Freehand machine embroidery
While hand embroidery can be wonderfully relaxing, using your sewing machine to freehand embroider opens up a whole new style!
Freehand machine ( or free- motion) embroidery means using your sewing machine in a ‘ freehand’ style rather than working in straight lines, so you have more freedom to ‘ doodle’ with your machine and work the stitches in any direction. This versatile style turns your sewing machine into an artistic tool you can use to create designs on fabric, often combining it with appliqué motifs and accents.
To do machine embroidery you don’t need much specialist equipment. Aside from fabric and spools of thread ( and a hoop for added control), you’ll need to have a sewing machine that allows you to lower the feed dogs – some basic models won’t have this function. The feed dogs are the metal ‘ teeth’ in the plate of the machine that hold onto your fabric and feed it past the needle. Lowering the feed dogs enables your fabric to move more freely as you stitch your design.
You will also need to purchase an appliqué ( darning or free- motion) foot that fits your machine – these keep the fabric smooth while you embroider. They can be picked up for less than £ 15 at your local sewing shop. Do consult your sewing machine manual for instructions on how to attach the foot, because all sewing machines are different.
BASE FABRIC
For the base fabric, which you’ll work your machine embroidery on, you will need a medium to heavy weight fabric such as curtain weight or calico. An ordinary cotton fabric may pucker as you stitch, so use something with more stability.
EMBROIDERY HOOP
Your base fabric needs to be stretched taut in an embroidery hoop before you start so it stays nice and flat while you’re stitching. Choose a hoop that will fit under your machine – a 20cm ( 8in) wooden hoop is ideal but try this out first. Mount your fabric into the hoop the other way round to normal. Undo the screw just a little on the outer hoop then place your base fabric centrally on top of it, right sides up. Place the inner hoop on top and push it down so that it fits snugly inside the
outer hoop. Adjust the screw until it’s just right, then push the inner hoop into place. Keeping the hoop on a flat surface, pull the fabric outside the hoop all the way around so your fabric is drum- like.
GETTING STARTED
On your sewing machine, drop the feed dogs and thread
1 the needle. Mount your fabric into the hoop, as instructed. 2 Lift up the darning foot and place the hoop underneath. Hold the hoop firmly with both hands. Begin sewing, moving the hoop around. You may need to adjust your tension.
GAINING CONFIDENCE
Start by using a piece of scrap fabric to practise making squiggles and shapes. 3 It takes a while to get the hang of it and gain control, so don’t get discouraged.
MAKING SHAPES
Move on to making basic outlines for various shapes, such as circles, squares, hearts and flowers. Practise making double outlines by going around the shape again – your aim should be to
4 get the shapes tidy but sketchy. Also try spirals and long petals to practise your control.
PLAYING WITH STITCHES
Start off by playing with your machine’s different stitches. Have a go at straight stitches in different lengths, then zigzag stitches in various sizes and types. Then try making scribbles and loops.
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START SHADING
Once you’re confident with making outlines, try colouring them in, which is called shading. Move the fabric backwards and forwards to fill the outline with stitches, a bit like satin stitch in hand embroidery.
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WORKING A DESIGN
Depending on how confident you are with your sewing and drawing skills, you can work freehand. However, to start with you may find that drawing or tracing the design you would like to stitch onto the base fabric with an air or water soluble pen first will help you guide your stitching.
LETTERING
Stitch slowly and carefully to form each letter, and then stitch over them a second time to give them a little weight and tidy up any slightly wonky lines you’re not happy with.
APPLIQUÉ MOTIFS
Add an extra dimension to your shapes with appliqué. Cut out out some small curved and angular shapes, place them onto your base fabric and stitch them into place close to the edges all the way around. Stitch around them more than once for stability and an attractive finish. Remember that
7 machine embroidery isn’t supposed to look neat and perfect – in fact, the slightly wonky lines and messy look is what gives it its charm. If your lines aren’t quite as straight as you would like, just go back and stitch over them again to even them out. Try attaching your pieces using different stitches, or try stitching over both the appliqué shape and the background fabric.
LAYERED APPLIQUÉ
Put together all the skills you’ve practised and you can create gorgeous designs like the pretty gift example
8 – it’s layered up with appliqué motifs, outlining, shading and other interesting stitch styles .