Pocketfuls! Pictorial

Pocketfuls Pictorial!

The following are the instructions for the new Pocketfuls! If you have never done machine embroidery applique before, you are in for a treat! It is VERY easy and the pocketfuls are one of the easiest beginner's projects you could do!

You will need:

Stabilizer (I use cutaway or tearaway), your item you are embroidering on, a 6x8" piece of fabric for the pocket and a 6x4" piece of heat n' bond or wonderunder (optional).

1. Hoop the item you will be embroidering on. I just hooped a piece of fabric for example purposes.

2. Iron the 6x8" piece of fabric in half, wrong sides together, to make a 6"x4" folded piece. If desired, you can iron the optional 6"x4" piece of heat n' bond or wonder under on one side (iron to wrong side of fabric), remove paper backing, fold over and iron again. By sandwiching a piece of wonder under or heat n bond between the folded fabric in this manner, it will add crispness and body to your pocket. This stage is not necessary if you do not wish to do it. I did not do it on the samples on the website and they turned out great. I DID do it on the sample for this pictorial and am very pleased with the extra body the pocket has!

2. Embroider the character that will be peeking out of the pocket onto the hooped item.

3. You are now at the point where the work on the pocket begins. This takes place in three steps. Embroider the first step which is a simple stitching line to show you the placement for the fabric of the pocket.

4. Place the folded fabric covering the stitched outline. The folded edges should just cover the stitching on the upper left and right hand sides.

5. You can either pin in place or hold it until the stitching begins. Embroider until the next stop.

6. Carefully trim the fabric away as close to the stitching line as you can get. I use the tiny curved embroidery scissors and they work awesomely! Some people prefer the duckbill applique scissors. Do not do anything to the folded edge.

7. Replace the hoop in your machine and stitch out the third and final step. This will once again tack down your design and finish off the edge with a nice satin applique stitch.

Please note: The 3 stages of the applique pocket are shown as different thread colors. This is only to differentiate the three steps to your machine and to put in the stops. You can use one thread color for all three steps when actually stitching however!

YOU ARE DONE! I told you it was easy!!!

Karen