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Get your jammies ready and brush your teeth because the Bedtime Critters Applique Embroidery Designs are here and ready for bed!  Twenty incredibly cute designs for embroidery on jammies, towels, blankies, or pillow cases.  These designs will look cute on anything you embroider for your kids.  So check out these adorable designs before the lights go out and the sandman brings sweet lullabies to your babies.

Product Information:
Bedtime Critters Applique Embroidery Designs (F70343)
List Price: $49.99
Sewforless.com Price: $34.99
Click Here For Additional Product Information Or To Purchase 

The time has come for a new voice in embroidery stabilizer.  The Wunderstitch Brand has released Fuse’N Stick, embroidery stabilizer which is ideal for applique.  The double sided adhesive eliminates the need for water-activated adhesive stabilizers or spray adhesives. 

So Applique Away!  With the Wunderstitch Fuse ‘N Stick!

Product Information:
Wunderstitch Fuse ‘N Stick Embroidery Stabilizer (H640912)
List Price: $35.99
Sewforless.com Price: $29.99
Click Here For Additional Product Information Or To Purchase

Product Information:
Wunderstitch Fuse ‘N Stick Embroidery Stabilizer (H6401212)
List Price: $44.99
Sewforless.com Price: $37.99
Click Here For Additional Product Information Or To Purchase

The Applique Gift Bag Craft Kit Embroidery Designs by Dakota Collectibles are here so you can be ready for any special occasion!  Be among the first to obtain this kit which allows you to create up to four embroidered applique gift bags for the following occasions: Birthday, New Baby, Wedding/Anniversary, and Graduation! 
You’ll absolutely have a blast with this craft kit by Dakota Collectibles.

This Kit Includes:
4 embroidery designs with and without bag outline on CD-ROM
Enough fabric to create 4 gift bags
4 die-cut iron-on appliques

What You Need:
Embroidery Machine
Tear-Away stabilizer
Embroidery Thread
Fabric Scissors
Applique Iron
Decorative buttons & ribbon
5″ x 7″ Hoop
Embellishments if desired

Product Information:
Applique Gift Bag Craft Kit Embroidery Designs
List Price: $39.99
Sewforless.com Price: $34.99
Click Here For Additional Product Information Or To Purchase

I had this brilliant idea that I was going to  applique stars to t-shirts so that my boys could wear them on 4th of July. I had my husband digitize a star apllique for me. I learned early on in my quest to learn to sew to practice. I would use remnants to practice on before I made those embarrassing mistakes.

You know the ones. . . the kind that you can’t even show your own mother for fear she might spew coffee out of her nose from laughing at you. My scrap pile was pretty big in the beginning. It often rivalled my laundry pile.

 First the stitches were too big and then they were too small. I was so excited when he got it just right. I really sound like Goldielocks and the Three Bears (Hmmmm maybe I should start a career in writing!) Once we got the design the correct size I started having issues that actually brought tears to my eyes.

Yes, people I cried like a three year old. 

I think I may have thrown the t-shirt on the floor.

Twice. 

My needle broke at least 5 times, the fabric moved, the stitches were off  and the thread would break. I was at that stage of putting my machine away for a few days so I could get up the courage to goof up again. 

 You know that stage. I know of at least one person on here who has done this.

She commented on my post. That’s how I know.

And I know I am not the only one that has had  a holier than thou tantrum from sewing gone wrong.

And then you  feel kind of sheepish for having a ” ‘tude” when you find out that all of your problems could have been avoided if you had just used the correct stablizer.

Yeah I know. Who knew!!!

It was one of those AHA! moments.

Yes my dear readers the choir came down from Heaven and sang the Hallelujah Chorus.

Seriously.

Ok may not out loud. But I heard it in my head.  It was a glorious moment.

I revelled in the divine fabulousness (is that a word?) of it all.

I purchased the wunderstitch no-show stabilizer from Sew for Less and my stabilizing worries were over.

Some of you are wondering if i got my project done on time . . .

Sadly, no, but I learned a lot by trying. I do how ever still have the shirts and will try again soon so that my boys will have something to wear to bed as the cooler weather comes.

I’m sure I have lots to learn about machine embroidery and applique. I’m no expert but at least I’m not so frustrated! So far in my endevour to learn to machine embroider, I have found that Sew for Less truly is the best deal for stabilizers. They are constantly having great sales. So stop on by the web site and stock up . The holidays are coming up which means lots of projects out there that will be needing stabilizer.

That’s my Take.

Honest.

I’m not kidding.

I even sewed the back of the t-shirt to the applique! Yes I did. And I’m proud of it! My friend felt so sorry for me that she took over for me after that. She showed me the settings and what stitch to use and embroidered that sucker like she was spreading peanut butter on a piece of bread.

I was so envious.

My project turned out cute despite my inability to “drive” straight.  Don’t you think?   (Ahem! . . .No comments about women drivers!)                                                  

Two months ago I owned a Brother vx-1120. Ummm. . . yeah one of those. Not to put down the owners of this lovely machine, but I had a hard time learning to sew on it. Hence the reason I can not sew straight lines.That is until I got my beloved Brother He-120. Being able to control my speed was like an epiphany. You know the choir singing from my last post?

 Yeah it happened again.

Seriously, it really happened .

But then I realized it was the TV.

T-shirt $2.50

Embroidery Thread $4.95

Stabilizer $0 ( borrowed it)

Figuring out that my embroidery machine has an applique feature: Priceless! You have no idea how ecstatic I was to find out my machine did applique! It was right up there with chocolate! And I love me some chocolate. I know I’m not alone on this one.

I was amazed that I could actually do an applique and not worry about sewing straight lines. My machine did it for me (Now, if we can only make a sewing macine that brewed coffee)! I found no instructions on how to actually use this feature in the manual. So taking what I learned in my first post I searched the internet, and asked questions.  Here are a few links that I found very helpful (Thanks Ladies!):

The Domestic Diva Blog 

!Sew Mama Sew!

Sonia’s Snippets

And buying books with lots of pictures helps too. Sew for Less Bookstore has lots of great instructional books on the subject. And let’s not forget the great information found on the Sew for Less Community Forum.

Granted, back when I first learned about this feature, I had no earthly idea about stablizers and there is actually different ones for different fabrics. So I had a few mishaps which I will probably show you in my next post. . . that is if you promise not to laugh.

You promise?

Pinky swear?

Alrighty then. Stay tuned for next week’s Aha moment!

Ever wanted to spruce up that lonely dining area in the kitchen where the table can be found?  You know, beneath the mounds of mail, miscellaneous drop-offs, art projects, teacher hand-outs (oh, wait, that’s my house…)  Well, find your tables, sort that mail, and get together a couple of supplies and let’s get going!  Hop on over and check out this step-by-step tutorial.   You’ll have a new look in no time.

[Source Glorious Hats via Flickr]