Hints and tips on how to do free machine embroidered lettering using straight stitch and zig zag. This video shows you different ways to mark your words onto fabric and then sew them.
Just got a new sewing machine and I am making stuffed bears for children. I want too freehand stitch JESUS LOVES ME on them your kind video will teach me how. Thank You so much. God bless you and your loved ones.
I've been doing it all wrong 🤔. I self taught but I didn't know that I could drop the feed dog. Thank you so much for enlightening me. My machine doesn't have that type of foot so I remove the regular one and just sew. I am still perfecting the skill 😅and I have learned something new ❤. Subscription added ❤
So very inspiring, have been looking for free motion embroidery tutorials and yours is by far the best I've seen! Thank you so much and keep up the good work!
Good day from Ohio I'm still a newbie at this, and OMGOSH, this was wonderful Claire. I can't thank you enough for sharing this; it was so helpful. I'm a new fan. God bless
Super creative. I'm also learning machine embroidery right now. Many of my customers love to have their name embroidered on the product they order. And I think I got to start learning how to do it :)
Beautiful work and a great video. Very clear and calm ! Free motion had eluded me so far but I am persevering. Practice makes perfect. All the best and happy sewing.
t got a Singer Quantum and I have an old Kenmore too and looking forward to turning out some beautiful work, this reflects my taste and is very inspiring. I did not set out to do such until I saw this video as I do so many crafts that I didn't think I needed another project, but OH so beautiful! Thanx SO much for sharing your savvy, artistic soul. Look forward to exploring your channel.
Thank you so much for this tutorial. I have been looking for a simple explanation on this subject and yours is by far the best I have found ,it has been so helpful for me and given me the start I needed x
Thank you Claire for this very informative video. I've only been sewing for about a little under a couple of years ( learning mostly by watching videos). I have been searching for a good free machine embroidery video for some time now. I'm glad I ran across yours. The way you took the time in explaining the two different methods of free machine embroidery was absolutely wonderful. I was beginning to think that I was gonna have to break down and purchase an embroidery machine. But after watching your tutorial, I am confident that I will be able to master free machine embroidery with just a little practice. I have subscribed to your channel and am excited to see what other wonderful sewing tips/ videos you have. Thanks so much.
Great tutorial Claire, there are a lot of tutorials but really find most of them a bit unclear or not what I'm looking for, so happy that I have found your channel, thank you so much for sharing.
Great video as usual, Claire. Especially interesting and interested as I used to do calligraphy. I like the tips for the free motion writing, and the pens ! Thank you!
That is so funny 😂😂😂 my mom was going to name me Claire and then I ended up as Stefanie, this part in the video was my favorite ♥️ Soul sisters from long ago 🫶🏼
Hello Claire, thank you very much for this very useful video! I have just bought myself a new sewing machine, and I can't wait to start to do some free machine embroidery, trying some letters ! Although my first language isn't english, I really did understand very well the way you have explained and given some tips ! I'd love to see more of your videos ! In the meantime I better start practice ! Merci !
I love your accent. And It looks good 👍 and lol you're really funny too, but good advice. Lol I was laughing so hard when you said the part about driving a bus. Although everyone else who i watched, that's exactly what they said to do. Hold the edges to keep in control. But I guess when I actually do try it I will find out which method works best for me.
@@clairemuirfreemachineembro7863 yeah.. i just ordered some stuff.. should be shipping soon.. I got the smaller hoop to use with my machine. And a larger one because I think quilting by hand should be fun too.
Well done! I finally understand how to do this. Your hands are perfect for tutor as the nails are not so distracting that I've seen in some tutorials. Thanks for doing this. It's about the tutorial and not your fingernails. Perfect tutorial.
Thanks so much for making this video Claire! I found your channel and website through a Frank Nutt Sewing Machine video. I am wanting to learn free motion monogramming with my vintage Kenmore, and this is exactly the sort of tutorial I've been searching for. I appreciate you openly sharing so much of your skill and technique with us. Any chance you would consider teaching one of your projects courses online for non-UK folk? I would definitely be interested in having an opportunity to take one of your workshops.
Great stuff. I confidently use machinery in the workshop that can take your head off in a heart beat but the sewing machine still scares the giblets out of me!
Ha Ha Stephen, I can relate to your terror. I still remember when I was at school, walking into a classroom of sewing machines and being terrified! When people come to my workshops and walk into the room and the machines are all laid out, I really try to put everyone at their ease in case they have similar classroom memories.
Always use a brand of metallic thread, I use MadeiraThreads. If the thread snaps with a normal size 80 needle then use a metallic (metafil) needle or a topstitch size 90 needle, both have larger eyes than normal needles and can prevent friction. You may need to slacken your top tension a little. Try not to stitch too quickly because that can increase friction and make your thread snap. Hope that helps.
