Volume 1 Number 1  
Winter 2004  

Page 11  

without the foot's resting on the fabric. Mine won't, so I don't use a presser foot at all.  If your machine is more amenable than mine, find a clear presser foot that allows you to see what you're doing.  An embroidery foot is best.  Any open-toed foot is good.  A quilting foot will do. (You may dispense with the foot altogether and invest in one of the embroidery needles that has a spring attached to it.  I hate them, but others swear by them.)

Set up:

Your machine is set for straight stitch, or seam. Change the top tension by loosening it a couple of notches, keeping the bobbin thread on the underside of the fabric.  Use any thin lightweight bobbin thread you like, since it won't show. (Changing the tension so the bobbin thread appears on the top is a thread-blending design feature you may wish to explore later).

Put the stabilizer on top of the bottom ring of your hoop.  Place your chosen fabric on top of the stabilizer and top it off with the inside ring of your hoop.  You want the fabric to be taut and on the bottom of the hoop, flat against the machine's bed.

Slide the hooped fabric under the presser foot, lower the presser foot so you can sew, and take one stitch.  This brings the bobbin thread up to the top surface of the fabric.  Stitch two or three stitches in place, stop and cut the tails.  You're ready.

Safety first:   Hold your hoop on the edges! Always.  Never put your fingers inside the hoop. Today's machines will sew through anything but spring steel, so don't test it!  Attempting to sew over the hoop will break your needle, so please don't sew too close to the hoop!  With an even speed, not too fast, start sewing using a straight stitch,

meandering around your hoop, just to get the feel of the machine, the needle, and the thread.  Back and forth, up and down, around in circles.  Keep your hands on the right and left sides of the hoop.  Don't swivel.  Try putting stitches close together, write your name, anything at all.  (This emulates the popular redwork embroidery as well as stipple quilting.  Just a simple running stitch, if you were doing this by hand).

You will find your hoop filled up pretty quickly. Since this is practice, pick an area on which you've already sewn and sew over it.  See how the thread builds up.

Stop, bring your presser foot up and cut the thread (you don't have to cut the bobbin thread, it's doing its job right where it is) and change to another color.  Begin sewing in the same area (clipping off the tails after the first few stitches) and try to blend into the first color.  (Long and short stitch, if you were doing this by hand.)

You may want to draw a circle or square on the fabric (with any pen or pencil since this is just practice), and try filling it in, left to right.

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