Personalize It

Years ago, when I first discovered the online embroidery community, someone was asking where to find a vacuum cleaner design because she wanted to embroider a shirt as a special gift for her cleaning lady. She wanted to make something personal, but was a vacuum cleaner the best choice? What about the cleaning lady's favorite flowers or beloved pet? What does she do when she is not cleaning your house?

If you want to embroider clothing, be sure the size, style and colors are just right for the recipient. If you cannot be sure, then embroider a towel, tote bag, hat, socks or make an in-the-hoop project.

If you want to personalize something, think about the person's favorite colors, interests and hobbies. Select a design that makes you think of him or her. Even if you only know someone professionally, with a little thought, you can come up with something better than a vacuum cleaner.

Next issue: thinking big

from Mary Jane Allen of Perfect Little Stitches

The designs and instructions
for the first row of the
Appliqué Bear Quilt are
now available (see below).
Designs can be downloaded
from StitchFun News and
the instructions are on the
Heart N Sole site.

Download the first design here.

Here is one of the pages
in the new Fat Cars Book!