How to Embroider a Panel Scene Frame Set

To create an embroidered border set for a panel scene, first assemble your panel scene following the project instructions linked to the design pack.

A template (also called a printout) of a design is an excellent tool to help with placement.

Print off a template of the corner and border pieces using embroidery software. Then cut out the template very close to the design so there is no blank paper around it. Cutting it out closely will make placement easier.

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.)

Next, measure the length and width of the assembled panel scene using your quilting ruler. Write down these measurements for later.

Cut a piece of fabric and a piece of stabilizer for your border that is longer than the length of the longest sides of your assembled project, and wider than your hoop. Having extra fabric will make it easier to rehoop and stitch the border embroidery repeats.

Spray the cutaway stabilizer with temporary spray adhesive and smooth the fabric onto it. The wrong side of the fabric should be against the stabilizer.

Use a fabric marking pen to draw a rectangle on your fabric that is as long as the measured length of the side of the assembled panel scene and is as wide as you want the fabric border around the panel scene to be. This will serve as a guide in the next step when determining placement. For this example, our drawn rectangle is 24” long and 2.5” wide.

Take the printed templates, and lay them inside of the drawn rectangle border to plan out how many designs are needed to cover the entire border. This will show roughly where each design will embroider.

Depending on the panel scene, there may or may not be sashing in-between panel squares, which will add to the overall length. These embroidery designs have been designed to work well both with and without small gaps between repeats.

It may be useful to print multiple copies of the templates to help visualize placement. 

Using a temporary fabric marking tool, mark the center point and both the vertical and horizontal axis lines from the template onto the fabric. You can mark all the center points and axis lines now, or you can mark them one at a time as you embroider if you are worried about fabric shifting. For this sample, we marked all points at the start.

Extend the axis lines using a ruler and fabric marking tool. Make sure to extend the lines past the size of the hoop, making it easier to line things up when hooping.

Hoop your fabric and stabilizer together, making sure the drawn axis lines match up with the markings on your embroidery hoop. Your layers should be hooped with no wrinkles but be careful that you do not pull too tight, as this may stretch or misalign your design.

Load the embroidery design file onto your machine, and secure the hoop in place. Using the controls on the embroidery machine, move the needle directly over the drawn center point on your fabric. This will help ensure that the design is embroidering where you marked.

Embroider the first design.

After the first design has finished embroidering, carefully remove the hoop.

If you are marking as you go, use your template to determine the next placement of your design to the side of your first embroidered border piece. Then mark and extend the axis lines.

If you marked all placement lines at the start, there is nothing new for you to mark.

To sew the next embroidery design, hoop your project once again, lining up the newly drawn axis lines with the markings on the hoop. Then use the embroidery machine controls to position the needle over the center point of the next design.

Embroider the next border design on the machine.

Repeat the previous steps to embroider the remaining designs from left to right.

If you are marking the designs as you go, line up a design template to the right of the last sewn design, mark the axis lines and center point, extend the lines, and hoop it before embroidering.

After all the embroidery is completed across the rectangle border, it is time to mark the cutline and seam allowances.

Using a quilters ruler, measure your chosen seam allowance away from each side of the drawn rectangle to determine where the cutline will be. Use a temporary marking tool to mark the cutlines around the border.

Cut out the border with its seam allowance using a scissor or rotary cutter. 

Then repeat the previous steps, to measure, plan, embroider, add the seam allowance, and cut out the other borders for the remaining 3 sides of the panel scenes.

To make the corner pieces, cut a piece of fabric that is larger than your embroidery hoop. Then use a fabric marking pen to draw a square on the fabric that is as wide and long as the border’s width.

For this example, our drawn square is 2.5” long and 2.5” wide since our borders were all 2.5” wide. You can choose to do this on the same fabric piece as the borders, or on a new piece of fabric if desired.

Spray as piece of cutaway stabilizer with temporary spray adhesive, and smooth it on to the back of the fabric before embroidering.

Place the corner piece template inside the drawn square. Using a temporary fabric marking tool, mark the center point and both the vertical and horizontal axis lines from the template onto the fabric.

Extend the axis lines using a ruler and fabric marking tool. This will complete the placement guide and extend the lines past the size of the hoop, making it easier to line things up when hooping.

Hoop your fabric and stabilizer together, making sure the drawn axis lines match up with the markings on your embroidery hoop.

Load the embroidery file for the corner into your machine, center the needle over the drawn lines, and sew the design out.

Using a quilters ruler, measure your chosen seam allowance from each side of the drawn square to determine where the cutline will be. Use a temporary marking tool to mark the cutlines. 

Cut out the corner piece along the cutlines.

Repeat the previous step three more times to create the other three corner pieces. 

Pin two of the square corner pieces to the ends of either shorter side border. Sew and press. 

Repeat to pin and sew the remaining two square corner pieces onto the ends of the other short, side border. 

Using a quilters ruler, measure your chosen seam allowance from each side of the drawn square to determine where the cutline will be. Use a temporary marking tool to mark the cutlines.