If you want to embroider fabrics but don’t have a standard embroidery machine but only a sewing machine, you can still embroider using a sewing machine. It is possible to create beautiful and different fabrics using just a sewing machine, but it requires skills and experience.
Even if you are not experienced, you can still practice and try to embroider a beautiful fabric using a sewing machine. It may take time for you to perform beautiful and remarkable embroidery fluently, but you indeed can embroidery using a sewing machine.
For beginners, a sewing machine is the best choice for practising embroidery instead of heavy machinery to work. However, even with a simple sewing machine, you can do a lot of embroidery work and practice to see how far you can extend your skills in embroidery.
Not everyone has enough resources or skills to own an embroidery machine, so even a simple home sewing machine can do the job.
How To Embroider With A Sewing Machine
The first thing you need to do is prepare the sewing machine as you do when you do embroidery work, and it depends upon what you use. For instance, some people use embroidery thread while some use regular thread. You can choose whatever thread you prefer and keep all the accessories with you if you need them.
Depending on what type of embroidery you would be doing, you need to keep the spool filled and keep your threads for multi-color embroidery. Here are steps that will show you how to embroider or stitch with a home sewing machine:
1. Draw A Layout
Before you start embroidering on the sewing machine, you need a guiding model. Printed templates, and customized sketches are some examples of guiding models, and some people draw directly on the fabric. You can choose any of them as having a guide helps you a lot no matter what type of work you are doing.
2. Gather Required Accessories
There is no need for special or extra items to perform embroidery, and you just need a couple of essential things for embroidery. It just depends upon how you handle the fabric, thread, and stitch pattern you choose. List of items that you will need before you start embroidery on a sewing machine:
- Thread.
- Needle.
- Fabric.
- Scissors.
You can choose extra items that you will need according to your preference. Embroidery hoops, embroidery thread, free-motion foot are some preferences that you may have.
3. Choosing The Template
Depending on what style or design you are trying to acquire, choose the right spot for the best embroidery position. Place the layout at the spot, clamp it with the pins, and ensure that you leave a gap between the pins and the fabric you want to embroider. Holding it in the perfect place is the most crucial part of embroidering to create a perfect design.
4. Stitch Your Way Through
The next step is to stitch the way you want, and you can do that either by straight stitch or zig-zag stitch to create designs as per demand. For a professional look and creative design, you should do a zig-zag stitch, and for filling, use the straight stitch. Be sure to calculate the zigzag stitch length to avoid any inconvenience.
5. Moving The Needles Right Way
The prominent problem people face while embroidering is that fabric gets tugged too much. To avoid that, you have to allow the needle to move swiftly in tightly spaced lines. However, moving the fabric quickly would make the zig-zag stitch look like a regular stitch, so it’s okay to leave a stitch trail and cover it up in the next one.
With time, the thickness of the stitches will increase, and it will give a more sophisticated look. You can also use embroidery hoops for tight surface as it allows you to stitch more quickly and precisely; however, some prefer not to use it as it gets in the way of the items.
6. Wrapping the Stitches
After you have done stitches, you have to be careful of the ends of it. Good embroidery has its stitches wholly wrapped up and concealed. Irrespective of how you hide them, either by double knots or backstitching, how well you hide them affects the overall design.
Wash the fabric and remove the traces of the template or layout until it looks clean. A little work and time are all required to become a good embroider using a sewing machine, so be sure to work your way through it.
7. Finishing Your Work
Be sure to stick with corners while you embroider and intersect with an angled line. Reposition the needle and move the needle slowly as you see fit. Filling the corners and then going into the designs can help you alot too in embroidering a perfect design.
After you are done, be sure to wind up the work and leave the machine just as you started it with. Slowly, you will get a hold of fabric handling skills so you can handle complex designs and angled corners with ease.
Tips To Embroider With A Sewing Machine
You may have learned how to embroider using a home sewing machine as a beginner, but here are some tips that can help you embroider with perfection and beauty.
- Free-Motion Embroidery: For filling designs and a professional look, free-motion embroidery is the best option as it makes your embroidery look like an embroidering machine does it. You will need an adjustable thread with bobbin tension, also known as a treadle. Furthermore, you can adjust the treadle thread as you like by loosening or tightening it. If you can handle fabric well, free-hand motion is the best choice for embroidery using a sewing machine.
- Lower Feed Dogs In Your Machine: There is a set of feed dogs generally like thin metal bars, you can find them after reading the machine manually, and there is a section that teaches you how to lower them. By lowering the feed dogs, you can guide the fabric more freely and easily. Instead of moving the machine, you can just move the fabric around the feed dogs for maximum movement and ease of design.
- Embroidery Thread: Instead of using a standard thread, use embroidery thread as it gives a great look and provides durability and strength to the overall fabric. Either be cotton or rayon or polyester, whatever you prefer, you can choose any.
- Full-Length Thread In Bobbin: The machine can use any thread in embroidery, but while making a freehand motion, be sure to go with full-length thread as there is nothing wrong with running out of thread in the middle of stitching. Be sure to use a fully-wound bobbin thread to avoid inconvenience and stitch your way through.
- Embroidery Hoop: Using a stabilizer is a good thing when it comes to embroidering for professional work. Embroidery hoops are one such accessory that helps you immensely; instead of moving the fabric side-to-side, you just tighten the fabric and desired area with a hoop and embroider it. This way, it is easy and precise, and you can stitch with more area and movement. Embroidery hoop keeps the fabric tight, smooth and makes it easier to move the fabric.
- Angled Corners In The Sketch: This one is a little tricky as you have to fill the angled corners and slowly work your way through the main design. Most people get stuck in the wrong way while fighting the gap, so be sure to tackle the angled corners with a sketch and stick with smooth curves and right-angled edges for the perfect design.
- Removing The Model: After you have done embroidering, you have to remove the layout or model. Inexpensive clothes, you have to make sure while embroidering not to leave pin holes unnecessary and not leave the thread traces on the edges. For accurate fit, you can use a stabilizer and when you are embroidering a satin stitch. However, using paper instead of pins is the best way to avoid any design conflicts. When you complete the embroidery, you can tear the paper off, and bits of paper are removed after washing the fabric.