Thursday, 3 March 2016

Free Machine Embroidery Course.....

In one of my recent posts I mentioned that I was attending a 'free motion applique' course last weekend.  Well, I was wrong.... it was actually a 'free machine embroidery course' and it was great fun!!

We started by setting up the machine for free machine embroidery which was the same as for free motion quilting, ie the feed dogs down and using the darning foot to sew.  Then we hooped up some calico fabric using the hoop the other way up than you would for hand embroidery.  Then the fun started and we were allowed to 'doodle' a pattern in thread.  I tried to draw a flower and some leaves.  It was a lot of fun and, the FMQ techniques I have been practising certainly helped with this technique too.

Then we moved on to adding pieces of appliqued fabric to the calico background fabric and drawing around them with thread.  (I think this is why I got confused the with technique name, calling it free motion applique!)  For my first attempt I used some fabric to create spools of thread and some scissors.  I am going to add some buttons by hand to finish off the picture.

The time went really quickly and I was left with just a short amount of time to try another picture, so I made a butterfly.  I am very excited to have tried this technique and it has given me the confidence to try a project from a beautiful book that I bought back in 2014 called 'Applique Art: Freehand Machine Embroidered Pictures' by Abigail Mill. 

I was given a second copy of this lovely book recently and, as I don't need two copies, I thought it would be nice to have a 'Spring Giveaway'.  Just leave me a comment below and you will be entered for a chance to win my spare copy of the book.  I will send anywhere worldwide so anyone can enter.  I will announce the winner at the beginning of next week.... good luck!! 
Posted by at

50 comments:

  1. Lynda3 March 2016 at 12:39

    I really love your work , as ever, Christine. I am going on a similar course in April but can only hope that my work is any where near yours! Lynda x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christine B3 March 2016 at 18:06

      Thank you Lynda! You will love it! It was a lot of fun! Christine x

      Delete
  2. Valomea3 March 2016 at 13:46

    Liebe Christine,
    Deine FMQ-Motive sind zauberhaft geworden! Man glaubt anfangs kaum, dass man das lernen kann, aber es ist gar nicht so schwer und sieht immer so schön aus!
    LG
    Valomea

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christine B3 March 2016 at 18:14

      Thank you Valomea! I think it definitely helped that I have been practising my FMQ! Christine x

      Delete
  3. Martina3 March 2016 at 15:01

    Oh how lovely! It looks just so wonderful. Well done, Christine!
    Hugs Martina

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christine B3 March 2016 at 18:06

      Thank you Martina! It was a great workshop and I am pleased I tried it! Christine x

      Delete
  4. the girlfriend gap3 March 2016 at 15:10

    I have done a bit of that and always love the outcome. I would love to win you extra book. Fingers crossed. Thank you. Janita

    ReplyDelete
  5. Heather3 March 2016 at 15:24

    Those are really cute! I'm glad you enjoyed the class! I love learning new things, too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christine B3 March 2016 at 18:07

      Thank you Heather! It was a lot of fun! Can't wait to try out some other projects! Christine x

      Delete
  6. Janet Pring3 March 2016 at 15:37

    What a nice technique to learn, it gives a different look to your sewing. I'm glad you had a lovely weekend xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christine B3 March 2016 at 18:08

      Hello Janet! It was a lot of fun and I am looking forward to using the technique on some other projects! Christine x

      Delete
  7. Ali3 March 2016 at 15:41

    I've been too scared to try this technique as I dont think I would have sufficient control over the machine however I love the little pieces you have done. Maybe I should be brave and have a go. Glad to read that you enjoyed your class X

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christine B3 March 2016 at 18:10

      Thank you Ali! You should be brave... it just takes some practice. It is more forgiving than free motion quilting as the fabric is hooped and you are only stitching through one layer. Christine x

      Delete
  8. Marly3 March 2016 at 15:42

    What a delightful butterfly! I once tried free machine embroidery but the piece of old sheet I was using puckered, and got pulled under the needle plate so I threw it away and never tried again. Maybe I should!
    Thanks for the chance to get some expert help.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christine B3 March 2016 at 18:11

      Thank you Marly! You should try it again. We used calico which is quite a firm fabric and we hooped it drum tight so it couldn't move. I think if you use something lighter it would be worth stabilising it. Christine x

      Delete
  9. Pauline G3 March 2016 at 17:09

    Although I love free motion quilting I haven't tried this before and as I don't get on well with traditional applique this could be just got me!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christine B3 March 2016 at 18:12

      You should Pauline.... this would be perfect! Christine x

      Delete
  10. Renee3 March 2016 at 21:26

    It sounds like a fun class! Your work is always fun to see. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christine B4 March 2016 at 21:29

      Thank you Renee! It was a lot of fun! Have a lovely weekend! Christine x

      Delete
  11. FlashinScissors3 March 2016 at 21:33

    I have used free motion quilting to quilt a denim bag, which worked very well because of the thickness of the denim, but I haven't tried freehand machine embroidery appliqué. Your embroidery looks like it was a lot of fun to stitch. I would love to win your extra book, thank you for the chance!

