I had so much fun creating this placemat for the Brother Sews Ultimate New Year’s Eve Project, in collaboration with all the Brother Sews Ambassadors. I volunteered to create a placemat at our first Brother Ambassadors Conference in June 2019. Did you notice is it reversible! Finishes at 12” x 18” My mind just went … Read More
Author: Anna Aldmon
Appliqué Prep with a ScanNCut
Brother Sews Ambassador Anna Aldmon talks about using the Brother ScanNCut to help create appliqué shapes for quilt designs (or Why Trim when I can Cut using my ScanNCut!). I was so happy to use my ScanNCut to pre-cut the appliqué shapes before I stitched the Forget Me Not block of Eye of the Beholder … Read More
Organizing Appliqué Designs for Stitching
Whenever I start a new design, one of the first steps is to select my fabric and thread for the appliqué design. I frequently use the same fabric in different blocks. To make sure I am using the same embroidery thread, I create a “Fabric and Thread” chart which helps me organize my fabric and … Read More
Piecing in the Hoop! A Pressing Idea!
Perfecting your Piecing in the hoop block. I love creating pieced blocks for embroidery machines! The rainbow fan block here was first created to be pieced in the hoop which was eventually used as a raffle quilt by a local quilter’s guild. I have been creating designs that include piecing in the hoop. It is … Read More
Create a Quilted Tote Bag with THE Dream Machine
I was so excited to hear about the additional fills that are part of THE Dream Machine 2. To learn more about how to use these fills, I decided to make a tote bag. I used the appliqué blocks from my new design “Jacobean Tree of Life” and applied a different fill behind each one. … Read More
Moving the Frame Function for Applique Tip
As I learn more about how to use the Entrepreneur Pro PR1000e 10-needle embroidery machine for applique, I discovered a feature that makes it easier to see the Placement stitches. This is helpful to make sure that the Applique fabric is fully covering the Placement stitches, as well as trimming the Applique fabric after the … Read More
Quilted Block using the Entrepreneur Pro PR1000e
You can create Quilted Blocks on the Entrepreneur Pro PR1000e that look beautiful on both the front and back. The secret is to change bobbins each time the top thread color changes. In this video, I will show you how easy it is to change a single needle design to a multi-needle design by adding … Read More
Prep Loose Weave Fabric for Applique in the Hoop
I usually use a tight weave fabric such as Batik for my applique in the hoop designs. The batik fabric trims well, and can handle the needle punching. In this design, I selected a set of fabric selections that could support an Indian Pottery design. This lead me to fabric with a much looser weave … Read More
Applique Star: Ornament or Coaster Project
Create as many great little Free Standing Applique Star ornaments or coasters as you want with this free design. It looks good on both the front and back sides. This is achieved by using the same thread color in the bobbin and top thread. It’s a great little design that fits within a 4” x … Read More
Fun and Easy DIY Luggage Tag
Whether you are traveling this holiday time or just need to give your luggage a new look, this cute DIY luggage tag project is quick and easy to make. It can be used to identify your sewing machine bag, computer bag, back pack, baby bag, tote bag and of course a suitcase. There are many … Read More
Quick Tip: Picking Up Fabric Fray and Threads
One key success to applique in the hoop is to remove fabric fray and threads before initiating the cover stitch. Once the applique fabric is trimmed, closely to the Tack Down stitches, make sure all the fabric frays and threads are removed from the background fabric. Then return the hoop back to the embroidery unit … Read More
Tip: Trimming Applique In the Hoop Designs
When stitching out an applique design in the hoop, trimming the applique fabric after Tack Down is key to having a nice finished edge around the applique. Here are a few quick and easy tricks to trimming the applique fabric. Steps: First, make sure you have a tight hoop, so the hoop does not pop … Read More
A Quick and Easy Placemat Project
Create a quick and easy Applique Placemat on the DreamMachine. Simply stitch out 4 applique blocks and 2 quilted blocks to create this beautiful placemat. Use the same color thread in the bobbin to have a great looking back. Select a nice printed fabric with lots of colors and a solid fabric as background. This … Read More
Adjusting Basting Stitch Distance
You have loaded your design and prepared your 8” x 8” hoop per the design instructions. You select the basting stitch option from your embroidery machine to secure the background fabric to the stabilizer in the hoop. But wait, per the message on your embroidery machine our design no longer fits – it says to … Read More
Quick Quilted Mug Rug using My Design Center
Mug Rugs seem to be a popular item and are quick to stitch out. But, I wondered, if I already have a quilted block, how can I make it a mug rug. This got me looking at the features of the Design Center on the Brother Dream Machine with upgrade to version 2. Any quilted … Read More
Read a Book – Need a Bookmark!
Create this quick and easy Appliqué Bookmarker on the PR1000e 10 Needle. This Appliqué Bookmarker is a handy and attractive design to mark your place in whatever you are reading. It finishes at 2” x 6 ½”. Make as many as you want and in any colors! Machine: PR1000e/PR1050 10-needle Materials and Supplies: Front and Back … Read More
Adding Stippling Applique Design
The New Dream Machine 2 and/or the Dream Machine upgrade has made adding stippling to an existing applique design very quick and so easy. This is a great way to make a quilt as you go top and use joining strips to assemble the quilted blocks. I just love how easy it is to add … Read More
Remove the Fear of Multiple Hoopings
Love those large appliques in the hoop designs but nervous about the multiple hooping process? A quick and easy way to get more comfortable with these large designs is to do a practice stitch out without the applique elements. Simply stitch out the Placement Stitches and Alignment crosshairs, skipping the steps for Tack Down and … Read More