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Anonymous
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Date Posted: 20:19:48 03/15/01 Thu
I'm just finishing up putting together my first attempt at a solo dress, and though it's had its share of setbacks (it's one of those dreaded Celtic Image kits -- wish I knew then what I've learned by reading all your posts!) it's finally coming together pretty well. And it hasn't put me off doing my daughter's next dress. In fact.... I'm wondering how difficult it is to do one's own embroidery/applique. I've never really done much machine embroidery before, so obviously I'd practice a lot before beginning, but I love the idea of having complete "artistic control" over design, colors, fabrics, etc. Is this a totally foolish and unrealistic hope? Should I just start looking right now for an embroiderer? Cost is, of course, a consideration, but as I said, I mostly like the idea of putting the whole dress together myself. But I certainly don't want to have a nervous breakdown in the process, or have my daughter looking like Dork of the Dance! =-)
Replies:
-The embroidery and applique are time consuming, but not terrible difficult. Just buy a good book on machine embroidery and applique -- the Singer Reference Library one on Decorative Machine Stitiching is good, and PRACTICE !! Use the same fabrics and threads for your dress to practice on. I have found that the Polyster Shantung is easier to embroider on than velvet, so it might be a good choice for a first attempt. A few hints -- use plenty of stabilizer;if you use metallic threads, Sulky is good, use a metallica needle;loosen the upper thread tension a couple of notches; use the lightweight bobbin thread for all the embroidery and applique - no need to change colors; lighten your presser foot pressure a couple of notches to make it easier to pivot along curves; back your applique fabrics with cotton fused on with Heat & Bond Lite; use Heat & Bond Lite to fuse your appliques in place before stitching the edges. Good luck, and please ask us questions as you get going.
-Embroidery and applique can be as easy or as hard as you want it to be. I have found that using HTC cotton woven interfacing on the back of the applique fabric works much better that any of the fusible glues. I teach machine embroidery as well as artistic sewing on top of making the Irish dresses and have found that when you are using metallic threads, a size 90 topstitch needle is the best, and that making sure that you have your thread on an upright spool pin will keep thread breakage down. You want to use a light thread in your bobbin (YLI makes bobbin and lingerie thread) and you want to make sure that your thread needle thread tension is reduced by at least 2-3 numbers--needle thread should pull slightly to the backside of the work.
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