I am looking for a challenge this summer. What has been your most challenging embroidery project? Is it a type of embroidery, the material you are using or something else?

My challenge is to make a triangle banner string to fit approx 2 8' tables with blues, blacks, whites and grays. oh did i tell you there about 4 variations of each color...DO NOT PUT THEM CLOSE.. its REVERSIBLE....ugh thought i was doing good till i laid it out again. Now have to match it in with a second banner of blues and whites with letters embroidered into them single in between the wording. sew them into binding and hope to goodness it matches perfectly. BY NEXT SATURDAY IF POSSIBLE. anyone live by me...lol just hoping someone did.

I do hope other Cuties will provide some ideas for a good machine embroidery challenge for me to work on this summer.
I also hope there will be some to help the ones that have added challenges of their own.
Flowers for all

Challenging for me is to deal with a thread nest. I rarely have them with my machine, but it always seems to happen when I am stitching on a customer personal item. There is no starting over and it has to be a save and I am screaming all the way. As many of you know if you don't catch it in time a broken needle or hole results. I even had the fabric get stuck in the throat plate and had to cut it out. Kay

1 comment

by rescuer 17 May 2015

I always struggle with perfection for customers. My machine senses my quest and off it goes to the shop. LOL

05 16 2015 It really was not embroidery, but it was sewing, and it was teaching my group of cub scouts how to hand sew.

1 comment

by rescuer 17 May 2015

You are braver than I am...

My challenge is to cut 2 1/2 inch fabric strips (jelly roll). Mind you, I am not a sewer or quilter, I just use the embroidery machine and simple straight stitch. Jelly rolls pre-cut are not cheap, I have lots of fabric, so I thought I'd cut my own strips. It is a CHALLENGE. I have all the supplies - rotary cutter, mat, lge plastic ruler with a lip, etc.; but I've yet to really cut straight. Any suggestions are appreciated.

3 comments

by rescuer 17 May 2015

Good luck with that... I press the fabric and fold it over, pressing again until I can cut several layers at once. It may not work for everyone though.
I think I will focus on my machine embroidery challenge.

by airyfairy 17 May 2015

I also much prefer to cut. The rotary cutters frighten me to death

by mops 24 May 2015

The challenge for me is to get the first one right, which I seldom do if I eyeball it. So I tear the first strip to get it right, then starch and iron it straight, then cut.

currently, I am trying to embroider on little T-shirts. Not sure how to get the design on it without unpicking the side. Normally I make my own shirts, but this is for another person. Help would be appreciated!

3 comments

by rescuer 17 May 2015

T-shirts can be a challenge especially when they are tiny. Have you tried using a very small hoop and sticky back to hold it in place?

by vickiannette 17 May 2015

thank you for that hint. I have tried, and I think succeeded with my first one. Used the sticky glue idea, but the shirt wasn't ultra small.... to fit a 4 year old.

by gerryb 17 May 2015

I have found you can hoop a shirt that's size 3 and up by turning it sideways so the part that goes onto the machine is coming out the neck hole. It really does work much better...but don't forget to rotate your design so it's going the right way! After it's hooped it's easy to pull the rest of the shirt up around the hoop.

Not done, but on my own challenge to do list has the tile design wall hangings. I bought a few when they were on sale (Stained Glass-Tiffany's Guiding Angel, and a Hummingbird) - as it's "for me", they keep ending up at the bottom of the list (there are always gifts to be done for some reason or other). Now at the point of thinking I'll hold off on it until I get a new machine as I've been considering one. Egads - getting link and I see she's having a really good sale (53% off for a few more days) and I was just thinking I want one for the dining room...

3 comments

by rescuer 17 May 2015

Good luck with your decision.

by maggiecal 21 May 2015

Weird, I'd posted a second post with my most challenging project to date - no illegal links - but the post is gone. Oh well, don't have time to redo it. Created an entire table of items for sale for a charity - took months - raised over $600 which for us, was great. Mostly Embroidery Library and Urban Threads designs, Lace Sonia Showalter, Stitch Delight and more. https://ceodraiocht.wordpress.com...

by rescuer 24 May 2015

It may have violated the Terms and Conditions of this website in some other way or the site may have been updating. Did the links contain any items for sale?

If you remember the scripture quilt(look in projects) next to teaching myself Windows 8, that was the most difficult project I have produced. These days it seems just getting anything accomplished is a miracle to me. Much love Lillian

1 comment

by rescuer 15 May 2015

It sounds like quilts are among the most challenging.
You do amazing things my dear friend!

Any other ideas? Keep in mind I don't have a multi needle machine yet. I do love a challenge though.
Thanks to those that have offered ideas already.

1 comment

by spendlove 14 May 2015

My mind is a blank. I am in awe of those who have already responded!

This was my most challenging project. It can be found at San Francisco Stitch Co. I embroidered the blocks and border. Pieced it all together then quilted it all with my embroidery machine. It is a crib size quilt when finished.

