MATERIALS
- Fat quarter with a batik
motif or printed commercial
cotton with a distinct motif
TIP: Always start with an
oversized piece of fabric. - 7" spring hoop or wooden
machine embroidery hoop - Heavyweight water-soluble
stabilizer, cut larger than
the hoop (I use OESD™
BadgeMaster or Sulky®
Super Solvy™.) - Water-soluble pen (I use a
white Bohin water-erasable
marking pen on the dark
petal fabric.) - Polyester or rayon machine
embroidery thread - Wool batting
- Backing
Optional - Spray starch
- Additional fabric for
borders, piecing
“Imagine” • 16" x 21"DIRECTIONS
- Pick the motif you wish to
highlight. With the motif centered,
load the hoop with the fabric right
side up and the heavyweight water-
soluble stabilizer underneath. A
spring hoop works well and is easy
to move and reposition for larger
pieces.
TIP:Th e heavyweight stabilizer is important
to handle the multiple layers of thread this
technique uses. A double layer of lightweight
stabilizer can be used if heavyweight is not
available.
- Mark stitch lines lightly on the
motif with a water-soluble pen.
The stitch direction is similar
to the strokes of a brush on a
painting.
“I“Imamagiginene” •• 1616" xx 2121"Machine Set-Up Tips
- Set up the machine for free-motion, straight-stitch quilting; for most of us that
means dropping the feed dogs and installing a free-motion presser foot. I use
an open-toe darning foot and set my stitch to a 0 width and 0 length. - Before starting, replace the machine needle with a fresh one. I use a 70/10 or
80/12 Microtex needle for this technique. - Loosen the upper tension slightly until the bobbin thread does not show on
top. - If you have a straight stitch needle plate, use it. Th e small hole in the plate leads
to stable stitches and prevents the fabric from being pushed down into the
bobbin area.