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Made by Hand and Delivered in Person

What better way to shower a first-time mother-to-be than by creating a gift from the heart. And if you can deliver it in person – all the better!  Last weekend, our family showered our niece with dozens of gifts for the new baby.  Lucky girl that she is, some of those gifts – well, many of those gifts – were made by hand. I gathered the handmade items for a photograph to share with you because I know many of you love to stitch for others.

Handmade Machine Embroidery Items

Two of my sisters created gorgeous items. The grandmother-to-be not only made a quilt and matching crib bumpers but also crocheted a blanket. The great-grands jumped into it too!  The gorgeous mint green crocheted blanket was made by her paternal great-grandmother. And my mom, the maternal great-grand, doesn’t sew or craft but she knows where to turn to get the job done. (No, she doesn’t turn to me!). A fellow assisted living resident crocheted the diaper bag and wipes container. Oh wow.  A big hit with the hipster parents-to-be.

A dear family friend, Kathy, made the sheep applique quilt.  Kathy is multi-talented in the crafting world and really pulled out all the stops with the quilt. Intricate piecing and raw edge applique are brought to life by gorgeous quilting.  Kathy is new to quilting but you would never know by the looks of this quilt.

The new babe’s room will be decorated with a Sunshine theme and my stitching sister Marie Zinno went to town on that theme.  She stole the show with her diaper cake, 12 onesies and embroidered pillow.

Onesies

The gray daisy quilt in the background was my contribution to the new baby’s room.  I told the mother to use it, not hang it on the wall. I said, “When I see this quilt in a year or two, I want it to be rumbled and well-loved – not preserved!”

Marie and I were so lucky to attend and give these gifts to our niece in person. Our schedules are pretty intense but the shower was set around our Stitching Sisters events. The shower was in New Jersey on Sunday and we led some very lovely ladies in a 2-day hands-on seminar in Maryland on Friday and Saturday.  We had a blast with these fine ladies and many of them went home with new skills and goodies. Here’s a couple of happy faces.

Stitching Sisters Event

Then we hit the road and drove through the early spring farmlands of Southern New Jersey to arrive in time for the shower.  Whew!  But it was worth it. And we’re not done yet.  In two weeks we head to one of our favorite dealerships in the country, Moore’s Sewing in Pomona and Huntington Beach, CA. It’s been two years since our last visit and we have an all-new presentation for George Moore and his customers.  We can’t wait to get there – in fact, I’m pretty sure Marie is already packing her bags cause it’s still gray and dreary in Ohio!

 

Here’s your assignment this week:

Tell me how you get your embroidery fix, is it a daily activity or one you squeeze in when you find a free afternoon?  Just leave a comment and you could win one of two Gold Memberships to Daily Embroidery. That’s a $120 value each!

Daily Embroidery’s Gold Membership program offers unlimited downloads to their massive and ever-growing design collection with two new designs added daily.

The winner of last week’s assignment is:

Share a comment about contemporary quilting and you could win a trio of Stipple! Collections: Geometrics, Butterfly and Seashells.

And the winner is…”I too absolutely hate hand stitching or sewing. I always try to find another way somehow to sew by machine if anyway possible! I love your embroidery techniques and your embroidery stipple products! These are the 3 that I do not have and would very much love to have them. Hope I can be a winner this time around! Thanks so much for all of your quilt projects! Love them!.” – Ginger S.

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148 COMMENTS

  • Kris Lescinsky

    I try to make windows of time for embroidery. I will often get out everything and lay it out early in the morning before work so that after work I can jump right in and start quickly.

    • Karen

      I build time into my calendar along the lines of Nancy Ziemens advice of 10-20-30 minutes to sew. I have 2 embroidery machines and always have embroidery prepped and ready to go on one machine and sewing projects on the other. The dual machines really allowed me to speed up my sewing and enjoyment – big time!

    • Anne

      Well in my perfect world I would embroider every minute of the day however my world has too many distractions so I’m lucky to spend time with my machine about once a week. If only my six kids would not mind take out every night or not having clean clothes then maybe……. But for now I am happy with my once a week vacation into my fantasy world!!!

      • Carolyn

        First, let me say, I was one of the ladies at the seminar in Maryland, AND it was FANTASTIC! AS for my embroidery time, being retired you’d think I could set my time, but, alas, life gets in the way! However, once I get started, the rest of life stands still, and I need to be pulled away! I’m an addict and I have no plans on rehab!!

  • Kristin Kaufmann

    It’s a daily fix. I’m fairly new (just started in September 2012) and I promised myself I would sew everyday. So far I have!

