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Applique

Applique – It’s Not Just for Quilting

Eileen's Machine Embroidery Blog

Eileen's Machine Embroidery Blog

Oh, dear readers!  If you had been guests in my office last Thursday you’d have seen chaos, pandemonium and some really fun projects being put together using the new Stipple Baby collection.  What you wouldn’t have seen was my desk. It disappeared during the ‘creative process.’

The Stipple Baby collection is a slight departure from our usual Stipple products. It includes the Stipple quilt block designs but it also includes the individual clothing designs so you can mix and match to create your own blocks.  Plus we’ve included the digital files (SVG and FCM) to use with your favorite digital cutters!

You can make quilts and pillows.  Embellish clothing or home décor.  You can also make banners, birth announcements, birthday cards and more!  Just remember, if you make the item for baby, make it safe!  Save the tiny embellishments (beads, buttons, rhinestones, ribbons, etc) to embellish a gift for the parents rather than baby.  The inspiration you see in this blog post is intended for adults.

I could ramble on about the collection but pictures are worth a thousand words.  And to get us started… here’s a behind the scenes look my office.  As I mentioned, the desk somehow disappeared.

Eileen's Machine Embroidery Blog

But the results are worth it!  Take a look!

Sample 1.  For the “Ralph Lauren” Baby!
I wanted an understated, sophisticated look for this little art project.

I used twill for the dress and added brown linen for the collar and sash.

Eileen's Machine Embroidery Blog

I starched the brown linen before using it.  It made a big difference working with it and almost makes me want to wear linen again next Spring!

Eileen's Machine Embroidery Blog

Eileen's Machine Embroidery Blog

Once the dress outline was stitched, realized I wanted to experiment.  While at the embroidery machine I selected the outline for the dress again.  I advanced the stitches until I reached the base of the dress.  Then I carefully placed the lace at the base of the dress and stitched the design. Admittedly, glue is also an option for securing the lace. No one would know the difference. Or you can take the design into editing software and program an extra stitch at the base.  The wonderful thing about machine embroidery – there’s more than one way to achieve a goal.

Eileen's Machine Embroidery Blog
Ribbon Inspiration!
The ribbon I selected was originally too wide. No problem!  I trimmed the ribbon and made it work for my needs.  Since this project is for a card, I wasn’t as concerned about raw edges.

Next time you ‘think’ something won’t work, try to look at it from a different perspective.  Ask yourself, “how can I make this work and perhaps make something even better than anticipated?”  That should be the goal every time you hit a roadblock in your creative process!

Once the dress was complete I cut it away from the stabilizer and trimmed excess fabric and ribbon.  I hand sewed two wooden buttons to the dress.  Then I layered burlap and scrapbook paper for texture and interest.  I used hot glue to attach all the pieces.

After cutting the burlap background I used the leftover scraps to make a small bow for the dress.  I also cut small hearts from the burlap and layered them on scrapbook paper.  Scrapbook brads were used for additional texture.

Embroidery & Scrapbooking

Around this time I had a few pieces of chocolate to help continue the creative process…

 

Sample 2.  For the Country Chic Baby!
Do you hoard fabric like I do?  The floral scraps of fabric used on the collar and sash are at least 10 years old.  It was time to dust it off and put it to good use.

Remember when working with print fabric that scale is important.  The flowers were just the right size to use with the dress.

I added the same ribbon embellishment to the base of the dress.

Eileen's Machine Embroidery Blog

At this point the dress looked boring to me.  It needed a splash of burgundy to coordinate with the floral print fabric.

I wove some decorative fiber through the ribbon – it was THE perfect accent!

Eileen's Machine Embroidery Blog

Next I wove the same decorative fiber through a button.  Then I added the button to the sash (I cheated and glued the button.) Additional fun included using scrapbooking supplies to make a card for the dress.  I love the results!

To celebrate the launch of Stipple Baby, we’re offering FREE shipping and handling on US orders!  (For those of you in the US who ordered between September 18, 2014 – September 24, 2014 – have no fear.  We’ll be giving you a refund on the shipping and handling fees for those who ordered standard shipping.)  Visit the Designs in Machine Embroidery website to take advantage of this limited time offer.  Be sure to use the coupon code:  baby

 

Here’s your assignment this week:

Leave a comment below about something you’d like to create with Stipple! Baby. One random comment will be chosen to get their very own copy of Stipple! Baby for free. 

The winner of last week assignment: Embroidered shoes are not your typical embroidered item. Leave a comment below about the most unusual thing you’ve embroidered. One comment will be chosen at random to receive a $100 gift certificate courtesy of Pickle Pie Designs for use at PicklePieDesigns.com – thanks for reading and good luck!

PicklePieDesigns_DIME-Blog-Graphic

And the winner is Patricia. – “The oddest thing I’ve ever embroidered is a bathroom set of a bar of soap, a candle, and a matching roll of toilet tissue. Makes a cute gift!”

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47 COMMENTS

  • EDITH PRINGLE

    Would like to make a baby dirty laundry bag. Something Moms could carry in the diaper bag for those “oops” moments when they are out shopping or visiting friends

  • Belinda Germain

    I would like to make a welcome home banner for mother and baby. S cute!

  • Kay

    I would luv these designs to make a quilt for a friends baby and a scrap booking birth announcement. Thank you

  • Kay Dennis

    I have squares from everything I ever made my youngest daughter and I think it would be fun to use these designs with those swatches to make a quilt.

  • Charlotte Silber

    I think this is the cutest design you and your staff have created. I would definitely use it in making cards and of course the quilt to go together. Just darling.

  • Virginia Frazier

    I love this collection. I would make a clothespin bag to hang in my laundry room. Adorable.

