Your ideas please - my big sister is coming to stay for a couple of days. She has never seen an embroidery machine, although she has seen many of the things I have made. In her youth she was an extremely proficient hand embroiderer. She wants to see my machine in action, so what shall I do to really wow her? I need ideas which will be quite quick to do as she won't be here for very long!

Thank you all for your input. Pat has just gone home having been wowed! We made an ITH purse with her name in cross stitch, an FSL bookmark (Christief's design of a battenburg heart) and put her husband's name on a towel for her to take to him in hospital. It was amusing when I sent her to hold the bookmark under the tap as she had no idea what was going to happen! She also watched me test a couple of design ideas.

2 comments

by dragonflyer 30 Sep 2013

Sweet!

by muflotex 30 Sep 2013

8-)

Hi Sue, I would do a small piec of fsl, only because you can talk and chit chat while the machine does it in a short time and then a quick rinse and wahlah! Hope you have a great time!

I hope you have fun with your sister. My only sister (12yrs younger) is coming for a visit tomorrow also and we are going to spend Friday sewing. I know how excited you must be, just like me. Have a wonderful time with her.

I was going to make a suggestion, but I see we have already overloaded you with ideas. Maybe your sister can stay longer and you can do them all! Have a great visit.

well, I will have to say, I did your ITH design for the small pouches, and everyone I show that to wants to go out and buy a machine! thanks so much for that freebie...I have used it many many times!

It is so much fun to do things with your sister-I have 3, not one of them has a clue about the emb. machine!!-I 'd vote for doing at least one of YOUR in the hoop bags. She'll remember the day everytime she uses it and will probably brag to her friends that her sister designed it but ,"I made it"!!

What about an ornament for her Christmas tree, with the date on it. That way she could remember her visit.
Perhaps something to hang in her kitchen window to catch the sunshine year round.
If she lives in a place that has more winter weather, maybe a scarf to wear when she has to go out.
If you are able to set up several projects so that all you have to do is hoop it, load the hoop onto your machine and embroider. That will help in the time crunch. But be sure to take one project from beginning. Have a wonderful visit.

I like giving someone a personalized cover or lap robe. It is easy to stitch on and you can use larger designs plus they will think of you each time they need to be warm and snuggly....

anything you make will wow her for certain, but something personalized with her name on it will put the icing on the cake.

Hi Sue, I agree with most of the ladies below. A lovely zipped bag with a favourite flower or something your sister loves. I love watching the cross-stitch being done too and I'm sure if your sister is a hand-worker she will be amazed at how it does it on the embroidery machine. Have a wonderful time together. Love Chris

2 comments

by hightechgrammy 23 Sep 2013

I'm wondering..... which is dangerous... do the "purist" hand embroiderers feel the same way about machine cross stitch as we do? Maybe it is too perfect, and lacks character? Just throwing that idea out, we wouldn't want our Sue to offend her sister - LOL

by spendlove 24 Sep 2013

Thats OK - she never did cross stitch! Her satin stitch was completely reversible though.

Looks like lots of ideas...I think definitely one of your ITH purses...and why not add a cross stitch design on it...It is fascinating to see cross stitch stitch out...especially of you have done the hand work in the past...FSL is always impressive, too!

FSL jewelry
and some mongramed pillowcases
that way she can show off her jewelry and dream about her trip at night whilst resting her head on the pillowcases

1 comment

by beatie58 23 Sep 2013

great idea!

HOW ABOUT MAKING A HAND BAG WITH INTRICATE DESIGNS ON IT...THAT WAY SHE WILL HAVE SOMETHING TO TAKE WITH HER....you can com bine the sewing and embroidery in one...

I am in the same idea as Hightechgrammy. do a ITH bag put her favorite thing on the front . and she will be hooked.
Have a fantastic time with your family .. Hugs pam.

Oh Sue, do make her one of your ITH little bags, of course! And something FSL of one of her favorite things you both love! There is nothing quite like watching FSL stitch out right before your eyes! Have fun with your sister most of all! Give her lots of hugs and smooches on the cheek :-)

1 comment

by muflotex 24 Sep 2013

8-) my first thought too, girls have fun and giggles

Perhaps a monogram on something delicate she could keep as a reminder of her visit....

Some of the Black-work or Blue-work might wow her. They are quick and make beautiful, perfect pictures.
I would definitely do at least one of your cross-stitch designs. Anything that she used to do by hand would help wow her.
Good luck!

Trying to get as many techniques as possible into one (or a few) quick projects will take a bit of planning. FSL and ITH projects are quite impressive, for those who have not seen them come to life before.

Perhaps you could make a FSL charm or tag, and while that is drying, show her how you go about digitizing something. While she is admiring that, turn that design into one of your little ITH pouches for her to to take home (and to store her new Charm or tag!).

Good luck deciding on a project, and have a great time visiting with her. Can't wait to see what you come up with - I'm sure she will be tremendously impressed!!

2 comments

by spendlove 23 Sep 2013

You seem to have my day mapped out! Actually, my own thinking was along those lines as well. Probably a FSL bookmark at some stage and definitely something ITH.

by laffma1 23 Sep 2013

A bookmark would be lovely as well. Whatever you make, she is sure to enjoy the experience and the time spent with you!

Try one of your cross stitch designs.

And a nice flower design with satin and fill stitches would be nice too. Then show her how long digitising one leaf can take and she might be impressed. I have one of my designs as a screensaver and am still amazed every time I see it (childish, isn't it). Fancy doing that by hand, would take quite a bit longer.

ITH designs are fast but although I love doing two pocket flaps exactly the same on an embroidery machine, it would impress a sewer more than a hand embroiderer.

1 images:[1]

4 comments

by laffma1 23 Sep 2013

Great idea to use the stitch program as a screen saver!!! How do you do that?

by spendlove 23 Sep 2013

Thanks - What a great idea for a screen saver!

by mops edited 23 Sep 2013

Laffma, it is easy when you have Embird. In Manager select the design in the list on the right, click Alt + F, save it and put it up as you would any screensaver.

by laffma1 23 Sep 2013

Thanks Martine - I'll have to try this.

I would do FSL, she could see how you stitch the stitches and then wash out the stabilizer. It amazes me everytime I do it. Be careful, she's going to love it.

I think what impressed me most about the machine was the FSL (which takes too long) and ITH applique and projects (which can be rather fast). I was telling myself "this is so clever!" when I watched on TV how they get perfect applique and zipper insertion with an embroidery machine.

As for complicated designs such as floral designs, you can just show her your finished products and how it works. That is pretty amazing but kind of embroidery machines are supposed to do.