  • Jacque

    I try and embroidery daily. If I don’t I have withdrawals. So I would say I embroidery 5-6 nights per week and one day on the week-end. this is because I have a 40 hour week job.

  • Pam Bricher

    I get most of my embroidery fix by doing childrens charity quilts and animal rescue items for various organizations. I don’t have many people to make items for so I tend to adopt anyone that comes along and wants or needs something……

  • Natalie Cease

    I got my first embroidery fix by making 2 dozen in-the-hoop hand puppets for my music teaching daughter. My latest fix has been making things for my new grandbaby, Haven Elizabeth. There are not enough hours in the day to make embroider I would like to make!

  • maria elena

    While at work I think of what I would do when I get home, then I get home, feed hubby and go into sewing room, there I plan and do some form of embroidery or sewing, that is my relaxation and my phycologist if I did have a bad day at work!!!!

  • Penny Martin-Holly

    I have a home embroidery business and get my fix almost every day. But my real fix is when I make time to embroider or sew something for myself. I make it a point to try and learn something new, and that I will totally enjoy doing. The Designs In Machine Embroidery magazine is one of the first places I go to for my creative project fix. So many great ideas and projects! I also get my fix from taking nearby embroidery classes. I can’t wait until you are in the PA/NJ area again! I would love to win the Daily Embroidery Gold Membership, so that I could go all out with my creative embroidery fix with their beautiful designs.

  • Jean Lowenberger

    When you have your own upholstery, sewing and embroidery business one would think you can do it any day you want. True to a point, when you sew for others you don’t sew for yourself, or you are busy on an upholstery machine and not the embroidery machine,just the way it is.

  • Karen U.

    2 of my good friends & I just had a few days that we embroidered together. We had fun and taught each other new things. It might be awhile before we can do that again.

  • Cathy Stephens

    I wish I could embroidery every day, but I work a 50 hour job. So I try to get some done on the weekends when I can. I just signed up for your Craftsy class and loving it. This weekend I’m going be working on that quilt.

  • Terrie Underwood

    I love to steal snippets of time and either start of finish a project. I have one project I’ve been working on for two years, but only work in short spurts on it. It’s a queen size quilt in the hoop, and I don’t want it to become labor, so… Short sessions are good for my mental health!

  • Pamela Wall

    I have to squeeze embroidery project into the weekends. I try to do some sewing every day, usually the prep work for whatever I am doing on the weekend.

  • Diane Moore

    I took over the dining room as my sewing room so I can come home from work, put dinner on and embroider/sew while I’m cooking. I just purchased my first embroidery machine this past winter and I’m addicted.

  • beth daniels

    I get an embroidery fix usually when I know I need a gift for some occasion or holiday to give to someone either friend or family relatives. I also get a fix when I am in the mood of making dish towels for my kitchen with embroidery design on them and some knit shirts that I own. I would love to have this membership; I could get my hands full of wonderful embroidery designs that I could do. I would treasure the designs from this membership into the embroidery world.

  • Heather Dupuis

    I like to look for designs and plan projects while listening to the local news in the afternoon. It allows me to catch up on local events and takes my mind off of the “evil situations becoming more prominent daily”. I am still in the learning stages, so this membership would be so helpful with this process.

  • Vicki L

    I embroider when I can, mostly on weekends. I’m working two jobs these days, to help pay for my new embroidery addiction! I got my machine last November and love to make gifts for my first grandbaby. He’s only 4 months old now, so my embroidery machine is going to get a lot of use!

  • PD

    I do the “household” requirements in the mornings so I can devote the afternoons to embroidery. Love having this time since my retirement!

  • Mary B

    Sometimes I embroider daily, sometimes a bit less often. I work a 40 hour job plus have a small at-home embroidery, custom gift business that my husband (retired) takes care of during the day. He doesn’t embroider, that’s my baby.

  • Patricia

    I am lucky enough to have my own sewing room, so whenever I have a moment I can seek in and have some fun. I love all the handmade items for the new baby. She is a very lucky baby!

  • Gina Piriz

    I buy t-shirts at the dollar store and keep them ready to go. Whenever I find some time and a design that is too awesome not to use, but don’t have a project for, I sit down to make a shirt for my daughter. Sometimes I add bows for her hair and pants or a skirt to match. So much fun!

  • Cheryl

    I try to sew, machine embroidery, or crochet every day. It keeps my mind creative to try new things and I love making things for family and friends.

  • Jackie

    Wow what a great giveaway, an endless suppply of entertainment. I need a daily dose of doing something on my embroidery machine otherwise my life is not complete. My embroidery machine is my best friend – its always willing to please me at any time.

