During a recent Sewtopia Sewing Club we featured the joy of a sewing machine’s decorative stitches. Since we have been heavy on embroidery lately, it was nice to show what so many of us have neglected.
We showed ways to jazz those stitches up and show them off in new ways. Watch this video for a showing of many of the samples show at the Sewtopia Sewing Club.
First, we recommend sewing out ALL the decorative stitches on your sewing machine. They look so much better sewn out on fabric then they do just picked on the screen of the sewing machine. Select a fun color or a variegated thread and place one piece of tear-away stabilizer behind the fabric. Sew out at least 4-5” of each stitch to really see the look and repeat of the stitch. If you have a Start/Stop feature (allows you to run the machine with a button instead of the foot control), this will allow you to relax and enjoy watching the stitch form. Label the groupings to ease finding them later. Place the stitch outs in sheet protectors for easy reference at a later time.
Stabilizer – Always use a stabilizer when sewing decorative stitches. One layer of tear-away stabilizer will usually do the job. If sewing through batting, this usually will be enough support to keep the stitches from pulling in and being distorted. If the stitches don’t look right add a layer of tear way behind the batting.
Full Bobbin – Start with a full bobbin. This may sound trivial but it is not fun to run out in the middle of a row of stitches.
Accessory Feet & Guides – Utilize seam guides and speciality feet available for your brand of machine with lines to help sew perfectly parellel rows of stitches. This will eliminate extra time spent drawing multiple lines on the fabric to follow. Just draw the first line to get things started.
Quilt Binding – Add extra dimension to quilt binding by sewing it down with decorative stitches. Select a decorative stitch that is not heavy and sews out quickly. If you have stitched out all your decorative stitches you can reference the samples for one that looks open and quick.
Stuck in a Blanket Stitch Rut?
For applique, try skipping the blanket stitch and use something more decorative. Adjust the stitch width and length to be in proportion to the shape being appliquéd. Try manipulating utility stitches for all new looks. Here is my favorite manipulated stitch for appliqué.
Testing 1-2-3
Use decorative stitches on the Charity Gift Bags! Try out the stitches as “quilting” stitches to decorate the bags. This is a great way to see what your machine can really do! Put your pedal down and SEW.
Special Effects – Try combining two or more stitches in the machine’s memory to create a sequence that is unique and creative. Play with mirror image and stitch balance for even more complex special effects.
Need to Tie a Quilt?
No need to hand tie a quilt. Set the machine to sew a single decorative stitch (Pattern End or Single Repeat setting). Place the quilt under the presser foot and sew until it stops. Utilize the securing function to make sure the stitches are secure at the beginning and end of the decorative stitch to be able to clip threads close to the stitching. TIP: Don’t clip the threads until all stitches are sewn. Just sew, drag the thread to the next block and sew again. Clip when finished.
Double, Triple and Double-Eyed Needle
Think you only have 30, 60 or 200 decorative stitches built into your machine? Double or triple the amount by sewing each stitch with double needle or triple needle. Try different combinations of thread colors. Try even one solid color with one variegated thread!
The Double-Eyed needle from Schmetz can turn any two threads into a NEW variegated thread combination.