Bring an elegant, sophisticated touch to your holiday gifts with crafty cut tags. Stitched entirely in the hoop, these raw edge embroidery designs are a marvelous way to personalize your presents.
Supplies & Materials:
Project Materials and Supplies
- Small pieces of UltraSuede
- Tear-away stabilizer
- Temporary spray adhesive (like Gunold KK100)
- 1/8"-1/4" Ribbon for hanger
- Craft knife
The designs used in this tutorial include: OR more materials & supplies
Gather Materials:
When you download the design, you will find multiple files. Some are embroidery files, and others are dieline files marked with the letters "DL". Dielines are used to cut the fabric to the correct shape and size. Open and print each dieline file using an embroidery software. If you do not have an embroidery software, take a look at our helpful video on using dielines.
We also 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 purchases made with this link.)
Spray the backside of each dieline printout with temporary adhesive.
Smooth each the dieline onto a piece of UltraSuede.
Cut out both the front and back shapes.
Start Embroidering:
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 stitch. This marks the area on the stabilizer where we'll place the front fabric piece.
Spray the back of the front piece with temporary adhesive.
Remove the hoop from the machine, but do not unhoop the stabilizer. Place the fabric piece right inside the sewn dieline.
Reattach the hoop to the machine and continue with the design.
A running stitch tack down will sew next. This binds the fabric in place for the remainder of the design.
All of the inner elements will sew next.
On the color change sheet, look for the note that says "finishing seam." When you get to this section, stop the machine and remove the hoop from the machine. Do not unhoop the stabilizer.
Turn the hoop over and spray the backside of the back piece with temporary adhesive.
Place the back piece within the shape on the back of the embroidery.
The remaining steps will be seen from both sides. Wind a bobbin with the same thread used in the top.
Attach the hoop back to the machine. Continue the design.
A running stitch tack down will bind all the layers together.
Unhoop the stabilizer and gently tear the excess away. The outline stitch will be removed as well.
If any bits of the stabilizer are still showing, carefully pull the layers of UltraSuede apart and trim away the stabilizer.
Use a craft knife to carefully cut a slit inside of the eyelet circle.
Next, cut a piece of ribbon 6-8" long and thread it through the eyelet. Tie a knot in the ribbon at the outer edge of the tag.
Get Inspired:
Tie the tags onto gifts to add an elegant touch for the holidays!
They're great for personalizing each gift for their recipient (as well as a fun way to stitch for the season!).