  • Leora B

    I try to embroider once a week usually on the weekends.. I go to a couple local quilt stores and usually sign up for classes to take and learn new technics. I just finished making 3- pin tuck table runners with embroidery in the middle and they turned out wonderful.. its so much fun..

  • Joyce S.

    I always have a project waiting to be done. I try to finish as much sewing/embroidery as I can on the weekends. The week is busy with working outside the home 40+ hours and trying to keep in shape. I do have one or two evenings that I get home early enough that I can sometimes fit in an hour or two to enjoy my machine.

  • Linda S

    I try and do something embroidery related every day. If I don’t have time to do an actual stitch-out, I do some planning and organizing for my next one. Sometimes it means just looking for new designs, or getting ideas from your magazine or my favorite blogs.

  • Rosana T.

    I get my embroidery “fix” everyday!!! I’m retired, so I love to spend my time CREATING something beautiful daily.
    These days; I’m working on a wedding quilt and embroidery. What fun!

  • BevM

    I travel a lot & can’t always take my machine & threads with me so I stitch something everyday if I’m in the same place as my machine. I am thinking about it all the time. Love it.

  • Selena

    I am just now organized enough…i.e. I can now see the top of my cutting table…Lol!!…to put projects together. I’m new to machine embroidery so anything and everything that I can get my hands on to help me learn is worthwhile!! Having sooo much fun, wish I had started this sooner!! I’m trying to make it a daily habit as the more I do, the better I get! Isn’t it like that with everything! 🙂

  • Pamela Black

    I copied off your “Bucket List” And am trying to work thru the “Intermediate Bucket List”. Doing one a nite. Also I love to use the embroidery machine to quilt my quilts (at least for now).
    I loved it when you came up with the bucket list–It helped me to realize how much I did NOT know. And now I save different blogs so that when I get thru with the advanced I can work on those.
    Thank you for so generously helping all of us to understand the embroidery better.

  • Barbara McKenzie

    I am retired, so I can plan my time as I wish. Embroidery is something I work with every day, but not always at the machine….sometimes it’s in my head planning new projects or thinking of ways to improve current ones, sometimes it’s at the computer digitizing my own designs or editing purchased designs, sometimes it’s online looking at designs and ideas, sometimes it’s in the store looking at threads and stabilizers. Oh – and sometimes it’s at the machine embroidering!

  • Angela Bavuso

    I get my embroidery fix whenever I can. With 5 children sometimes it is hard to find time but I do my best.

  • Diana Rosd

    I love making gift for office friends and family. Simple items like drink koozies with their name and hobby embroidered on them also mug rugs with their names. I get such pleasure out of their excitement receiving these gifts of friendship and love.

  • Sandi Hagen

    I’m brand new to this-but for the first month, basically left my sewing room for the essentials-bathroom! Poor hubby called himself a “sewing widow”

  • Cassandra

    I get my embroidery fix asoften as I can,while helping to assist my ailing mother. I getsome type of embroidery fix by reading Designs in Machine Embroidery, other embroidery publications and websites, taking seminars and classes. I’m ready to win this time, and if not I’ll continue until I do.

  • janice thompson

    when ever I have all the items that I need for a project, off I go!!! If doing, burp cloths, onsies, or even hooded towels. I have fun with any of them.

  • Rita

    OMG My head is spinning with all the projects that I want to do. It’s when ever I can grab some time to complete a project, even if it’s a few hours before it’s due to be given. I am so far behind I will have to live forever to complete them all. I look forward to your “Designs in Machine Embroidery” Magazine.

  • Cheryl Greenleaf

    I’ve been watching hours of machine embroidery videos daily, reading all my machine embroidery books over and over but I still don’t have the confidence to actually use my Baby Lock Ellageo 3 to embroider yet. Maybe tomorrow?

    • JD

      It is easy to get intimidated by these new machines. My dealer offers free classes for as long as it takes to get to know the machine and that is a HUGE help. You might be surprised if you just hoop a piece of stabilizer and some scrap material and thread the machine and see what happens. It might not be as scary as you thought. I know it took me a long time to get mine going. I had my last machine a year before I did much with it and now I realize it actually is magic the way it just does it’s own thing with very little assist from me. Just put the design in, thread it and hit GO. You will wonder why you put it off so long. Good luck!

  • Carma

    I enjoy all sewing projects and try to include embroidery into all of my sewn items. I embroider an item for my grandchildren’s birthdays each year. I love machine embroidery!

  • Carolyn Goodworth

    I’m retired, but I have to plan to get to my embroidery fun!
    I love new things, and just finished the Autumn Leaves Stipple Quilt. I love to sew for my children and grandchildren. Embroidery is always challenging and exciting!

