Any embroidery file can be created into a patch. It may seem a bit daunting at first but it is possible. There are what I call “finished” patches that have a satin border around the edges and “base level” patches that are stitched on felt material. The main goal of both types is to prevent fraying. Neither option is honestly better than the other.
Last time we stitched out a cute little ballerina elephant design and in the video below I showcase how to turn it into a patch. Turning something into a patch is simple: either embroider it on felt or add a satin shaped border to a design. If you want the off-set outlined patches you’ll need to purchase some fancy software or a design that is already digitized that way.
There are a few of ways to adhere a patch; sewing, glueing, iron on, velcro and temporarily pinning. The approach you choose should be dependent on the material/item you are wanting to put the patch on. In this case I decided to add the patch to a small cosmetic bag that I will be using as a sewing tool bag. While it may seem simple to iron it on by adding Heat N Bond, there was an issue with the construction of the bag and material. So, I had to pivot to another method as you will see in the video below.
Overall, I am still very new to the world of patches because I have steered clear of them due to fear of not having the fancy software. Just try it! It’s no different than anything else you embroider. Perhaps the main takeaway from this project was that you can always try alternate ideas to accomplish the same outcome. Also using Heat N Bond on the back of raw stitches is less effective than adding an additional flat layer backing. Perhaps that will be another side by side comparison test later on.
Not even a week ago, I thought magnetic embroidery hoops were only available for the mega-expensive multi-needle monster machines. Then a representative from Sew Tech reached out and asked if I would make a video in exchange for a magnetic hoop. At first, I was suspicious. I had never seen a magnetic hoop compatible with a single needle embroidery machine. As it turns out they actually exist-but do you really need one?
The float method has been my go-to for any project that exceeds a single layer of material. It works, but hooping thicker or multiple layers of fabric can sometimes feel like a wrestling match against the hoop. One of the biggest advantages of a magnetic hoop is how easy it makes hooping thicker materials.
But I did have one major concern: Would it actually be secure enough to embroider?
If your material shifts while you’re embroidering, it can ruin an entire project. Although yes, some magnets shifted, the other magnets were strong enough to compensate for it. I honestly wasn’t expecting them to be quite that strong.
Strong magnets are obviously crucial to the whole concept, but there is a downside too. My scissors kept getting pulled toward the magnetic field whenever I went to cut the jump stitches. Using all-metal scissors is probably the worst combination for this. Switching to scissors with a plastic shell may help combat the issue. Another option could be temporarily removing the magnet closest to the area you’re trimming.
Most of the magnetic hoops I’ve seen have a connected form, so having separate magnets comes with some pros and cons. A pro is having the ability to customize how many magnets are used and where you place them. You no longer have to sandwich the entire hoop area if your project doesn’t require it. The downside is that multiple magnets do take a little extra time to position and remove. That said, I don’t think it takes much longer than using a standard hoop. In some cases, it may actually be faster since you aren’t having to press or screw the hoop pieces together. Plus it is fun to use.
Do you NEED a magnetic hoop? Probably not. Does a magnetic hoop make certain projects easier? Absolutely.
I’m excited to officially add a magnetic hoop to my embroidery toolbox. I don’t think it’s going to replace my standard hoops for every project, but I can definitely see myself gravitating towards it more. If you are curious about trying one you can purchase it from Amazon or their website. If you use Sew Tech’s website you will receive a small discount if you type in the promo code “SEWTECHBREANA26” at checkout.
Watch my First Time Trying a Magnetic Embroidery Hoop
Every machine embroidery enthusiast needs embroidery hoops. If you are just starting out you will most likely only use the one that came with your machine. Having more than one hoop can speed up your project time by being able to hoop while another design is stitching. Try branching out and using a sleeve hoop or a multi position hoop. My multi position hoop really pivoted my viewpoint on if I needed a larger machine.
Sharps can be intimidating, there are so many brands and types of machine needles on the market. My favorites are from the brand Organ Needles but also keep in mind if your needle is causing you trouble you may need a different type of needle for the specific type of material you are embroidering on. Another set of needles that are essential to have in your stash are hand embroidery needles and a seam ripper. When, not if, your design stitches out a little wonky, but not enough to scrap the entire project you can add or remove a few stitches.
Pins are a dime a dozen, use whatever you have or buy generic ones. I prefer quilting pins simply because they are longer which is great for blankets and keeping excess material from the field. Storage for needles and pins can be fun. Get creative, make your own or opt for one that puts a smile on your face. I love my snap bracelet cushion, not only its practicality of being literally attached to me, but also for the memories it holds. Magnetic pin holders are great for fast clean up but reaching into your sewing bag can be like stumbling onto a land mine.
Thread
Often thread gets overlooked but it is necessary to test out which ones work best for you. More expensive does not equal better quality. For example, my Sulky thread vs New Brothread: New Brothread is not only affordable, but an amazing quality thread. Make sure to upgrade to a thread that has a snap bottom to keep your thread box nice and neat. We can’t all live the luxe life of having an expansive craft room with every thread color imaginable on display so snap bottom it is. Hate winding bobbins? Buy them in bulk. Save the empty spools to rewind with various colors or even to use with your sewing machine if yours are the same like mine.
