Featherweight Embroidery: A Quilter's Dream Stitch Along Part 4 ~ Finishing the Lori Holt Sewing Happy Kit
Welcome back to the Stitch Along of the Featherweight Embroidery: A Quilter's Dream!
In the initial weeks of the Featherweight Embroidery Stitch Along, the instructions for both the Lori Holt Sewing Happy and the Vintage Autumn versions will be following the same tutelage from Kristen. Follow along as we begin the exploration and set-up of the Quilter's Dream pattern.
Please note, this first portion will be showing some photos of the Vintage Autumn kit, but all instructions can be applied to the Lori Holt Sewing Happy version.
Happy sewing!
Supplies Needed:
- Lori Holt Sewing Happy Featherweight Embroidery Kit - If it is sold out, you can sign up for the in-stock notification at product link, and you will be notified as soon as we have more kits available.
- 4-inch or 6-inch Embroidery Hoop
- Glass-Head Pins
- Iron
- Sewline Water Erasable Roller Ball Pen
- Embroidery Scissors
- Hand-sewing needles in various sizes
- Already have the supplies on hand? Printed Pattern only is available here.
- The Beekeeper Thread Minder by Lori Holt
Borders
I settled on a layout and then stitched together the sides of the frame, and the top and bottom.
Keep checking with the pattern sketch to make sure they are oriented correctly. When you are satisfied with the layout, I highly recommend you take a photo so you have something to refer back to if you get confused while you are assembling the pieces.
I stitched the half square triangles for each side first. But when I matched up the triangle border to the embroidered fabric, the border was a half inch too long. I went back and checked my seam allowance, and sure enough, I had sewn some of them too shallow. Once I deepened them to a true ¼ inch, the border fit the picture.
Press the border well on both sides before sewing to the embroidered fabric.
Next came time to figure out the lace decoration. With several colors and size options, you can see that there is a lot to play with, especially if you go all out and use all 3 of the laces or play around with different angles at the corners.
A straight stitch using your Singer Featherweight will work perfectly fine for sewing lace.
After the lace is stitched, trim it to size.
Then you can assemble, press, and sew the the top and bottom borders in the same manner as the side borders.
This is the layout I ended up deciding to go with. I enjoy how precisely the colors match to the embroidery. Again I sewed that border first so I could make sure the lace would be even to the edge.
Making a YoYo
Borders are sewn—now comes the fun part! Embellishment is always so enjoyable. This kit includes several options of lace and buttons, so you can use all or just part of them as you wish. Or of course you can add other tidbits from your own stash. This sort of thing is perfect for using up orphan buttons or odds and ends of vintage lace.
First, though, we need to make a yoyo to finish the center of that tiny Dresden we stitched last week. The kit has a yoyo template, which I traced onto one of the remaining charm squares and cut out.
You don't need to press in the edge. Just make a large running stitch around it, folding in the edge as you go.
It will quickly start shaping into a cup shape, which when you are all the way around, folds into the middle to make the finished yoyo.
I stitched it down around the under edge to the Dresden center. Didn't it turn out so cute?
Next comes the rest of the borders. As before, I had to restitch a few seams to make it fit, so definitely pay attention to your seam allowance when piecing the border!
Now that the main piece is finished, we just get to add the last touches, like whipped cream on a sundae! For this mini Dresden, I wanted to incorporate a few colors that the lace didn't add, so I picked 2 charm squares to make the Dresden out of—and then for an extra flair, gathered the last piece of lace to add another layer.
Next I figured out the layers of the Dresden and decided where to place the buttons.
A little hand sewing to stitch the edge of the Dresden down, and secure the buttons—and we're done!
Well...done except for adding the strips of muslin that finish the edge in preparation for framing. Isn't it fun to see it in color? Both kits have such a different flavor.
Thank you for joining me! I hope you enjoyed this stitch-along and ended up with a lovely piece to display!
Kristen
from Verity Vintage Studio