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:
- 1/4 yard of linen or quilter's cotton
- Tear-away stabilizer
- Needle for hand sewing or fabric glue.
- Temporary spray adhesive (such as Gunold KK100)
- Polyester fiberfill
The designs used in this tutorial include:
Finished Size:
Small: 2 1/8" wide x 1 1/4" tall
Medium: 2 1/2" wide x 1 3/4" tall
Large: 3" wide by 1 3/4" tall
Special note:
In this tutorial the pincushion is sewn together by hand. If desired, you can also use fabric glue to assemble the pincushion. Simply make sure to hold the pieces together until the glue completely dries for best results.
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.)
Cut around the paper dieline shape for piece "a", and spray the back with temporary adhesive. Then smooth it onto the right side of the fabric.
Cut out the shapes, and remove the paper dielines from the fabric.
Hoop a piece of tear-away stabilizer tightly, making sure their are no wrinkles. 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 file "a" (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 the dieline. This marks the area on the stabilizer where we'll place the first fabric piece.r.
Remove the hoop from the machine, but do not unhoop the stabilizer. Spray the back of the fabric piece with a temporary adhesive, and place it right inside the sewn dieline.
Attach the hoop back onto the machine and continue to embroider the rest of the design. A tack down stitch will sew next, binding the fabric in place for the remainder of the design. Then the inner detail will embroider followed by the finishing border around the edges.
When the embroidery is finished, unhoop the stabilizer and gently tear it away from the edges. Make sure to leave the tear-away stabilizer on the back of the fabric piece as this will add a little bit of structure to the pincushion.
Repeat the previous steps to embroider the base piece (labeled with a "b"). Once it is finished being embroidered, tear away the excess stabilizer.
To assemble the pincushion, take the top piece (piece "a"), and pick one of the five darts. Fold the piece along the dart, and line up the two opposite edges with the wrong sides together. Using a hand sewing needle, stitch the two edges together.
Repeat to sew all of the other darts.
After all the darts are sewn, take the base piece ("b"), and line up one of its straight edges with one of the straight edges on the top piece ("a"). Make sure the wrong sides of the two pieces are together, and hand sew along the straight edge to connect the two pieces.
Repeat to sew together all but one of the straight sides around the pincushion. Make sure to leave one side unsewn, so that an opening remains for stuffing the pincushion.
Stuff the pincushion with polyester fiberfill.
Once firmly stuffed, sew the opening closed.
