When you download the in-thehoop wedding cake design, you'll find 18 files. Nine are embroidery files (labeled a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i). The other nine are dieline files, marked with the letters DL. Dielines are used to cut the fabric to the right shape and size. 

Open and print each dieline file using embroidery software. If you do not have embroidery software, take a look at our helpful video on using dielines without software. 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, learn more about affiliate links here)

First prepare the fabric piece for the top of the smallest tier size. Cut around the first paper dieline (labeled with an "a"), and spray the back of it. Smooth it onto the quilter's cotton

Cut out the shape. Repeat the above steps to prepare the fabric pieces for the side and bottom of the first tier (the dielines labeled with "b" and "c").

Hoop a piece of tear-away stabilizer. 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 a dieline, or outline stitch. This marks the area on the stabilizer where we'll place the fabric piece.

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 embroidering the design. A tack down stitch 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 elements will sew.

Once 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 structure to the wedding cake.

Repeat the previous steps to embroider the other two pieces of the smallest tier ("b" and "c"). Once they are finished being embroidered, tear away the excess stabilizer.

Now it is time to assemble the first tier. Match up the short sides of the long piece (piece "b"), and hand sew them together using the same thread used to embroider the border. This will create a loop, and make sure the embroidered side of the piece is on the outside.

Take the top of the tier (piece "a") and the looped side (piece "b"), and line the edges up. Carefully hand sew around the entire edge to attach the two pieces.

Next, repeat to attach the bottom piece, but make sure to leave a small hole open for stuffing.

Fill the tier with polyester fiberfill through the opening.

Sew the opening closed. 

Repeat the steps above to create the medium tier (using files "d", "e", and "f"), and the largest tier (using files "g", "h", and "i").

Finally, stack the tiers, and hand stitch or glue them together to create a beautiful in-the-hoop wedding cake pincushion.