How to Make a Machine Embroidered Rope Wreath Trivet

To begin, print a template of your chosen design. Use this to determine the size of your inner opening. Keep in mind the density of your design, just as you would when making rope bowls. 

Once you've selected the opening size, begin by wrapping your rope around the hoop snuggly. Clip or pin the rope in place at the end of the overlap. For this to work properly, be sure the end of the rope is on the inside of the opening going clockwise.

After clipping or pinning, remove the hoop.

While sewing the frame, use a zigzag stitch. This stitch is going to bind the rope together side-by-side as you coil it. 

Start stitching the coil. Go slowly and carefully.

Continue to sew, adjusting the shape as you go. The more layers of rope, the more stiff the frame will become and the better it will hold its shape. 

Once you've reached your desired diameter, finish the frame by trimming the tail of the rope to be about 5" - 6" long.

Create a loop by turning the end of the rope in. Make sure that it sits between the outer most layer of the coil and the remaining, un-sewn section of the tail.

To help hold the loop in place, carefully pin it where you would like the loop to start.

Slowly stitch the last of the tail onto the wreath, remove the pin as you get close to it. Do not sew over the pin. Sew the raw end of the rope both to the top edge of the frame as well as the start of the loop. Make sure to backstitch a little so the stitching doesn't unravel over time. 

If you would like, keep the center opening wider and follow the steps above to make a frame that fits around a sew out for a fun wall hanging.

If you wish to add machine embroidery to your wreath, use the template from earlier, but trim down the edges (both on the outside and the inside of the wreath template) so that you can see the edges of the rope wreath.

Use an air-erase pen and ruler to mark the cross hairs on the wreath. Be sure that the loop of the wreath stays at the top so the design will hang properly.

Repeat to draw the crosshairs on the stabilizer.

Hoop the stabilzier with the crosshairs centered.

Use temporary spray adhesive to adhear the wreath to the hoop. Be sure that your crosshairs are lined up.

Use a hand sewing needle to baste the wreath to the stabilizer.

Center the needle on the cross hairs and begin to sew out the design.

Continue to follow the color change sheet to embroider the rest of the design.

After sewing, remove the wreath from the hoop and seam rip the basting stitches.

Cut away the stabilizer from the center and outside edges of the wreath.

To remove the air-erase pen markings, follow the directions on the packaging for the type of pen you used. You can now enjoy your rope wreath! We use ours as a decorative trivet when serving tea and cocoa.