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In The Round
By Barbara
Weiland
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Continued From Page 1
Variations
- Combine a favorite motif from the Flower Stitcher with the
completed scallops. Use the tack hole as the center point for a motif inside the scallop
or make a dot 1/2" above the scallop inner points and stitch with the Flower Stitcher
at the minus setting.
- For interlacing scallops, stitch a scallop row as directed above.
Position the tack at the scallop inner point and stitch the second row as you did the
first, marking the mid-point of the new scallop at the end of the scallop on the previous
row (Figure 4).
- Using metallic or decorative thread, sew a circle. Decrease the
radius and stitch again. Repeat several times for an interesting accent.
- Overlap circular designs using different threads and sizes. Vary
the stitch width, add additional decorative stitches over the basic satin stitch, or
stitch partial circles.
- Use a braiding foot and an open zigzag stitch to couch cording or
fine, narrow trim in a circle. Pull the thread ends to the underside to secure.
- Use an open-toe embroidery foot and a zigzag or decorative stitch
to sew over ruffled lace heading or narrow trim while you stitch it in place. Trim close
to the stitching on the underside.
Play with other special
presser feet and stitches to create your own circular stitching variations. Have fun!
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Figure 4
Overlapping Scallops
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Sew-Easy Yo-Yo's
Normally traced on fabric, cut
out and hand gathered into a puff, yo-yos can be made quickly on the sewing machine.
Yo-yos are popular embellishments for folk-art country clothing, children's wear and craft
projects. Consider stitching some in gold lame, adding jewels or buttons to the centers
and bartacking them together for a holiday handbag or evening gown jacket.
- Attach the circular stitching attachment or a tack as described
earlier in this article. For a finished yo-yo that is 1 1/2" across, position the
tack 3/4" from the needle. Experiment with the tack position for larger and smaller
yo-yos. Attach the all-purpose presser foot, and change the stitch length to 4mm for
basting. Loosen the upper thread tension by one setting.
- Mark the yo-yo center on the fabric wrong side, allowing for at
least 3/8" space around each circle.
- Place the fabric in a spring-loaded embroidery hoop wrong-side-up.
Position one yo-yo center mark over the tack and lower the presser foot.
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Figure 5
Stitch past and next to beginning
stitches. |
Machine baste all the way around. When you reach the starting
point, gently guide the hoop so that two or three stitches go past and next to the
beginning stitches (Figure 5).
Remove the hoop from the tack and cut a long thread tail. Position
for the next circle, lower the foot, and stitch. Continue in this fashion until all
circles have been stitched.
Remove the fabric from the hoop and carefully cut out each circle
1/8" to 1/4" outside the stitching, taking care not to cut the thread tails.
Lay the needle thread tails across the circle wrong side and grasp
the bobbin thread tails securely. Draw the threads together to gather the puff and flatten
it into a circle. For added security, tie all threads together in an overhand knot.
Cover the yo-yo raw edges at
the center with a button (bartack on the machine or stitch by hand) or with a bead or
jewel glued in place.
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Sources
The Flower Stitcher and circular sewing attachments
are available at many sewing machine dealers.
The Flower Stitcher also is available by mail-order from Nancy's Notions. Call (800)
833-0690 to request a catalog or for ordering information.
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