Add a three-dimensional look to your projects with embossed machine embroidery. These designs tamp down the fabric nap, and the negative space allows the design element to stand out for an eye-catching and textural look. These project instructions will show you how to tackle your own embossed machine embroidery project step by step.
Supplies & Materials:
Supplies Needed:
- Balsa wood that is 1/16 inch thick or smaller (available at craft stores)
- Medium weight cutaway stabilizer
- Tear-away stabilizer
- Temporary spray adhesive
- Water soluble adhesive
- 75/11 universal or embroidery needle
- Rotary cutter (optional)
Designs Used:
When choosing a design for Balsa wood, choose a light design, such as those digitized for cardstock or vintage-style and redwork designs.
Gather Materials:
We find that templates are very helpful when positioning a design.
Templates are printouts of designs from embroidery software programs. A template will indicate the center of a design, as well as the horizontal and vertical axis lines.
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 purchases made with this link.)
Balsa wood is very porous so use cutaway stabilizer on the backside. Spray a piece of cutaway stabilizer with temporary adhesive (we use Gunold's KK100) and smooth it on the backside of the wood.
Because balsa wood can't be hooped, we'll hoop a piece of tear-away stabilizer, and affix the Balsa wood to that.
Spray a piece of tear-away stabilizer with temporary adhesive and hoop it firmly.
Place the balsa wood (with the cutaway stabilizer on the backside) in the center of the hoop.
Since balsa wood is so porous, we use water-soluble stabilizer on top to prevent the stitches from sinking into the wood grain.
Start Embroidering:
Use a 75/11 universal or embroidery needle, and embroider the design.
After the design has finished, gently tear the excess stabilizer away.
Remove the water-soluble topping also.
Use a damp brush or paper towel to remove any remaining water-soluble stabilizer from the top.
Use a rotary cutter to cut the balsa wood to the size and shape you would like.
And there you have it! Using Balsa wood you can make coasters, postcards, jewelry boxes, recipe card boxes, and even decorative trivets for the kitchen and dining room!
