Machine Cutwork
•• Here’s what you’ll need to get started:
•• clear heavy-weight water-soluble stabilizer such
as Sulky Ultra Solvy
•• washable marker
•• two layers of fabric slightly larger than your snowflake design
•• small short-bladed scissors with sharp-pointed tips
•• embroidery thread
You’ll also need a snowflake design and they’re
really easy to make. I even wrote a book about it!
Remember making paper snowflakes when you
were a kid? You take a square piece of paper, fold it in
half diagonally, in half diagonally again, then in thirds.
Trace snowflake onto Solvy
Two layers of fabric and Solvy
Straight stitch on marked lines
Cutting fabric snowflake
Lacy snowflake cut out
Satin stitch lacy snowflake
You can draw your design on the folded paper first
or just start cutting.
Then, unfold the paper to reveal your masterpiece!
You might also enjoy creating your design digitally
on one of the many snowflake-designing websites.
Trace your snowflake onto clear heavy-weight watersoluble stabilizer using a washable marker. I find that
fabric markers don’t show up well on the Solvy. I have
better success with the kids’ Crayola markers. Make
sure the marker color shows up against your fabric.
For a lacy cutwork snowflake, layer two pieces of fabric
wrong sides together. Pin the marked Solvy on top.
Sew through all three layers with a straight stitch on
the marked lines.
Cut out the fabric close to the stitching but leave the
Solvy uncut.
The Ultra Solvy will stabilize your fabric and hold
your snowflake together.
Set your sewing machine to a satin stitch wide
enough to cover the cut-out edges and the straight
stitches. You may want to test the stitch on scrap
fabric to find the best settings. Satin stitch around
the cut-out edges.
Once the stitching is complete, soak the fabric
snowflake in water to dissolve the Solvy.
T he result is a lovely
cutwork lacy snowflake
that you can hang in your
window or display as a
centerpiece. It looks like
heirloom needlework, but
it took a fraction of the
time! Cutwork can also be
filled with embroidery. z
Dissolve Solvy in water
Photos by Kathy K. Wylie.
QUILTsocial
.com
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winter 2014/2015
47