Retro Truck Gift Card Holder (In-the-Hoop)

Roll into the holidays in style with this unique in-the-hoop design! This retro truck ornament features a pocket perfectly sized for a gift card -- or other tiny gifts. We'll show you step-by-step how to stitch this classic Christmas creation.

When you download the a gift card 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 an embroidery software, Wilcom TrueSizer is a free program to use.

To begin, start with file "a". Spray the back side of the paper dieline with temporary spray adhesive, and smooth on top of the quilters cotton.

Cut out the shape along the dieline. This will be the pocket of the gift card holder.

Repeat this process for file "b", but this time cut two copies of the dieline as this piece will need a front and back fabric piece.

Hoop a piece of tearaway stabilizer. Madeira E-Z 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 "a" file of the embroidery design (not the dieline files).

Use a size 11 or 75/11 sharp sewing needle, rather than an embroidery needle. A sharp needle has a smaller, finer point than a embroidery needle, so that will make smaller perforations in the stabilizer.

Embroider the design. The first thing to embroider will be a dieline, or outline stitch. This marks the area on the stabilizer where we'll place the front pocket fabric piece.

Spray the back side of the front pocket piece with temporary spray adhesive.

Remove the hoop from the machine, but do not unhoop the stabilizer.

Place the front pocket piece right inside the sewn dieline.

Attach the hoop back onto the machine and continue embroidering the design. A zigzag stitch tackdown will sew next. This binds the fabric in place for the remainder of the design.

Once the fabric is stitched in place, all of the inner details will sew.

The final step for the pocket will be a finishing border that sews along the top edge of the pocket.

Unhoop the stabilizer and gently tear it away. Now that the pocket piece is finished, set it aside to use later on.

Hoop a new piece of tearaway stabilizer. Attach the hoop to the machine and load the embroidery file "b" (not the dieline files).

Embroider the design. The first thing to embroider will be a dieline or the outline stitch. This marks the area on the stabilizer where we'll place the front fabric piece.

Spray the back side of the front piece with temporary spray adhesive.

Remove the hoop from the machine, but do not unhoop the stabilizer.

Place the fabric right inside the sewn dieline.

Attach the hoop to the machine and continue embroidering -- a zigzag tackdown will sew next.

Then, the start of the inner details will sew.

On the color change sheet, look for the steps titled "back piece tackdown". When you get to that step, stop the machine and remove the hoop from the hoop from the machine. Do not unhoop the stabilizer.

As all the embroidery from here on out will be seen from both sides, wind a bobbin to match each of the remaining thread colors used in the design.

Spray the back side of the back fabric piece with the temporary spray adhesive. Turn the hoop over and place the fabric inside the shape on the back side of the embroidery.

Attach the hoop back onto the machine. Continue the design. A tackdown stitch will bind all of the layers together.

Follow the color change sheet, and embroider any remaining details while matching the bobbins with the corresponding colors until you reach the step titled "pocket dieline".

Then embroider the "Pocket dieline" step. This dieline will show where to place the embroidered pocket piece (file "a") on the hooped fabric and stabilizer (file "b").

Remove the hoop from the machine, but do not unhoop the stabilizer. Using temporary spray adhesive, spray the back side of the pocket piece (file "a") that was embroidered earlier. Place the pocket piece on top of the front side of the embroidery, lining it up with the sewn "pocket dieline".

Attach the hoop back onto the machine, and embroider the rest of the design. Still using matching bobbins.

When all of the remaining details are done being embroidered, remove the hoop from the machine and unhoop the stabilizer.

Carefully tear away the excess stabilizer from around the design. Also make sure to remove the stabilizer from the hanger loop.

To hang as an ornament, take a ribbon or cord of your choosing at least 7" in length. Slip through the loop at the top of the design, and tie a knot at the end.