Free-Motion Embroidery - use the sewing machine as a creative tool

Free-Motion Embroidery. A stitched picture of a garden — Embroidered Garden. Free-Motion Embroidery

Bookings

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Free-motion embroidery is a useful core skill for Textile Artists, Quilters and Felters. It’s also useful for cardmaking and any other craft. You may also know it as Free-machine embroidery, or free-hand machine embroidery. Many of my other creative workshops involve free-motion embroidery. So if you’re not sure which one to take, then I recommend this one as a starting point. No ‘drawing’ experience is necessary and you can use a basic sewing machine. It doesn’t have to be an expensive or ‘fancy’ one.

What’s covered:

This workshop aims to teach you the basic techniques of free-motion embroidery:
• setting up the machine for free-motion embroidery
• guiding the needle to draw with thread
• how to obtain a variety of textures and stitch effects
• use of fabric stabilisers and water-soluble embroidery film
• the afternoon project will help you practice, to create a small stitched picture.

All materials and sewing machines are provided or you can bring your own machine. But if you do, please remember to bring the power cable/foot control and the instructions. Also you will need a darning foot and a few bobbins. (You should only use bobbins that are made for your specific make and model of machine.) I recommend using size 90 or 100 Topstitch needles. Read my blog ‘Get to the Point‘ for help in choosing the correct needle.

Free-Motion involves running the machine at fast speeds for long periods of time. So please make sure your machine is well-maintained. For instructions on how to clean and care for your machine, please read my blog item ‘Are you practising safe sewing?’

Craft Warning: Described by Kirstie Allsopp as ‘the crack-cocaine of craft’ Free-motion machine embroidery can be seriously addictive!

For some inspiration, why don’t you check out the following websites? These are two of my favourite Textile Artists who’s speciality is free-motion embroidery.

Carol Naylor produces stunning landscape pictures which are densely covered in stitching.

Alison Holt makes photorealistic art works using painted fabrics and stitch.

Level: Improvers onwards. (Basic sewing machine experience required)
Duration: 10am-4pm