  • Lilia Orozco

    I wish it was a daily fix, but I have to settle for a weekend fix and I’m happy for that 🙂

  • Suzy Davies

    Every chance I get I work on my Bernina doing embroidery work. My last big projects was making felt finger puppets for my grandchildren at Easter. I wish it was daily but need to retire so that can happen. Two years to go. I have to settle for Friday eve through Sunday. That is better than nothing. The creative urge is always present.

  • Dee

    I have a husband who loves to watch O’Reilly each evening, so that is my “excuse” to go in and embroider something, while I have a news show I enjoy on in the background. Love to do baby bibs, especially since now have a LOT of friends becoming Grandmas and can gift them with special bibs.

  • Leanda Mayer

    I work madly at my other tasks so that I can get some decent blocks of time to embroider in and then find myself still sneaking out to try to do more. Guess I can’t get enough time for it.

  • Cassie

    If I can’t get to the embroidery machine I look at all types of products and think how I could make them OH so much nicer with a little bit of embroidery

  • Martha Hughes

    I have been sewing and doing embroidery since I was 6 years old. My Mother taught me to sew and embroidery because she belonged to a homemaker’s club that met once a month and I was a tag-along. I made my first apron for 4-H club and I did an embroidery M on the pocket and won 1st place at the age of 8. I really enjoyed the baby shower pictures. I am the person in our community that makes homemade embroidery diaper bags for gifts. I get my fix by visioning how I can sew something new and use embroidery on the item. I sometimes work late a night after my husband has retired for the night to get my fix.

  • Vicki Heim

    I am definately an embroideryholic. I spend my days and some nights in my sewing room. If I’m not actually embroidering I’m looking for new projects or design ideas. It’s amazing all of the things you can embroider on. I have designs that I just thought were cute or gorgeous of butterflies, that I probably will never find a place for, but I love them just the same. I told my sister if I came to visit her in Florida I would have to bring my embroidery machine. Love the butterfly stipple wall hanging, made 2 of them.

  • Susan Slovinsky

    Working full time an hour and half from home I never truly get a fix; but I do try to work it in whenever I can. Can’t wait until I retire in July and then can truly get a daily fix.

  • Sandy Lai

    I usually am in a crunch when I decide to get some gifts done with embroidery on them. I make pillowcases for weddings, burp cloths, bibs and a blanket for baby showers.In fact I need to get some of those done as there are some babies on the way.

  • Charlotte Lipe

    I have been embroidering for about 15 years. Sometimes I will be at it for days in a row, other times a few weeks go by without any. I enjoy looking for new and different things to embroidery.

  • Susan Novak

    I’m retired, so I SHOULD be able to do some embroidery every day. Somehow life gets in the way at times. Even on the days I’m not able to actually embroider, I always do something close…read inspiring magazines, attend a sewing/embroidery class, check with the yahoo groups on embroidery, etc. The one time I set aside every year for strictly embroidering is a 3-day retreat my local dealer sponsors.

  • Lisha Falk

    My embroidery fix is my time to de-stress from a full time out of the home job! Mostly weekends and some evenings. Love to make gifts and a few items to sell. Like to try new techniques. When not embroidering I am usually online looking at designs, articles, blogs and getting ideas for that next project!!

  • Donna N.

    I try to fit it in most projects I work on but lately it’s just been a little here and there.

  • Beth R

    My favorite time for an embroidery fix is on a sunny afternoon in spring when I can open the curtains and listen to the birds in the backyard while I sew and embroider. The birds are splashing in the birdbath, there is usually a squirrel or chipmunk wandering past the sliding glass doors, and the scents from the flowers and fresh-blooming trees are carried by the breezes coming through the open windows. Don’t get to do that as often as I’d like though, so I fit in some embroidery early in the mornings (like around 5 a.m.) or in the evenings.

  • Marjorie Paul

    I get my sewing fix for embroidering about once every other week as I’m helping raise twin granddaughters. But I also like to do hand embroidery and am working on a quilt which I get to almost daily. Is a pleasure, whatever I get done!

  • Barbara

    I get so overwhelmed with work that sometimes sewing and embroidery have to take a back seat. I start thinking of all the projects I want to complete, and then I get rebellious and throw the work aside to embroider for hours at a time! Maybe I need to shoot for balance. . .

  • Sue Winnie

    I do most of my sewing/ embriodery on my days off. I’m a nurse and of course work crazy hours.
    Thiis is mt stress reducer.
    I even bought a new quattro

  • Judy Brennan

    I sew almost everyday. Embroidering is a large part of that. Great I get to run my BMP9 while I am sewing on my Creative Vision. I have more ideas than I have time to stitch out, but really give it a run for the money. 🙂 LOVE LOVE LOVE embroidering fun new designs on anything! Thanks.

