The in-the-hoop design has nine files. Three are full embroidery files. The other six are dieline files marked with the letters DL. Dielines are used to cut the fabric to the right shape and size. Open the dielines files with embroidery software and print them. If you do not have embroidery software, Wilcom TrueSizer is a free program to use.

Spray the back of the paper dielines with temporary adhesive, and smooth them onto the chosen felt colors.

Then, carefully cut out each shape and remove the paper dielines. Repeat until you have cut out the front and back fabric pieces for the fish, bobber, and hook.

Now that the fabric pieces are ready, hoop a piece of tear-away stabilizer tightly. 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 onto the machine and load the embroidery file for the fish (labeled with an "a"). Make sure it is not the dieline file.

Use a 11 (or 75/11) sharp sewing needle instead of an embroidery needle. A sharp sewing needle has a smaller, finer point than an embroidery needle, so it will make smaller perforations in the stabilizer.

Embroider the design. The first thing to embroider will be the dieline or outline of the fabric shape. This marks the area on the stabilizer for the fabric pieces.

Remove the hoop from the machine, but do not unhoop the stabilizer. Spray the back side of the front fabric piece with temporary adhesive, and place the fabric right inside the sewn outline.

Attach the hoop back onto the machine, and continue to embroider the design. The "front piece tackdown" step will sew first, adhering the fabric to the stabilizer, and then all the inner details will sew.

Stop the machine before sewing the "back piece tackdown" step. Take the hoop off the machine, but do not unhoop it. Lay the hoop on the table with the back side facing up.

For the fish, there is no string to be added, so simply spray the back fabric piece with temporary adhesive, and place it inside the shape over the back side of the embroidery.

When embroidering the bobber (file "b"), cut a piece of cord that is 42" long. Then lay it over the back side of the bobber so that 10" of cord is below the bottom edge of the bobber, and about 30" of cord is above the bobber. Tape it in place. Then spray and place the back fabric piece over the cord.

For the hook (file "c"), place the end of the cord that is below the bobber (the shorter side) over the back side of the hook. Tape it in place above the embroidery, but do not tape on the back of it. Instead the adhesive spray from the back piece will hold it in place. Spray the back fabric piece, and place it over the cord.

For all the pieces, the final stitching will be seen on both sides of the design. Wind a bobbin to match each thread color that is being used in the needle.

Place the hoop back onto the machine, and embroider the "back piece tackdown." This will bind all the layers of fabric, stabilizer, and cord together.

Once the embroidery is finished, unhoop it, and tear away all the excess stabilizer from around the design. The dieline stitches will also be removed with the stabilizer.

Repeat the above steps to sew the fish (file "a"), the bobber (file "b"), and the hook (file "c"). Remember to add the cord to the back of the bobber and the hook.

Locate the opening by the bottom of the tail. Take one of the 3/4" magnets and place it inside the belly of the fish through this hole.

Then place a magnet inside of the hook as well. Before sewing anything closed, make sure the magnets are strong enough to easily hold the fish and hook together through the layers of fabric.

Purchasing the magnets from a hardware store rather than a craft store can ensure that they are actually strong enough to do this.

Once the magnets are inside, sew the openings in the fish and hook closed with a hand sewing needle and thread matching the embroidery thread color.

Take the dowel, and cut it in half using a craft razor saw. This will allow you to make two rods out of one dowel. Then starting 1" from one end of the dowel, wrap the longer end of the cord securely around the dowel (the one without the hook). Use a hot glue gun, and glue the cord down little by little as you wrap it. Make sure to hold it all in place until the glue dries for best results.

Repeat the above steps to create a rainbow of fish and a set of rods that the whole family can enjoy together.