Marking for Placement

Once you decide where to embroider a design, you will want to mark the garment or item for placement. From your embroidery software, print a paper template of the design in actual size, with the hoop showing, then trim to the lines of the hoop. Pin the template to the fabric, hoop around it, then remove the template. This is the beat way to be sure your design will not be crooked.

If you do not have a paper template, you can mark where the center of the design should go. You can use a pair of crossed straight pins, a little sticker with a dot in the center (saved from printing CD labels) or use a disappearing ink pen. Personally, I prefer the sticker as it is easy to place and remove. If you don't have stickers, you can use a bit of masking tape, or blue painters tape, or the sticky edge of a Post-It Note.

If you want to be sure your design is not crooked, mark a horizontal line through the center of the design, so that the center marks on the sides of the hoop can be lined up with the centerline. (Or use a vertical line and line it up with the center marks at the top and bottom of the hoop, or do both.) You can use pins, stickers or disappearing ink.

Most of the time, the disappearing ink vanishes without a trace, but sometimes it mysteriously reappears as a brown mark. If you must use disappearing ink, be sure to rinse it in cold water and allow to dry. Ironing may permanently set the ink into the fabric.

Next issue: favorite tools

from Mary Jane Allen of Perfect Little Stitches

The Circus Cage actually carries twelve puzzle blocks to make up
six different animals and all the letters of the alphabet. Basically all you
need is felt and clear vinyl to make this innovative pull toy.