Sew What’s Up Presents
The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
quilting message board “Sew What’s New,” which was
retired in August 2007. It is being provided by
“Sew What’s Up,”
which serves as the new home for many members of “Sew What’s New.”
From: blessedmommyuv3
Date: 12-01-2004, 03:20 PM (1 of 22)
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Can anyone recommend a good instructional book or video to purchase for free motion embroidery? I have a wonderful new sewing machine with lots of pretty decorative stitches--and no money to add an additional embroidery machine. I stumbled across the last 5 minutes of Simply Quilts today and saw beautiful free motion embroidery done on a quilt using a regular sewing machine and water soluable stabilizer-- I was inspired!!! But I have no idea how to begin... Do I need a special machine hoop? Does it need to be machine specific (I have a Kenmore 19365), and which stitches do what... etc.... TIA!  Jen in CA |
User: blessedmommyuv3
Member since: 05-18-2004 Total posts: 263 
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From: MaryW
Date: 12-01-2004, 05:34 PM (2 of 22)
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type it into google and see what comes up. my books are fairly old compared to what is probably on the market today.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: dmoses
Date: 12-01-2004, 06:33 PM (3 of 22)
There are some lessons on this site.  http://sew-whats-new.com/fme/index.shtml Also, the author of the lessons has a book for sale! Take care,
Donna |
User: dmoses
Member since: 02-22-2002 Total posts: 964 
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From: blessedmommyuv3
Date: 12-02-2004, 01:16 PM (4 of 22)
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Thank you, Donna. I emailed the author for more info on her book. 
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User: blessedmommyuv3
Member since: 05-18-2004 Total posts: 263
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From: sewingnonie
Date: 01-06-2005, 12:43 PM (5 of 22)
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Just wondering if you got your book yet. I sent for her book,and have been having so much fun doing free motion embridery. it is fun and addictive. I thnk I am getting it down to the point where I can actually put a design on clothing. Sewingnonie |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: blessedmommyuv3
Date: 01-06-2005, 01:40 PM (6 of 22)
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Do you know where I can get info on ordering it? I am very interested in it. I scanned the internet for more info and did not find any on this book. Thanks a bunch! Jen in CA |
User: blessedmommyuv3
Member since: 05-18-2004 Total posts: 263
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From: sewingnonie
Date: 01-06-2005, 09:48 PM (7 of 22)
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I ordered it from this site http://sew-whats-new.com/fme/index.shtml it was awhile ago,but maybe Mary knows if it is still available. I would think it is since it is still listed on the site. Drop in at http://www.everythingsewing.net I put a picture of a dishtowel i did up in the gallery also some practice pieces. The dish towel is grapes just in case its hard to tell.  I would be glad to share with you what I have learned,but I am no expert by any means. Sewingnonie |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: Sewing Oodles
Date: 01-07-2005, 06:36 AM (8 of 22)
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Marilynn is a member of these boards. Send Mary a private message and maybe she can help you out. The author of these books was very helpful to me when I purchased the book. Marilynn's book is the best I have found plus it has patterns in it. I haven't done any fme in a long time, I think I feel the need. Good luck in your search.
Hugz,
Cindy~Texas |
User: Sewing Oodles
Member since: 07-29-2002 Total posts: 69 
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From: DorothyL
Date: 01-07-2005, 08:07 AM (9 of 22)
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I was just thinking about trying some free motion embrodery. I'll check out the lessons. I really just need some basic tips since what I want to do is pretty simple and I'm familiar with the machine I'll be using. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: sewingnonie
Date: 01-07-2005, 11:37 AM (10 of 22)
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I hope Marilyn was able to see my dishtowel,as she is such an inspiration to me. I must figure out how to post pictures here. I love free motion embroidery,now that I am getting the hang of it. It also is an art that dates way back to the treadle machines.I hate to see an art die off because we now have machines that do it for us. I also have developed arthritis in my hands and embroidery is hard for me,so i save my hands for smocking. I do some knitting and crochet,the Dr. said it is good to use my hands as much as possible. sewingnonie |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: blessedmommyuv3
Date: 01-07-2005, 12:56 PM (11 of 22)
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for all your wonderful suggestions and input. I emailed Mary for more info on how to purchase Marilyn's book that you all glowingly recommended. Thanks again, everybody! Looking forward to learning this art. |
User: blessedmommyuv3
Member since: 05-18-2004 Total posts: 263
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From: sewingnonie
Date: 01-22-2005, 02:27 PM (12 of 22)
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I just have to ask if you got the book and how are you doing with fme? I have been playing with it and just love it. I think its a lot like painting,except you are using needle and thread. I totally lose all sense of time and just stich away. Nonie |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: MaryW
Date: 01-23-2005, 05:34 PM (13 of 22)
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Sewingnonie, hi. Where have you been?
