Candle Mat (In-the-Hoop)

When you download the design, you will find multiple files. Some are embroidery files and some are dieline files labeled with "DL". Dieline files are used to cut the fabric to the correct shape. Open and print each dieline file using an embroidery software. 

We recommend Wilcom's Hatch software which comes in different levels depending on what you'd like to use the software for. Hatch Organizer works well to view your designs, print dielines and templates, change design colors, and create basic design layouts. (This is an affiliate link. We may earn commission on purchased made through this link.)

If you do not have an embroidery software, take a look at our helpful video on dielines.

Spray the backside of the printed dieline for the front piece with a small amount of temporary adhesive. Smooth it onto a piece of fabric. 

Cut out the front piece of the design, then remove the paper dieline. 

Repeat the previous two steps to cut out the applique piece, or pieces, depending on your design. 

For the back piece, cut out a piece of batting slightly larger than a second piece of fabric. Then, spray the wrong side of your fabric with temporary spray adhesive and smooth it over the batting. After that, spray the back side of the paper dieline with temporary spray adhesive and smooth it over the right side of the fabric. 

Cut out the back piece following the paper dieline. 

Now that the fabric pieces are cut to the proper shape and size, it's time to embroider the design.

Hoop a piece of tear-away stabilizer. Madeira E-Zee Tear 1.5 oz. or Floriani Tearaway Medium are good choices. Those brands are more fibrous, less paper-like, and will tear more cleanly.

Attach the hoop to the machine and load the full embroidery design (not the dieline files).

Use a size 11 or 75/11 sharp sewing needle, rather than an embroidery needle. A sharp sewing needle has a smaller, finer point than an embroidery needle, so that will make smaller perforations in the stabilizer.

Embroider the design. The first thing to embroider will be a dieline or outline. This marks the area on the stabilizer for the front fabric.

Remove the hoop from the machine, but do not unhoop the stabilizer.

Spray the back side of the front fabric piece with a small amount of temporary adhesive. Place the fabric right inside the sewn outline.

Attach the hoop back onto the machine and continue with the design.A tack down will sew next. This holds the front fabric in place for the remainder of the design

Some designs may have extra details that will sew out before the applique piece placement dieline will sew. 

Sew out the placement dieline. Stop before sewing the “Applique tackdown” step. 

After the dieline is finished sewing, stop the machine, and remove the hoop, but do not unhoop the stabilizer.

Take the fabric dieline for the applique piece, and spray the backside of the fabric with temporary adhesive. Place the fabric piece right in the sewn dieline.

Then continue to embroider the design. A tack down will stitch the fabric piece into place. 

Carefully follow the color change sheet for your design to finish the remaining details. Look for the step titled “back piece tack down step”, stop the machine before sewing this step. 

Take the hoop off of the machine, but do not unhoop the stabilizer. 

Flip the hoop over, spray the backside of the back fabric and batting piece, and place it inside of the sewn shape on the back of the hoop.

Since both sides of the candle mat will be seen, wind a bobbin with the same thread used in the needle.

Return the hoop to the machine and sew the remaining steps of the design. This will include the back piece tackdown and finishing edge.

After the finishing edge has stitched out, remove the hoop from the machine. Then remove the design from the stabilizer. 

Candle mat designs are available in a variety of sizes—choose your favorite, and customize the colors to create a candle mat that's unique to you!