There were technical difficulties with video clarity during this live event. If you watch from the beginning straight through, know that the blurry hands-on demonstration was repeated with more clarity near the end. The bookmarked and annotated segments below will guide you through all the essentials of the process.
Using Software for Applique
At 23:00 minutes, Eileen demonstrated using software to facilitate applique. She used Perfect Embroidery Pro (PEP) and Embroidery Tool Shed.
Embroidery Tool Shed:
Click on the text tool (if you've purchased fonts, you'll see all the fonts you have loaded).
Hover over the icon, you can see all the characters included in each of the fonts.
Type your word.
Size by grabbing the corners and pulling, or click on the Properties and &Transform and enter the specific size you want. The "Aspect Ratio" box will adjust the second measurement after you enter the first.
Click on "Magnification-Fit" to enlarge the text you are working on. It will fill the screen.
To grab just the cut file to pre-cut applique: save the lettering you have created as embroidery (Eileen chose to save in.dst) and .c2s file.
Open the embroidery file (in Eileen's demonstration, she opens the .dst file).
You see multiple colors. The first one is the cut line.
In the sequence menu on the right, click to expand the first color stop.
From the expanded list, select the run stitch .
On the keyboard, press Ctrl+n (for a new design page), then Ctrl+v (for paste) -- there are also copy and paste options in the picture menu -- the icon that looks like two file folders. This pastes your letter cut line into the new design page.
Repeat this process for your second letter.
Repeat for all the letters in your design.
Save this new design that only has the letter cut lines in it.
Stitch it on your stabilizer. Eileen's tip: don't put thread in when you stitch the cut lines on stabilizer -- you'll just have a perforation line for placing your fabric over.
Then stitch with thread, and cut the fabric out, ready to prepare for applique!
Perfect Embroidery Pro:
After making your lettering file:
In the color sequence box, right click, select "Break up text" to ungroup each letter.
Now you have three appliques, and you will break up the path of each one.
For the first letter: select the cut line, then use Ctrl+C to copy
On the keyboard use Ctrl+N to create a new file
Then in the new file, use Ctrl+V to paste the cut line.
Go back to your embroidery lettering file and select the second letter. Repeat steps 2-6 for this letter.
Repeat for each letter in your design.
Save, send to your embroidery machine.
To send to Digital Cutter
Select the whole design.
Right click, to see options.
Choose "convert to artwork"
Export the artwork as .svg, illustrator, plt, autocad, or fcm.
Next, open that on your digital cutter
Choose fabric
Micro-print fabric samples
You can use metallic thread on applique. Eileen recommends Kingstar.
You can blend the base fabric and the thread, or use a contrast.
You can change prints across the letters; Eileen recommends keeping the sale of the print on the fabric the same
Use a Window Template to Audition Fabric
Print a template of your letter.
Cut out the interior rather than cutting away the exterior.
Move this window over the fabric to see how it will look with your letter.
Larger prints with lower contrast colors may worker better than larger prints with high contrast colors.
Micro-prints have scales that are good for lettering
Through September 10, you receive free micro-print fabrics when you purchase Dime Applique Fonts Collection.
Prepare fabric
Treat fabric with fusible web. Eileen recommends and demonstrates Fuse & Stick. Press it on the wrong side, then Peel off the release paper, and your applique fabric becomes like a sticker.
Pro tip: Eileen cuts Fuse & Stick into strips and fuses that onto the fabric. This makes the release paper easy to remove, while still fusing as one to the fabric on the other side.
Eileen recommends adding Fuse & Stick to applique fabric before placing applique fabric. This keeps the fabric in place, and prevents. snowplowing (bubbling at one end) from happening. You can also use Wonder-Under in the same way, if you have a mini iron.
At the embroidery machine:
Eileen shows us how to place the applique fabric.
Stitch the placement line.
Place your fabric, inside the line.
Stitch the satin border
Repeat steps for each letter, and your applique embroidery is done!