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: sewingnonie
Date: 01-23-2005, 11:14 PM (14 of 22)
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Hi Mary,I wrote a big long explaination of what I have been up to and I guess I hit the wrong button as no post showed up. Been busy trying fme,did some kitchen towels and now will try hand towels. Need to figure out how to place initials and I will be all set. Also need to get dgd's Easter dress smocked. Last year i started really early and finished the night before Easter. Nonie |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: blessedmommyuv3
Date: 01-24-2005, 11:32 AM (15 of 22)
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Sewingnonie, I have still be unable to get any information on the free motion embroidery book. I know that Mary W. was hard at work to get in touch with the author, but as of yet, has not been able to contact her. Could you tell me the title of her book, and I will further research on the internet, to see if I can locate it. It has been impossible to find using just her name to this point. I am even more anxious to locate it after viewing your beautiful work. Very inspiring! Glad you are having fun with the fme, and I hope I will be able to locate a resource to learn the art soon! Jen in CA |
User: blessedmommyuv3
Member since: 05-18-2004 Total posts: 263
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From: sewingnonie
Date: 01-24-2005, 11:51 AM (16 of 22)
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Jen,I don't think she ever had it published as a book-book. She sent me the pages and I put them in plastic sheets and then a note book to make my own book,so don't think you will find it on the web. A lot of her instructions are right here on Mary's site,you might be able to copy those off. I will help you as much as I can,because I finally "got it". Also,do a search for speed stitch. I don't have their addy handy. They have got kits that they sell for fme,that come with great instructions and for some of the kits they even include the thread you will need. Plus the prices are right. I love doing fme,and I know you will to. Nonie |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: Magot
Date: 01-24-2005, 12:00 PM (17 of 22)
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The stocking I did for the christmas stocking contest was free motion embroidery - I think the pictures have gone now - but if you remember tham mine was the portrait of Mary and baby. I made the background from crescentof fabric glued to a linen background and then sewed over the top for texture. I was fun to do and a whole different technique for me.
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626 
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From: MariLynnTX
Date: 02-14-2005, 05:30 PM (18 of 22)
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I posted an answer under freemotion embroidery in Embroidery Machines to Mary in Okla about why I quit doing the articles, but I still get some cc's of my book because I have inquiries about it. I had my husband having 5 heart attacks and then dying and was almost demolished myself when a van hit my small car...I spent 9 months in a wheelchair among other things, like 3 operations, one to remove my gall bladder, oone to remove a gall stone that got out and was causing me trouble, and a cyst they thought was cancerous that was major surgery. It turned out NOT to be cancer and I am all healed up now, walking with a cane because of that old accident, but WALKING, so I am very happy about that! I'm willing to answer any questions you may have. MariLynntx
Life is a song...we give it harmony or dissonance.
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User: MariLynnTX
Member since: 08-13-2001 Total posts: 256 |
From: sewingnonie
Date: 02-17-2005, 12:37 PM (19 of 22)
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MariLynn,so glad to hear you are up and walking. Hope things continue to just keep getting better and better for you. I do have a fme question,I bought some plain hand towels and want to monogram them for gifts. I see the pictures of the three initials,and the middle one is always larger then the other two. How big should I make the initials? Is three better then two? or is that a matter of taste? I am new to fme,love it. Was looking to buy a embroidery machine,but I so enjoy guiding the hoop and watching the design come to life,think I will just stick with fme. Thanks fo any help sewingnonie |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: MariLynnTX
Date: 02-17-2005, 06:35 PM (20 of 22)
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Nonie, this is almost purely a judgment call. I just look at the towel and think what size would look the best. The middle initial is traditionally the last name,and larger, but if you like the look of initials all the same size, there is no law against it! Also, I have seen 2 initials intertwined or one about half half an inch higher on the towel than the 2nd one, or 3 initials staggered like that. They can be all one color or several shades of one color, or mixed colors. On towels I always use a hoop and some water-sol stabilizer on top of where I am embroidering. Also, always put the fabric in the hoop opposite to the way you would put it in for regular hand embroidery. The fabric (wrong side) should be next to the machine base, and the right side should be toward you. If I am not clear enough in my explanations, just tell me what I say that is confusing! MariLynntx
Life is a song...we give it harmony or dissonance.
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User: MariLynnTX
Member since: 08-13-2001 Total posts: 256 |
From: sewingnonie
Date: 02-17-2005, 08:16 PM (21 of 22)
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MariLynn,your instructions are very clear thank you so much. I am looking forward to making these up for Christmas. Stand by though I know I will have lots of questions. Nonie |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: MariLynnTX
Date: 02-18-2005, 11:18 AM (22 of 22)
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I am thinking of next Christmas, too. I did almost nothing for Christmas this past year, since I was mostly in the hospital, but I want to get dd Lisa's quilt finished, or at least the top of it. It started out as HGTV's Strollin' the Block Quilt, but I can never leave anything alone--my house follows the same lines as theirs, except I refused to believe that our ancesters couldn't draw at least relatively straight lines for the windows and door and made mine straight. Then I added anything I thought would suggest which month it was, like snow in January, a valentine on the door for February, a leprechaun with his pot of gold for March, flags and fireworks for July, an Easter basket for April, a witch flying across the moon for October, a turkey for Thanksgiving, (which I still have to finish) and I plan to put a creche` scene for December. I made a quilt for my dd Shauna with The Owl & the PussyCat---her favorite nursery rhyme! I made it for Rush Dean, my 5-yr-old grandson, to sleep under, but she hung it on his wall. I promised my youngest son Jay and his wife Christian some of the Christmas ornaments I make. Have fun, MariLynntx
Life is a song...we give it harmony or dissonance.
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User: MariLynnTX
Member since: 08-13-2001 Total posts: 256 |
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