1 images:[1]

1 comment

by rescuer 13 May 2015

Beautiful! This may be on my list this summer
Thank you!

My most challenging to date was my little Halloween bags made last October. You probably remember I could not finish the project as my machine decided to give up.

1 comment

by rescuer edited 13 May 2015

I do remember that. I so wanted to send you a new machine...

I have a challenge for you. I will send you my darling hubby, who is sweet and loving BUT was the baby and only boy with 4 older sisters and you can re-train him. He can teach your boys guitar in exchange, because hey, that's all he wants to do anyway. :

3 comments

by crafter2243 13 May 2015

Ha, ha. Send him my way. I have lots of experience. Husband was the youngest of 8 and I am the oldest in my family.

by rescuer 13 May 2015

I will take him ONLY if you come too. We have to train him the way you want him. Lol

by rsehorse 13 May 2015

Sounds like your husband and mine should get together. He plays guitar off and on all day too. Then plays with his band on Sat. and Sun. nights.

I'd have to say that making a waterproof cover for an airplane was quite a challenge. I had to take many trips to the hanger, to make the pattern & work with loads of heavy fabric. I also made seat covers & cases for portable oxygen tanks to match the upholstery. I embroidered the plane's call letters on everything.... had to get SOME fun out of this project!

3 comments

by rescuer 13 May 2015

Wow! That is a huge project! I don't think I will be doing a project quite like that this summer... I already had a project that was many many many pieces and that was enough last summer

by airyfairy 13 May 2015

I would love to see a picture of this incredible project

by vickiannette 16 May 2015

wow!

I would have to say a project that is still waiting for me to begin. I have a hand embroidered quilt I am finishing. I am supposed to be making and embroidering the backing (42-15x15 inch squares), the dust ruffle and curtains. Motivation and being overwhelmed are my problems. That is 3 big projects all tied into one.

3 comments

by rescuer 13 May 2015

I think that's my biggest challenge of all finish something I started, didn't like or it was too involved and don't want to finish... I will be definitely working on one of those the summer. Thank you

by airyfairy 13 May 2015

I also have all the material to make a quilt, but it is just too daunting. I think I must find a good home for all the material, batting and lining. I have even gone off the material so there is no hope in ever starting it.

by dragonflyer 17 May 2015

Now come on, Sarah...you can to this quilt...take it one step at a time...If I can do quilts, anyone can....don't throw in the towel yet!

For me the most challenging were my daughter's wedding dresses.
The first one I made in '95. I had a Brother Galaxy with a limited number of embroidery cards, but I found one design I liked and embroidered it 41 times along the rounded edge of the removable trail that was attached at the waist. Unfortunately the embroidery is not visible at the picture.
The second one I made in 2000. I then had a Viking Designer1 and could embroider 150x240 mm designs. So I bought their card 102 and got stitching. I embroidered the cut-out parts before stitching the dress. I had made a muslin to get a proper fit and sketched in where I wanted the embroideries placed. She had gained a lot of weight due to over a year of a high dose of prednisone (and was very conscious of it) so the lines of the dress and the embroideries had to be as flattering as possible.
In both cases the price of the material (a heavy silk for the first and a satin for the second) as well as the occasion added to the stress, but the results were well worth the effort. The dresses took 100 - 120 hrs each including the petticoats, purses and in one case the hat.

8 comments

by jrob 13 May 2015

I'm gob smacked as our British sisters would say! You are so very talented.

by rescuer 13 May 2015

I am always amazed and astounded by your creativity and your talent Martine! I won't be making a wedding dress but I might consider embroidering difficult fabric in several places to create something very pretty. Thanks for the idea.

by sewmom 13 May 2015

Both are beautiful!

by airyfairy 13 May 2015

Absolutely amazing

by blueeyedblonde 13 May 2015

beautiful! I clicked on the tools option and increased to 200% and then clicked on the dress and was able to have a better look.

by dragonflyer 13 May 2015

They are both stunning, Martine...

by maggiecal 13 May 2015

Fantastic work!

by vickiannette 16 May 2015

beautiful

The first thing that comes to mind for me is fabric. I can not embroider on Symphony broadcloth (cotton/poly blend from Joanne's). It always puckers. I think it's because it's such a tight weave and then the polyester doesn't allow the fabric to give at all. With 100% cotton you can steam out minor problems but not with this fabric!
The thing is that I like to use the fabric for costumes and other things because it washes and wears so well.

2 comments

by rescuer 12 May 2015

I have had the same issue with a Broadcloth from Hancocks.
Thanks for your reply. It is good to know I am not alone...

by jrob 13 May 2015

It won't solve the problem entirely, but it helps 50% to wash it, dry it only to damp, then iron it saturated with starch. When you can hold it like a sheet of paper and it barely bends, you're there.