutest things around. Check out the new navy apple lunch box above and you will see what I am talking about!

I happen to stash a mint. lunch box filled with snacks and juice boxes in my car so I have plenty of nourishment for the kids and myself while on lengthy car trips.

The first cousin to the mint. lunch box is the super-cute snack square, pictured here in the chocolate orange style. Don't let its compact size fool you, this surprisingly roomy bag is big enough to hold an ice pack, a sandwich, a juice box, a piece of fruit, bag of chips and a love note from Mom! Snack squares fit easily into my kids' backpacks (oh yeah, mint. makes matching backpacks, too, but more about that in a later post!).

"But, Suzi," I can hear you ask, "what about the television characters?"

Suzi Homemaker's got you covered with the Super Snack Square--mint.'s little cutie, made even cuter with super-cute designs! Give me a canvas (or in this case, a well-made nylon bag), and I will paint you the world!

Stay tuned for more posts on the latest and greatest in personalized items for back-to-school!

Gearing up for Back-to-School

My embroidery machine is constantly humming here at Suzi Homemaker HQ as I'm gearing up for back-to-school. Not only am I working on uniforms for The Country Day School, but also I am getting together a bunch of great new products (from my favorite vendors as well as some new ones) to send your kids back-to-school in personalized style!

Parents--please don't send your child to school with a brown bag lunch--that is so 1982! Pack their lunch in an oh-so-stylish personalized snack square or lunch box from my friends at mint. sweet little things. Back-to-school? How about back-to-COOL with a matching backpack and pencil case? Did I mention most of these necessities are on sale, too?

New to Suzi Homemaker is an assortment of goodies from Room It Up, including monogrammed messenger and laptop bags, storage cubes and monogrammable notebooks--are you kidding me? These items are especially appealing to the hard-to-please tween. Later this week, I will be posting more items for the home, such as over-the-door organizers, hanging sweater organizers and handy hold alls for all of your bags.

Within the next couple of weeks I will be posting some sassy shirts and sweatshirts for Halloween and gift items for the upcoming holiday season. It's hard to believe summer is almost over!