Stabilizers & More
Do not skip out of the stabilizer. It helps keep your material in place, adds structural stability to the material and can even prevent stitches for getting lost in the fuzz. My favorites are cut away and water soluble stabilizer. Save yourself some time and space by getting a precut pack. Another material to keep close by is a roll of Tender Touch. Tender Touch is a mesh material that irons onto the backside of your embroidery. Most commercial embroidery shirts, sweaters etc. use this to lock in the stitches as well as protect the skin from irritation.
Appliques
If you are doing machine embroidery you’ve probably stumbled across an appliqué file or two. Some tools that can make or break a design are Heat N’ Bond, basting spray and a curved pair of scissors. To pair with the Heat N’ Bond I recommend investing in a mini heat press. I use the Cricut mini press and medium Cricut protective heat-resistant mat which is perfect for ironing all of the small scraps I use for appliqué. The Heat N’ Bond glues the appliqué to the base as well as prevents all of the edges from fraying. Once your appliqué material is prepped, spray some basting adhesive to the back to keep it from moving while stitching. Never use your fingers to hold material in place inside of the stitching field, that is how emergency visits occur. A needle through the finger, no thank you. The curved scissors make trimming the excess material a breeze after the tack down stitch. They allow you close access to the line and a wider range of mobility.
Scissors
I already touched base on my MVP (most valuable pair) the curved scissors. Other types I keep on hand are the basic thread scissors. A nice pair of dressmaker sheers, if you are making blankets or larger sewing projects and add in a pair of pinking sheers to prevent frayed edges. The last pair of scissors I enjoy having in my craft bag are titanium rag snips. While the name is a bit misleading these guide through bulky fabric with sequins, leather, suede and more. Your hands will thank me.
Click here to view all of my favorite essentials to add to your craft cart/bag. Disclaimer: I do receive a small commission from Amazon if you shop through my links.
What is your favorite machine embroidery essential?
One of the things I despise is how every single thing from appliances to businesses require an app. Whenever I find a work around app to download, I am all in. While helping my sister organize her books into storage bins, I stumbled upon a real gem. The last thing I wanted to do was write a list of every single book placed into each storage bin, so, instead I found a site that allows you to do everything digitally. Yes, they have an app, but it is not required in order to use the service. Even if you are simply looking to keep track of a growing classroom or personal library to prevent purchasing duplicates libib.com is perfect. Not a reader? Well, the site also allows the ability to catalog video games, music, board games and movies too. Most companies require a subscription for this type of service and yes this site has one too, but the free version should suffice for any personal user.
The biggest struggle to any new hobby is the easiest part, getting it out of the box. Once it’s out of the box the next hurdle is figuring out how to use it. After you begin vibing with your new hobby maintenance is more often than not forgotten. To be honest, unless there is an error with the machine, I won’t open it up to investigate if it needs to be cleaned. Don’t fix what ain’t broke right? Well this could be harming your machine as build up of dust and broken threads pile up inside of it.
One thing that I loved from my craft fair experience was my show displays. The first show I would say had a better display vibe but the second was more approachable for customers to shop. I will have all the items listed below that I used with links. First, let’s discuss the bare bones of the set up meaning the pop up, tables and chairs. Luckily my parents were willing to let us borrow fold up tables and camping chairs. Since we also don’t own a pop up we asked friends and were able to borrow one for both shows. The first pop up was my favorite; it was so easy to put up, just walk it out and unlock the legs to raise it. The second pop up was a challenge; it had a center push which is fine but as a vertically challenged girly we had to call for assistance. Guess I should have brought a step stool…
Last month I crossed off a major goal for 2025 and it was a bit bittersweet, my first craft fair event. People always recommend attending the event as a shopper prior to signing up as a vendor. Although that is great advice my patience meter did not want to wait an entire year before taking the leap and doing a craft fair. Lesson learned, the first craft fair, would have not passed the shopper to vendor test. The traffic flow was painfully slow, maybe one person or family per half hour. Location was not only difficult to see from the street but also unsafe with holes and dips causing people to fall. For some odd reason they decided to set the vendors behind a fence that was in the dirt/ dead grass which made it seem like a private event to the average passerby. If the event was held in the front parking lot I think it would have had higher traffic and been a lot safer for guests to shop.
Most embroidery on curved/shaped hats are created with a multi-needle machine. These are machines where the hat is able to be worked inside of a curved hoop. As a single needle machine owner who does not want to shell out thousands of dollars it is time to test if it is absolutely necessary. Although I have seen some single needle embroidery done on a hat before they have been structured. Since a structured hat is more difficult, why not try it out.
Over the past month I had been prepping for my first ever craft fair. In order to prepare there were a lot of things to create via printing, cutting and stamping. I decided to create all of my hang tags and packaging cards by hand to save money using card stock. My go to type of card stock to use is heavy weight 110 lb for hang tags and bow packaging: it is thick and will often jam up the printer. Printers rotate paper to print on paper but card stock this thick is more difficult to bend. Another reason to use the back tray is when you are printing on sticker paper. Sticker paper often gunks up my printer if I am printing multiple sheets. Instead of getting frustrated and wasting resources reprinting, I have been putting the rear tray of my printer to use.
When using an embroidery file one thing among many I look for is how many times I have to change my thread. If you have a multi-needle machine this is not even on your radar but some of us are still struggling. One of the perks of Embrilliance essentials is being able to switch up the order of each color/ section of embroidery.