  • Linda McCormick

    Along with embroidery and quilting, I make most of my greeting cards and using these designs for baby shower, new baby or birthday cards would be fun.

  • Wendy Scott

    This would be wonderful to use to make memory quilts. Love it!

  • Ellen Perry

    Baby shower and a quilt
    I also make burp cloths
    Ellen

  • Sue Winnie

    Burp clothes,bib, picture frame dress for mom, grandma desk at work.stipple pot holders for shower gift.

  • Joanne Banko

    Dear Eileen, only one word to describe your Stipple Baby creations . . . Make that two words, Absolutely Adorable!!!

    I could envision a soft style book for young readers with added embroidered wording. What fun!

  • Patricia LaPorta

    just heard i’m going to get a granddaughter, after all these boys! would love to make her a quilt, and baby announcements for mom and dad t send….might even do bibs and gowns…looks like a really cute collection!!!

  • tammy wright

    Love to stipple a great outfit for me.

  • Doris

    So many projects I’d love to use this on. It would be a welcome addition.

  • Lindae

    I would love to make a quilt or wall hanging

  • Dolores

    This is just darling….I would like to do a little of everything! I would like to put it on some things I make for Threads of Love to brighten up an outfit of little laundry bag.

  • Susan Gray

    So cute! I would make a “paper” doll, add a little velcro, then make a wardrobe from the designs.

    • Denise Holguin

      Susan,
      I agree! My dolls would have more clothes than I do! I can’t stop stitching the clothing using different fabrics and trim. I’ll be posting more photos soon.

      Denise

  • Sylvia G.

    I would love to make an “Olde Time” bonnet to go with the dress.

  • Nancy Weber

    I would use them to adorn a hamper for the baby’s room. Hugs.

  • Brenda Melahn

    This would be beautiful in a quilt for my new granddaughter coming in November!!

  • Julie Kentner

    I’d use it to make not only the quilt as a baby present, but also to make monthly milestone markers for baby’s first year in pictures. What a fantastic design set!

  • Kathy Smit

    13170-B Central Ave SE # 148, I can see a really cute diaper bag with this design!

  • marie zinno

    I love this collection! I can’t wait to stitch something special.

  • Colleen

    what a fun children’s quilt and fun way to use bits and pieces of their old clothing. Great way to preserve memories.

  • maria elena

    It is sew cute, love it. I would make over the whole bedroom, and have all coordinated. Bedspread, decorate the lamp and the closet doors!!! Oh where would I stop??? Is is adorable.

  • judy

    The cards are so cute! Would love to try them, but a baby girl’s quilt would be lovely.

  • Susie

    I would love to make a quilt using scraps saved from garments made for a little girl throughout her childhood that she could take with her to college.

    • Denise Holguin

      Susie,
      I love that idea!

      Denise

  • THERESA RICE

    I do baby quilts for the local hospital. Wouldn’t this be cute!

  • Pamela Black

    I would like to take all those dresses and/or shirts and make baby bibs out of them. I think that would be fun!

  • Kim M. Harrington

    I would love to use the card ideas to create my own stash of cute cards for friends and family!

  • Karen

    Please make your design collections downloadable? I’ve downloaded free designs without any issues and I do love your Stipple Baby collection but I live in the UK and postage is not an option. One sad would-be customer……

  • Mary Parker

    I have never tried making cards, I think these are so cute, I would make some baby announcement with Stipple Baby, what fun!!!!
    Thanks,
    Mary

  • Susan Reasons

    Would love to make a beautiful baby quilt for my 5th great grand baby. My family is multiplying yearly and it would be so nice to make these ahead so they could become family heirlooms!

  • Donna G.

    How adorable! I’d like to make a quilt or wallhanging, not that I have a little one of my own but for a community/donation project.

  • Ginny Wright

    I’m a pretty new embroider but what I have seen is just incredible! My niece is expecting a baby girl Dec 19. I would love “Baby Stipple” to make all kinds of things. The possibilities are endless! Some of the posts have great ideas!

  • stella stroble

    I’ve been trying to come up with a cute wall hanging design for my new granddaughter’s nursery (she’s coming soon) and haven’t been inspired until I just read your blog. Now my mind is buzzing with ideas!!! Thanks for the inspiration. Now to get the embroidery so I can get started.

  • Vicky

    I would have to make a quilt, but I love the paper doll ideal too. and to make a quilt for the new mom using some clothes from when she was little would be awesome too. I only kept my favorites and still don’t want to cut them up. Thank you for the great designs.
    timewilltell63 at yahoo dot come

  • Debra Matott

    Little pockets on a dress, shirt of slacks for a toddler or young child or on a tote bag for dolls

  • Doreen

    I would like to put some of the clothes on some of my grand-daughter’s storage bins for her doll clothes. She’s only four and can’t read the little signs her mother has on the bins so this would be helpful and maybe even to teach her how to read doll clothes.

  • Debe

    This is very cute! I Would make as all quilt &since I also do cards, would do some of those as well.

  • Vicky Isliefson

    I would put the appliques of garments on an actual baby garment. Planning to make several using patterns from Ottobre magazines.

  • Kathy

    I would make a new quilt for my great niece that was born pre-mature. I love quilting for the new members of the family

  • melinda

    I would love to use it to make a diaper bag, with matching quilt and bib and burb cloth ,I can envisions all sorts of things , lamp shade , curtains , baby bedding ,onesies,its just to cute!!

  • Vicki

    I would love to use it to make crib skirt and matching quilt or curtains… the possibilities are endless!

  • Rose

    I would make grandma a quilt using swatches of fabric from her grandchildren and children’s clothing since she made so many of their clothes. It would be a great reminder to her of how much they appreciated the gifts she gave them.