Patchwork Bookmark (In-the-Hoop)

Freestanding fabric and embroidery designs have been specially digitized for water-soluble stabilizer. After the stabilizer is removed beautiful embroidery remains.

When you download the design, you will find multiple files. Some are the embroidery files, and the 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.)

For the back piece only, spray one side of a piece of cutaway stabilizer with temporary adhesive. Smooth the stabilizer onto the wrong side of the back piece fabric.

Then spray the back side of the printed back piece dieline with temporary adhesive, and smooth it onto the right side of the back fabric.

Cut the back dieline shape out of the adhered fabric. Then remove the paper dieline.

Next spray the back side of all of the remaining front paper dielines with temporary adhesive. Smooth them onto the right side of the appropriate fabrics.

Cut out all the remaining dieline pieces.

There are a couple of different kinds of water-soluble stabilizer. One is clear and plastic, and that brand is Sulky Ultra Solvy. The other is soft and fibrous, called Vilene. Both will work very well. Vilene is used in this demonstration.

Use a size 11 or 75/11 sharp sewing needle. A sharp sewing needle has a smaller, finer point than an embroidery needle. That means it will make smaller holes in the stabilizer.

Hoop the stabilizer firmly. Make sure it is nice and tight with no wrinkles.

The tassel in this design is digitized to be used with either 30-35 weight cotton thread or 40 weight rayon embroidery thread. 30-35 weight cotton thread is found under different names, such as mercerized cotton or all-purpose cotton. In this demonstration we used cotton thread.

As the tassel is seen from both sides, wind a bobbin with the same thread that you're using in the needle.

Attach the hoop onto the machine, and load the embroidery file (not the dieline files).

Use a 75/11 sharp sewing needle instead of an embroidery needle. The sharp sewing needle has a finer point, and it will make smaller perforations in the stabilizer.

Embroider the design. The first thing to embroider will be the tassel. When its finished remove the hoop from the machine, but do not unhoop the stabilizer.

After the tassel has embroidered, all of the front details will embroider next. As the back side of the front details will be covered by the back piece, you do not need to match a bobbin while you sew them.

Instead, wind a bobbin with normal bobbin thread, and use that for this section of the embroidery.

The next thing to embroider will be a dieline (or outline stitch). This marks the area on the stabilizer where the "front internal" fabric piece will be placed.

After the dieline has sewn, remove the hoop from the machine, but do not unhoop the stabilizer.

Spray the wrong side of the "front internal" fabric piece with temporary adhesive. Smooth the fabric on the stabilizer inside of the sewn dieline.

Place the hoop back onto the machine, and embroider the tackdown for the "front internal" fabric piece. The tackdown holds the fabric piece in the place for the remainder of the design. The front internal piece will be covered completely by the other front fabric pieces. It is needed under the front fabric pieces to add structure. The internal piece prevents the other pieces from falling off the bookmark once it is soaked.

Follow the color change sheet until you reach the next dieline step. This dieline will be for the first front piece that will actually show on the finished bookmark.

Remove the hoop from the machine, spray the wrong side of the first visible front fabric piece, and place it inside the sewn dieline. This fabric piece will sit right on top of the internal fabric piece.

Embroider the first fabric piece's tackdown step.

Continue to follow the color change sheet and embroider the next dieline step.

Repeat to remove the hoop from the machine, spray the wrong side of the next fabric piece, and place it inside the sewn dieline. Then return the hoop to the machine, and embroider this piece's tackdown step.

Follow the color change sheet to embroider the remaining front dielines and tackdowns. Make sure to spray and place each front piece inside of its dieline before sewing its tackdown.

After all the front fabric pieces are tacked down in place, embroider the inner details if there are any. Stop before sewing the "back piece tackdown" step.

Before sewing the "back piece tackdown" step, remove the hoop from the machine, and turn it over so the back side of the embroidery is facing up.

Spray the back side of the back fabric piece with temporary adhesive. Then smooth it into place on the back side of the embroidery, matching the edges up with the outer edges of the stitching.

All the embroidery from here on out will be seen from both sides.

Wind another bobbin to match the remaining thread colors used in the design.

Return the hoop to the machine. Follow the color change sheet, and embroider the back piece tackdown and finishing seam.

Once the embroidery is finished, unhoop the design and trim away the excess stabilizer.

The stabilizer's packaging should give instructions for removing the excess. For Vilene, soak the embroidered lace for a few moments.

Then allow the piece to air dry before pressing it flat with an iron.

To make the tassel lay correctly, iron it with a pressing cloth on top until all of the fringe lays flat and straight.