  • Patricia LaPorta

    I’ve hit a slump, right nw, but read and listen to every program I can….Just looking for an inspiration, I guess…..The grandsons are getting older, so need to find some more :mature” projects. Enjoy reading your blogs and hints!!!!!!

  • Rosemary O'Koren

    I love to “autograph” my work. I embroider my name on everything I make: a bag, a dress label, a jacket. I sew mostly clothes so I embroider right onto the facing or make a label. I just embroidered the bride and groom’s names on the bath towels for a shower gift.

  • Bev Morrow

    I only wish that I could my daily fix but I am content for now to sew and embroider whenever I can. Usually 2-3 times a week. Three grandchild keep me going with new projects constantly.

  • Diane Olin White

    I try to do something every day, either read directions/plan for an upcoming project, make a quick gift for a friend, choose fabrics for a project, or watch a video. I can’t wait for summer break when I hope to get my fabric stash whittled down and lots of projects done and gifted.

  • Judy

    It seems that sometimes I have time to play daily with my embroisery and then my world turns upside down and I have to just pick my minutes to do it. I should have passed this phase in life, but it seems to keep coming back to haunt me.

  • Karen Poole

    I try to plan blocks of time to get embroidery in and I get my supplies ready ahead of time (picking all thje thread colors and lining them up in order of stitching), make sute my fabrics are prepared and I have the proper stabalizers ready to go and the designs are on my thumb drive! If I have a particular event I am making a project for I try to always allow extra time for any “incidents”. It doesn’t always happen perfectly but is more productive and successful in finishing the items if I prepare ahead of time!

  • Kristi D.

    I try to embroider at least 3 to 4 days a week, but I dailey go to the computer and read blogs, look at beautiful designs, learn new ways of doing things and design all kinds of things. It would be wonderful if I could sew out all I play with, someday!!!! I can always dream, and speaking of dreaming I would love to win this membership.

  • Fran Wiest

    As a newbie, I spend more time thinking about Machine Embroidery, than actually doing it. But when I do sit down to work on my machine I am so in love with my projects! I just finished a baby quilt for our Preemie ward, with In The Hoop appliqued elephants, and I just love it!

  • Jo-Ann Sutherland

    First I have to say I LOVE your blog ! The gifts are beautiful! I try to make time everyday to get my sew on ! I try to make a list one side of things I have to do and the other side of things I want to do .For everything I have to do I do 1 thing I want to do !

  • Tina S

    I am usually creating a bib and burp cloth set. I embroidery atleast 4 evenings a wk and all day on Saturday if I can get by with it. I love to see what I can come up with.

  • Mary Esser

    I am now retired, and make any gifts I need for almost any occasion. I loved machine embroidery and heirloom sewing. Looking forward to teaching sewing to my nine grand kids. Even the boys want to learn to use a sewing machine.

  • Jeanne

    I am new to machine embroidery and have had such elation when I have completed a project. It is addicting! Thanks for the inspiration to create! I just want more!!!! I am hooked!

  • Jean

    I sew and embroidery at least a few times a week – some weeks more than others, but find time each week for some.

  • Kay

    Living in a northern climate with cold snowy winters snd being retired is the right combination for findings the time for all those great embroidery projects. I always give a homemade gift now.

  • Sandra

    My embroidery takes place while I sleep! I often awake and recall the articles in my project bin that I worked on in my sleep. If I was lucky enough to win this price, I woul commit to at least 3 projects a week and get over my fear of ruining some fine garment or linen.

  • Susie Mackenberg

    I am in my sewing room with my embroidery machine humming every day. It makes me happy and that’s what I do!! It’s great to be retired!

  • gayle

    I get a bit cranky when I have been busy and not had time for Embroidery Machine fix. My embroidery machine is my true love.

    • eileenroche
      AUTHOR

      Your secret is safe with us – we won’t tell your family, Gayle!

  • Tricia Casey

    While I would love to embroider everyday, I can’t seem to find the time, even though I am recently retired. I get my fix while embroidering whenever I can, but looking at designs on the computer almost daily. I love looking at designs and imaging who I am buying them for. I love making gifts. Truth be told, I probably buy more desings than I get gifts made. I do have good intentions, though, and will get them made someday.

  • Joan D

    I try to embroider every day and block my time out between the household duties, running errands, etc. I make a lot of gifts and am a hoarder of designs. My hubbie says it is a good thing they don’t need a tote to store them in! LOL

  • Nancy Weber

    I need a daily fix, and can usually manage that, but there are times when I get on a roll and I spend days just playing in my sewing room. Of course those are often broken up with trips to get fabric or supplies!