    Barbara xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christine B4 March 2016 at 21:31

      Thank you Barbara! I really enjoyed the class and I shall certainly be trying the technique again! Good luck for the giveaway! Christine x

      Delete
  12. Monika Kunstnadel3 March 2016 at 21:37

    Liebe Christine,
    das sind ja wunderschöne Ergebnisse. Der Schmetterling gefällt mir sehr. Das war ein toller Kurs.
    Liebe Grüße
    Monika

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christine B4 March 2016 at 21:43

      Thank you Monika! I really had a lovely time and I can't wait to try out the technique again! Hope you have a lovely weekend! Christine x

      Delete
  13. Anonymous3 March 2016 at 23:06

    hi Christine,wow what a fun class,and how lovely of you to have a giveaway,thankyou xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christine B4 March 2016 at 21:31

      Thank you Shez! The class was a lot of fun! Good luck for the giveaway! Christine x

      Delete
  14. Magpie's Mumblings3 March 2016 at 23:29

    I always admire free motion work and have tried it a few times without a whole lot of success. I would say your first attempts are pretty good!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christine B4 March 2016 at 21:32

      Thank you Mary Anne! I think having tried FMQ before helped with this new technique! The class was a lot of fun! Have a lovely weekend! Christine x

      Delete
  15. colleen4 March 2016 at 05:41

    Christine ,

    Thank you so much for the chance to win this book, I'd really like to learn more about this technique .

    I found you and your blog not so very long ago from your comments while making Anne Suttons Bunny Hill snowman of the month your blocks were/are so lovely.

    Your hand work is so lovely ..... of course by machine is faster and with this technique so different from hand embroidery

    And thanks for being willing to mail across the pond
    Colleen
    Benicia
    California
    USA

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christine B4 March 2016 at 21:34

      Thank you Colleen! I really enjoyed the lovely Snow Happy Hearts project and I am glad you liked them too. Thank you for visiting and good luck in the giveaway! Christine x

      Delete
  16. margaret4 March 2016 at 06:24

    you certainly got the hang of FME quickly so lovely things. I broke a gear on my bernina when it was new trying to do it in the early 90`s and have not tried since!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christine B4 March 2016 at 21:35

      Thank you Margaret! Breaking a gear doesn't sound a very good thing to do.... sorry to hear that! Maybe one day you will feel like trying again! Have a lovely weekend! Christine x

      Delete
  17. Baa. xxx4 March 2016 at 06:32

    What fun! It must have been a great class. I love the applique stitching you have done. The spools and scissors expecially.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christine B4 March 2016 at 21:36

      Thank you! It was a lot of fun! I shall certainly be trying this out again soon! Have a lovely weekend! Christine x

      Delete
  18. Sue Wild4 March 2016 at 07:30

    Seems like a very fun class. Love the butterfly

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christine B4 March 2016 at 21:37

      Thank you for visiting Sue! It was a lovely class! Hope you have a lovely weekend! Christine x

      Delete
  19. Steffi4 March 2016 at 09:40

    Liebe Christine,
    das sind ja entzückende Bilder die du uns da zeigst! Ich habe auch schon einmal einen solchen Workshop besucht und hatte ganz viel Freude dabei und kann mir dadurch vorstellen das du viel Spaß hattest. Das Buch habe ich auch, es ist eine gute Inspirationsquelle!
    Liebe Grüße und ein schönes Wochenende,
    Steffi

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christine B4 March 2016 at 21:42

      Thank you Steffi! The class really was a lot of fun and I love the style of the book.... such pretty artwork! Have a lovely weekend too! Christine x

      Delete
  20. Dorfymid4 March 2016 at 09:44

    You seem to have had a lot of fun, and my you did an excellent job for a first time. I am self taught lots of trial and lots of error so hopefully I might win your spear copy and find out the proper way.. Dx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christine B4 March 2016 at 21:38

      Thank you Doti! I did have a great time at the class and the book is really pretty! Good luck! Christine x

      Delete
  21. liniecat4 March 2016 at 14:49

    I love that kind of machine stitching over fabrics, illustration like isn't it! Id say you've cracked it just fine! I have that book and its well worth having and just as useful for hand stitchers too! Don't put my name in the draw : )

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christine B4 March 2016 at 21:39

      Thank you Lyn! I had a lot of fun at the class! It is a beautiful book.... I just love the style of the artwork in it! Christine x

      Delete
  22. Karen in Breezy Point4 March 2016 at 15:42

    It looks like you had a lot of fun with the class! Your spools and scissors is going to make a darling little picture!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christine B4 March 2016 at 21:40

      Thank you Karen! I really enjoyed myself and I can't wait to try out the technique further.... just have to finished a few other projects first!! Christine x

      Delete
  23. Sheila4 March 2016 at 22:38

    Oh what a fun class , I would have loved to be there. You did a great job of the applique . Thanks for the chance to win the book , sounds delightful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christine B5 March 2016 at 09:50

      Thank you Sheila! It is always fun to go to a class and I particularly enjoyed learning this technique! Have a lovely weekend! Christine x

      Delete
  24. Melody5 March 2016 at 00:39

    You did a brilliant job. I particularly love the little spools and scissors

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christine B5 March 2016 at 09:51

      Thank you Melody! That was a fun little design and I enjoyed making it! Have a good weekend! Christine x

      Delete
  25. Wendy6 March 2016 at 10:50

    You made some lovely pictures! The sewing themed one is fab!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christine B6 March 2016 at 17:22

      Thank you Wendy! I enjoyed making it! Christine x

      Delete

New comments are not allowed.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)