Hoppy Easter Flag Embroidery Project

I  began the project by making a design template.  A design template is a printout of the actual size of the design.  It's an excellent tool to use as a guide for placement and positioning.                                                                 

The flag in this project measures 12"x18".  The design needed to be slightly larger to be more proportionate to the flag dimensions.  I used an embroidery software program (Embrilliance Essentials) to slightly enlarge the bunny.  The new dimensions of the bunny are 6 1/8 x 7 1/16.  The letters are 2" tall, and the font 'Andy' was used for the caption.  

 

Sew the trim to the flag with a 1/4" seam.  

 

If your machine has decorative stitches, I used a scalloped stitch along the edges.  I stitched the scalloped seam along the long sides of the trim.  I used a straight seam on the sides.  I trimmed the vinyl along the scalloped edge to make a pretty border.

 

A ‘floating’ technique’ will be used for this project.  Only the stabilizer is hooped.  The flag is secured on top of the stabilizer with temporary adhesive spray.

Put the flag on top of the stabilizer, lining the axis lines made on the placemat with the marks on the hoop.

Load the embroidery design.  Attach the hoop.  The rabbit is appliqued in this project.  Applique embroidery decoratively stitches one fabric on top of another.  Applique embroidery designs include a placement stitch, a tack down stitch, and a finishing stitch for each piece of fabric.  These stitches are usually in different colors on the color chart so that the machine will stop after each step.

 

Stitch the placement stitch for the bunny.  Place the white glitter vinyl over the placement stitches making sure that all the area is covered by the vinyl.

Remove the hoop from your machine, but DO NOT REMOVE THE PROJECT FROM THE HOOP.

Using sharp embroidery scissors, trim the applique fabric around the tack down stitching. Trim close to the stitches but not so close as to cut the stitches themselves.   Attach the hoop back to the machine.

Remove the hoop from the machine.  Remove the flag from the hoop.  Gently tear away the Water Soluble stabilizer from the front of the flag.  

 

Trim the cut-away stabilizer from around the design leaving about a 1/2" margin.  Clip any long threads from the back if needed.