  • Janie Mason

    Sitting in my sewing room, at my machine,sewing and doing machine embroidery is something that I do everyday! It may only be for a little while at a time but it is one of my favorite things to do. My husband surprised me a few years ago for Christmas with a new embroidery machine. Until then I had a used machine. After getting my new one, I surprised my daughter in love with my old machine and am working with her turning her into an embroidery lover!

  • Karla Bannerman

    I embroider on a daily basis. Being retired and a very understand hubby, I work all day in my room. I make things for my granddaughter and children, as well as things for my church group to use as raffles. I have 2 embroidery machines, 2 for quilting and am hoping to find a place for a long arm machine one of these days.

  • Nancy Jacobs

    I get my embroidery fix in short bursts. First thing in the morning with my coffee I check my e-mails and look at the new designs I’ve been e-maild with in newsletters that are sent. After lunch I get a chance to sit down at my machine and stitch something. After supper I try my hand at a bit of digitizing which I am learning.

  • Susan C.

    I work in spurts. Sometimes I quilt in spurts and sometimes I embroider in spurts and sometimes I “try” to do both with two machines going. I might go a while without doing either and something I see or read inspires me and I start again up on a new quilt or embroidery project. So I guess I get my embroidery fix in spurts of activity and then wait for inspiration to get my next fix.

  • Cynthia Wentworth

    I try to sew or embroider every day or at least five days a week. Just finished a machine appliqué of an Italian vineyard.. Also just finished four quilted chair covers for the dining room. Stippled the blocks on the embroidery machine. Only two more to go. Also want to start a machine embroidered quilt from a book that I just got. I now have my own sewing room. Love to open the windows and hear the birds sing when the weather cooperates. Little Bit of a kitty sits in the window and keeps me company. Have many little projects set up for the times when I can only spend a short amount of time embroidering. When my machine was in the shop foes a week, I had serious withdrawal. But used the time digitizing and planning new projects.

  • Jane H

    I’m new to embroidery and am working at finding time and learn as I go. It’s very addictive!

  • Kris

    Don’t get to embroider as often as I would like, but do find time several times a week to get my embroidery “fix” in. Love looking for inspiration to get me started.

  • Donna K

    As my Multiple Sclerosis has progressed over the years, most of the meaningful activities of life have been taken from me. But, I still sew and embroider, and, I am in my sewing room for hours, everyday.

  • judy revell

    i love embroidery so much, can’t ever get enough of it. my machine runs most every day. if i don’t have a order, i make up stuff. right now i’m making swim cover-ups with applique designs on them. the cover-ups are made from beach towels.

  • Deanna Mason

    I try to embroider every chance I get. It is my “me time”.

  • Patty Sack

    I try to do something daily. If I can’t embroider, I at least look at magazines or look on line to see what I can find that’s new and interesting.

  • Sue Reiss

    I always have a project going, and I think about it at work. I try to get to my machine after work. I have twin granddaughters and am thinking of something new to make them and send to them. We live in different states. I have had my embroidery machine now for 4 years and am thinking about a multi needle machine. Now the question is which one to get?

  • Tina McDonald

    I would love to be able to sew everyday. Unfortunately, with a 1 hour commute to and from work, and a very busy family life, I have to “eek” out time to be able to sit down and work on something creative.

  • Rachel Swift

    While I was a stay-at-home mom raising 7 children, I spent time with my mother with getting her setup for machine embroidery and quilting. Since then she has past on and I have inherited her lovely machine. But now I have to work and go to school so very little time to play. Believe me, it is heaven sent when I can. 🙂

  • Connie

    My sewing room is my ‘happy place’ where I can listen to music and create! I try to make time several afternoons each week to escape there. I have a 10-needle machine and a sewing/embroidery machine so I can sew and embroider or embroider on both simultaneously!

  • Deborah Hays

    My parents have moved in with me as they are getting older and the flight, then drive to reach their home was getting more difficult. Should something serious have happened, I would never have made it in time. Now that they are here, I have started doing more hand embroidery….I know, I know it’s that “h” word. But I have actually been enjoying those afternoon moments wit my mom. I turn my machine off, come downstairs, make mom, dad, and myself a cup of tea, turn on a program that they like and work on my handwork….using my Moore embroidery hoop of course! I never thought that I would be doing what I am doing now, but time can be short and I am treasuring those snippets of time now…my very own Kodak memories.

    • eileenroche
      AUTHOR

      Now there’s the best reason to do handwork that I’ve ever heard! Thanks for sharing, Deborah.

