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Graffiti Mat Embroidery Project

By Ramona Baird on May 04, 2016

PROJECT DETAILS

SKILL LEVEL

Some Experience

TIME REQUIRED

05:30

Description

Whether a birthday that lands on Cinco de Mayo or any other date to celebrate, create a “Graffiti Mat” for guests to write on. The mat is then kept as a memento of a fun occasion.

Project Preview Video

Materials

White cotton fabric 14” x 21”

2.5 oz cutaway stabilizer 14” x 21”

Backing fabric 14” x 21” plus enough to make binding

Embroidery thread as stated in design

Fine tip fabric markers to write on fabric

Designs used in this project

https://www.embroiderydesigns.com/productdetails/Windmill-Designs/1/JLA005718C

Final Product: What You Will Create

Preface:

This “Graffiti Mat” is meant for guest to write on during party time. The design is embroidered and then the backing put on and the mat is bound. Serve snacks and while guest are sitting around talking, have them sign the mat, draw on the mat, or place wishes. The "Graffiti Mat" can be kept as a memento of a fun evening.

Step 1:

Gather the materials and read through the instructions before beginning. Coordinate the backing fabric to the backing fabric and design.

Step 2:

Press the white cotton fabric well using spray starch or sizing to make the fabric crisp.

Step 3:

Quarter fold the white fabric to find the center. Cut the stabilizer the same size as the white fabric.

Step 4:

Pin the stabilizer and fabric together and then baste the two layers together.

Step 5:

Hoop the fabric and stabilizer. Load the “Happy Cinco de Mayo” in the machine. Center the needle over the center of the fabric.

Step 6:

Stitch the design following the color sequence.

Step 7:

Cut the backing fabric and matching wrong sides together, pin the backing to the embroidered fabric. Square up the fabrics if needed.

Step 8:

Baste the backing fabric to the embroidered fabric. Cut binding pieces 2 ½” wide.

Step 9:

To join binding pieces, place right sides together as shown and sew from the upper left to the lower right. Trim the seam to ¼” and press open. Repeat for the remaining binding pieces.

Step 10:

Press the binding wrong sides together, lengthwise, and baste the cut edges together.

Step 11:

Beginning about 6” from the end of the binding, pin the binding to the back side of the mat, matching cut edges.

Step 12:

Sew the binding on using a ¼” seam stopping at the corner and forming a miter. Repeat for all the corners and join the ends of the binding together using your favorite method.

Step 13:

Fold the binding to the right side of the mat and pin in place.

Step 14:

Stitch the binding in place using thread to coordinate with the fabric color - or use an embroidery thread color used in the stitched design. Press the mat well.

Step 15:

Serve chips and salsa for Cinco de Mayo, set out the permanent marking pens and let your guests have fun.

Step 16:

They can sign their names, write sentiments, or even draw graffiti style. Use different embroidery designs for different occasions to make several mats to capture precious memories.

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Meet the Author: Ramona Baird

Ramona Baird has been in the embroidery industry for over 23 years. She and her husband owned a commercial and retail embroidery store in Arizona for many years. She is an experienced digitizer having been mentored by award-winners Pat Williams and Lindee Goodall. Ramona is a contributor to “Creative Machine Embroidery” magazine having 5 covers to her credit. Ramona has worked for Wilcom America and served many years as Education Director for the American Sewing Guild. With a degree in fashion design, she is able to design and execute patterns which Pat Williams says are “out of the box” in creativity and application. Ramona likes to challenge the boundaries of embroidery and bring new and exciting designs, ideas, and projects to EmbroideryDesigns.com. She wants embroiderers of all levels to increase their skills and enjoyment in using their embroidery machine for gift-making and personal pleasure.