QUILTsocial Winter 2015-15 Issue | Page 28

embroidery felting 1. Load embroidery felting design onto your sewing machine screen, and install all of the parts to the embroidery embellishment kit to embroider the design. The felting needle is shorter than a regular needle and has small barbs on it to push the felt or roving into the cape fabric. The preparation for the embroidery felting technique is included in your embroidery felting kit. There are a few steps that need to take place including the felting needle, needle guard, and bobbin area. Interactive screen on Designer Ruby Royale A piece of felt is placed on top of the wrong side of fabric to reinforce design area. 2. Once these changes are made, and the embroidery design is on your screen, set the hoop style, and make any necessary changes to the design if desired. Changes can be made either in 6D Software or right on your interactive embroidery screen. Note: It’s important to test a sample piece of felt with your wool fabric before going on to no. 3. Testing allows you to work out any changes or adjustments on the test sample. 3. With wrong side facing, mark the fabric where you’d like the felted embroidery to be. If you’re using wool roving, it’s also advisable to add a thin layer of Inspira water soluble stabilizer to prevent the wool roving from shifting while it’s embroidering. 4. As the embroidery is being felted you won’t see the actual finished work until it’s complete and the hoop is removed. The felting is occurring on the opposite side – that’s what makes this so exciting. Marking the spot for felt embroidery. Cut away extra felt around the felted design. 5. When the felting is complete, remove the fabric from the metal hoop. 6. Remove any excess felt by trimming away with Inspira® appliqué or Inspira® Duck bill scissors. This allows trimming of excess felt without accidently cutting into your cape panel. 7. Continue to felt each panel individually until all 7 are completed. construction 1. Select the seam allowance appropriate for the wool fabric chosen. 2. Seam the 5 identical panels right sides together. Sew the last two center front panels one on each end of the 5 sewn panels. 3. Mark the hemline and cut even according to the preferred edge style. The edge can be straightened or left with a bit of a curve. Five panels and two front panels sewn together. Instruction photos by Cheryl Stranges. 28 QUILTsocial .com ● winter 2014/2015