      • Deborah Hays

        I am one blessed woman Eileen. I work for Daniela Stout at Cozy Quilt Shop here and there . Since we sell Bernina’s I get to play on them whenever I happen to be in the shop. I also happen to own a 730 as well as an 830. I absolutely love machine embroidery and have been doing it for years! I’m a huge proponent of putting labels on your quilts. I love coming up with new ideas and new designs to make my labels just as fun as the quilt. Having gone to Martha Pullen Schools over the years I am big into not only heirloom sewing but making clothes for my grandchildren. It is so rewarding to watch their excitement when they receive the embroidered clothes or quilts that I have made for them. So the time that I get to spend with my parents doing handwork, is truly a joy. To be able to machine or hand embroider is a true gift is it not?

  • Carol Seavitt

    Even though the machine isn’t humming daily, I am always thinking of my next project or just viewing my designs on-line. Between the serger and the embroidery machine, I am always learning and trying new ideas. So fun. PS — Love love love the baby gifts!

  • Jill

    I watch my grand kids during the day Amy (2) and Austin (4). They keep me hopping! One way I squeeze in some embroidery time and get them to calm down a bit to set up the Embroidery machine so they can watch it come to life! They love picking the “picture” and wearing these creations. i love the smiles on their faces and the silence in my ears 🙂

  • Karen

    I sew almost everyday and most days do embroidery. It is my favorite thing to do and my only vice. I mostly enjoy doing towels as they make a nice gift and are something everyone can use.

  • Bonnie Gray

    When in between the times I can sit down at the machine,I usually go online to look at designs and plan another project or get ideas. I seem to have plenty of ideas, not enough time to accomplish them!

    • Kim

      I am so with you Bonnie!

  • Kim

    I am new to machine embroidery, so each time I have a lesson I try to complete something new about what I have learned each week before my lesson comes around for the next week. Believe me- with three kids, 2 dogs and a husband that is not easy!

  • Calla Ferguson

    If I don’t get an embroidery fix at least every other day I go thru withdrawals! If I can’t actually embroider I’m either reading about it or downloading designs for my next Inspiration! Machine embroidery is definitely addicting!!

  • Rachel D

    I get my fix whenever I can physically sit in the chair to do it. I plan & prepare my projects and then when I can sit, due to back pain I can’t sit very long or often, I get as much done as possible. I just finished embroidery blocks for a quilt & several burp cloths for my new grand due any day now.

  • Jackie

    I try and go down to my sewing room everyday to embroider or sew something I’ve previously embroidered. If I can’t get down there I will spend time during the day planning my next project if not I suffer withdrawl symptoms.

  • Debbie J

    I try to embroidery every day, but I’m not always successful. I am still in the process of learning my embroidery machine. I am loving it so far! I am still working on figuring out the satin stitches for the applique. I can’t wait to get back to the machine. : )

  • Enis

    Like so many other sewists, I work fulltime and don’t have much free time for sewing and embroidering. I fit it in every chance I can. Sometimes it hard to give myself permission to squeeze in minutes to enjoy my craft, so I try to accomplish something I have to do either before I sew or I do double duty and embroider and get something else accomplished at the same time. For example, start a load of laundry or get dinner in the oven while I embroider. Or get my bills paid and then enjoy. I look forward to my days of retirements so I can pursue my passion everyday!

  • Doris

    I work over 50 hours a week which averages 12 hours a Day so no chance to sew during the week. I always try to save one day or a partial day to embroider on the weekend. I also research embroider related subjects during my lunch brak. I have learned some terrific tips and found some great sites on the Internet. Learned a lot about thread and thread selection for embroidery.

  • Pauline Granstrom

    I make time everyday for Machine embroidery. I love it. Almost finished with a baby quilt and then will start another quilt for a friend. I try very hard not to miss my embroidery time for any
    reason.

  • Vonda

    I’m starting to get back into embroidering hurricane had gotten my last machine.I finally got a new one..YAY !!! I try to sew as much as possible, and I love to sew and embroidery on baby and childrens clothes. I have a three year old grand~daughter everytime I go over she ask did you make me and my friends something ? There is two little girls that live next to them and they all wait to see if I bring them something. My grand~daughters three and when we go to town she picks out material.Lol !!

  • Marilyn Weiss

    Sometimes it’s just finding a few minutes to read through an old Designs magazine or look through my embroidery designs library for future inspiration.

  • Sharon

    I try to make time everyday to machine embroidery. Sometimes I can spend hours and sometimes it’s just long enough to make a quick sew out. Weekends are by far my most productive time as I work during the week.