I thought there was something wrong with my machine (it's cheap so possible) but, when my friend's mom let me come over so she could look at it the machine ended up being just fine... I had a nice little birds nest lol before she looked at it she thought it was a tension thing... nope I saw her putting the presser foot down and was like. "Ohhhh. That has to be down?" Rofl
I’m very new to sewing and free motion embroidery and glad I came across this video, it has helped me a lot. I would like to ask with the zigzag stitch what setting (width and length) did you have your machine set to? Thank you for this demonstration 🙂
HI Jill, the stitch width is set to the widest setting. As it is free machine embroidery and the feed dogs have been lowered and therefore the fabric is not being fed through as it is with conventional sewing, the stitch length is determined by how fast I sew and how quickly I move my hoop. If I sew quickly with my foot and move the work slowly, I get the nice close satin stitch. If I sewed at the same speed but moved my work more quickly, my stitches would not be close together. I hope that helps
@carolinaviquez2212 Yes, Madeira Classic 40 is a beautiful thread for free machine embroidery as are their metallic threads. I have been using them over 30 years !
Hello Claire, Thank you so much; this is a very helpful topic for me at this time. I feel very hopeful that I can complete a task for my sister, The project in mind, with lettering on flannel (pillow cases) is for my nieces. I wonder if I need a stabilizer (underlining) if I use the embroidery hoop. Is there anything else I should keep in mind while using flannel. Again, thank you for this timely information, Linda S
Thanks Linda. Hope you get your task done ok. You don't have to use stabiliser if you use a hoop. If you are worried about pulling the pillow cases too tightly in the hoop then yes, use stabiliser and then put it in a hoop without pulling it too tightly. Depending on the stabiliser you use, you may not need to use a hoop at all.
Love your video definitely got thumbs up I am an absolute beginner waiting on my machine to arrive, may I ask what size ring you are using or recommend to use?
@suebrown5500 Hi Sue, I really only ever do this technique with Madeira Classic 40 thread but you could try Madeira Cotona 30 thread . The finish would be matt rathe than the lovely sheen of the viscose thread
I've been sewing and quilting for years and have never seen this! I'm currently working on a baby quilt for my granddaughter, who is due in April. This will allow me to do a custom label! My only question is going between the words, when you pull the thread to start the next word, are those stitches secure enough so that they won't come undone?
Thank you, Claire! How long would you say your name took on the zig zag? I have 90 to make for my wedding and I'm wondering how much time to set aside! Would you recommend writing out the names in pencil when using the zig zag technique?
Hi Lily, I'm afraid I can't remember hoy long it took me to do . Are you writing the same name 90 times or different guest names? I suggest you write the longest name in pencil and time yourself doing it then you can calculate the time required to sew them. I would prep all the names but when it comes to sewing, sew a batch at a time. Remember to allow time for filling the bobbin. Don't forget to change your needle regularly too. Many congratulations on your wedding. Perhaps you can @clairemuirtextiles if you post a pic on instagram, I'd love to see your finished result. Good luck with it all, how exciting!
Hi, Claire! I just joined your channel and I'm enjoying learning this. I purchased a machine that has a font which can't be adjusted and it's all uppercase letters. This is very helpful, and my question is what is the height or thickness of the hoop? 1/2" ? 1.25 cm? Thanks, Alicia
Hi Alicia , welcome to the channel. My hoop is just under 1 cm deep /high which will go under your machine, your may just need to push your pressure foot lever up again ( double lift) to get it under. You might like a video I did on another channel: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-2fRzqjsF5Y8.html
Thank you . This was very helpful. I am hoping to free motion around pebble shapes and I am having a hard time seeing when I head back up one side. Any tips? Thanks so much!
Claire I just want to learn free motion embroidery but just cannot get the hoop under pressfoot Al thought I put on the open toe quilting foot. Kindly advise what I am doing wrong do I have to get a special hoop or any kind of hoop can work it is not working for me. Thank you for assistance bs
Hi Claire, very informative tutorial as always! One question I have seen a few videos now where a lot of free motion work is done without a hoop, just backing on the fabric, do you ever free motion embroider this way & would you recommend it? as it does appear to be easier with maneuvering the fabric without a hoop.
Hi Cindy , thank you. If you are a complete beginner I recommend using a hoop because it helps to make the fabric glide under the machine and so you can get to grips with how machine embroidery is actually done. Once you have had a go a free machine embroidering putting backing on fabric is a great thing to do and it is an economical way of using your fabric as you can sew in the corners. It's a great way to do a batch of cards. When you sew without a hoop it can mean that you need to hold your fabric down and that can prevent you from sewing freely if you push down too hard. The thing is, have a go and find out which you prefer and what's right for you. Don't let things hinder your creativity and go for it.
@@clairemuirfreemachineembro7863 Thanks Claire, very new to this but already getting hooked, am hoping with (a lot!) of practice I can start producing something commendable.....you make it look easy! 😉
@@cindygallichan3515 great to hear you're hooked. That was how I felt when I discovered how to do FM embroidery! I teach complete beginners all the time and I see great results after just a little time so don't think you've got to have been doing it for ages to produce something commendable. My student's work can be seen on FB- Claire Muir Textiles
@mrscaldwell3147 Thank you . I don't but you could do this on shirts. If you didn't want to put the shirt in a hoop , you could iron some tear away stabiliser to the back of the shirt so you can embroider on it
You can use your knee lift to alter the stitch width on some machines. I haven't put mine in my machine. I alter the stitch width by putting it to the widest setting on my machine. Hope that helps.
It doesn't matter what the stitch length is set to as the feed dogs are down and therefore if you didn't move the hoop it would stitch on the spot. I just leave mine whatever the factory setting is, I never set mine to 0.
