Double the festive details this Christmas with fun in-the-hoop candy cane holders! Each machine embroidery design in this style holds two candy canes that double as arms and legs for gingerbread people and other holiday friends. Project instructions will walk you through the process of making your own.
Supplies
- Small pieces of felt or ultra suede
- Tear-away stabilizer
- Temporary spray adhesive (Gunold KK100)
- Embroidery Thread
- Candy Canes
- Ribbon
Tools
- Masking tape
Designs featured in this tutorial include:
- EMP81645-1, Gingerbread Man Double Candy Cane Holder (In-the-Hoop)
When you download a double candy cane holder 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 embroidery software, take a look at our helpful video on using dielines.
Spray the backside of the printed dieline for the front piece with a small amount of temporary adhesive. Smooth it onto a piece of felt or ultra suede.
Cut out the shape and remove the paper. Repeat this process to cut out the back fabric piece.
Hoop a piece of tear-away stabilizer firmly. Make sure it is nice and tight with no wrinkles.
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. Then embroider the design. The first thing to embroider will be the "front piece dieline" (or outline stitch). This marks the area on the stabilizer where the fabric piece will be placed.
Remove the hoop from the machine but do not unhoop the stabilizer. Spray the back of the front fabric piece with a small amount of temporary adhesive. Place the fabric right inside the sewn outline.
Attach the hoop back onto the machine and continue with the design. A tackdown will sew next. This holds the front fabric in place for the remainder of the design. Then all of the inside details will be embroidered. Portions of the final border will also sew where the holes are needed for the candy canes.
On the color change sheet, look for the note that says "back piece tackdown". When you get to this section, stop the machine and remove the hoop from the machine but do not unhoop the stabilizer. Flip the hoop over so that the backside is facing up. Cut a piece of ribbon that is 7"- 8" long. Form the ribbon into a loop and tape it in place on the backside of the back fabric piece. Make sure to center it along the top edge.
Spray the backside of the back fabric piece with adhesive and place it inside the shape on the backside of the embroidery. Tape the looped ribbon to the side of the hoop so that it will not be sewn over in the remaining steps.
Since both sides of the ornament with be seen, wind a bobbin with the same thread used in the needle.
Attach the hoop back to the machine and continue embroidering the design. A tackdown and the final border will sew around the outer edge of the fabric. This binds all the layers together.
Once the embroidery is finished, remove the hoop from the machine. Unhoop the stabilizer, and carefully tear the excess stabilizer away.
Slide two candy canes into the holders to create the arms and legs of your gingerbread people. Use small candy canes for the smaller size of the designs, and standard candy canes for the larger size of the designs.