  • Janis Mitchell

    I get my embroidery fix after I attend a two day event that has taught me new techniques and a dozen new projects to make with my machine. I love to pass this on to my two oldest grandaughters who love to embroider at their grandmother’s house. It is my greatest joy that my love of sewing is being passed on to the next generation

  • JD

    Gee after reading all these ideas to grab time to embroider I am not sure why I don’t find more time myself. You have all given me incentive to try harder to make that time. What time I do manage to carve out is after I have had a class at my local fabric store. That really gets me excited to do more and go back with something to show and tell. Thanks everyone for sharing and my you all find more time for your projects.

  • Denise Spanos

    I have to get a daily fix. Either stitching or digitizing or both, I have to do some every day.

  • Doreen

    I try to stitch as much as possible. Unfortunately my machines are at work so I try to come in early or on the weekend.

  • Mary Haggenmaker

    There are so many ideas that run through my head and all the new and wonderful things to do..especially things I learned at Stitching Sisters here in Maryland last week. I do some of the necessary stuff that I must but I usually spend the majority of my time in my sewing room. I usually have at least 2 projects underway most of the time.

  • Michelle

    i should be doing more mebroidery but I am somewhat intimidated by my new machine. I need to put some material in the machine and hit go and do it. i love reading the blogs and I get so many ideas

    • Debbie J

      Michelle, please don’t be too intimidated by your machine. What I did was to go through the manual step by step to get familiar with the machine. The very first thing I did was to embroidery my initials on a bag that I made for my allergy shots items in it. Well, not the vials.

  • Paula Roney

    I usually do my embroidery projects on the weekends. I’d like to do some every evening after work, but I find things go better when I start a project fresh in the AM.

  • Peggy R

    I don’t get much embroidery in each day because I’m usually quilting. I’m trying to use more embroidery on my quilts so that I can indulge in both.

  • Shannon

    Hello and WOW, everyone did such a fantastic job getting all of that handmade stuff done and it is beautiful. I am in the process of making my new great granddaughter a quilt. Now that she is here I will take her name, dob, time, weight and length and embroider it on the quilt before the final step. I also make a couple of burp cloths and a couple of large receiving blankets. But I would love to know if the pillow (You are my sunshine) has a special design or is it just one that this lady did on her own. I would love to include it with all of the other things I have made. I certainly would appreciate any information on it. Thanks so much and that is one lucky mama and baby.

    • eileenroche
      AUTHOR

      Hi Shannon, My sister Marie created the Sunshine pillow in Floriani software. If you have lettering software, you can do it too!

      • Shannon

        Thanks for letting me know. I will have to give it a try as long as your sister doesn’t mind.

  • Jane Anderson

    I use my machine almost every day for 6 to 10 hours. Most of the time it is happily embroiderying but sometimes she likes to stitch a few seams or do a little embroidery quilting. My Bernina is such a happy girl.

  • Doree shandera

    It is here and there for me. I start something and I can ignore the world while I immerse in it. Love it when I’m doing it, miss it when I’m not. Lucky folks getting stitching sister seminars. Want you to come back to the seattle area!!!!

    • Debbie J

      I wish they would come to the Tyler, Texas area. I can’t drive in Dallas, and hubby can’t ride or drive that far.

  • Karen

    I am getting prom dresses done than have wedding and bridesmaid dresses to do. Plan to embroider and sew a baby dress for our new great niece. Did give her a hooded towel and bibs that I had embroidered.

  • Debbie J

    I just did a red work Indian Chief. Now I need to do a feather. I am going to frame them and give them to my SIL and her husband for Christmas. I am wanting to make a quilt for my bed and have embroidery on some of the squares. I have thought of doing a family quilt. With the names and DOB of all our children, and grandchildren on it. Luckily, not greats yet.

  • Brenda McNeil

    I love to give gifts as well. As a matter of fact I rarely make anything for me. I would love to be able to embroidery each day. I work part time but I have 2 part time jobs plus my work at home. I squeeze in an embroidery session as often as possible. I have just had my first grandbaby, Maya Beth, so I hope to be able to squeeze in more! ;o)

  • Kathy

    When ever I get an invitation, the first thing I think is what can I make. Nothing beats a hand-made gift. For my embroidery fix, I try to embroider at least 1x a week, but will never get through all the designs that I have! It is so relaxing to take thread and fabric and create a one of a kind item.

  • Berenice

    I know it is a little late, but are there any more pics of the daisy quilt any where? I think I really like that….

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  • Mary Parker

    Hi Eileen,
    I get my fix when my husband goes on his motorcycle rides, I take my vacation and have time to myself to play in my sewing room with no interruptions!!!
    This time I made Mr & Mrs pillows for a bridal shower, on the back of his I put always kiss me goodnight and on the back of hers I put Call your Mother!!!
    Just couldn’t resist!!!

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