When you start doing machine embroidery, you find that there is an infinite supply of alternate stitches and materials to try. I have written about Mylar projects in the past,( You can see another blog post here. ) and I wanted to revisit it because I have really been having fun this week in my studio. My first design Pot of Gold is a nod to St. Patrick's day which is right around the corner.
In this design I wanted to see if I could incorporate regular stitching details as well as the fill for Mylar. I thought it would add more dimension and I was pleased with the results. The handles for the Pot sew first with a satin stitch and an outline for the pot itself. This tells you where the Mylar will be placed
Then a piece of Mylar is placed over the entire hoop surface. I used a small amount of adhesive spray to hold it down but you could also use masking tape. If you are not familiar with Mylar, look for it in the gift wrap section of your store. It comes in several different colors and will usually reflect the thread color used. So you can keep one color in your studio and depending on the project thread, you will still have versatility.
All of the Mylar details stich out and then the hoop is removed from the machine. At this time the Mylar should be easy to tear away because the needle perforates along the edges. I find that the best way to tear it is toward the design. This puts pressure on those edges. Any small pieces can be removed with tweezers.
Then you replace the hoop back in your machine so the last details can sew. The gold in this case is a really cute motif stitch that resembles coins.
That sparkle on the entire design is so satisfying and this picture doesn't do it justice. In person under the light or even in sunlight it is beautiful. I am always trying new materials and as of yet, metallic thread hasn't won me over. I am determined to find a brand that I like but each time I do some experimentation, I inevitably have to disassemble my machine because the thread flakes off in my check springs. This causes the sensor to stop my machine from sewing so I have not had great luck in the past with any brand of metallic thread. I will keep trying and when I find one, I will surely pass it on. If you have had similar problems with metallic thread, you may want to try Mylar because you will get that sparkle you love without metallic thread issues.
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This Pot O Gold embroidery design would be perfect for St. Patrick's day stitched on a towel, pillow or added to a T Shirt
My next new design is really sparkly. You wouldn't think a design so simple could look dressy but this one definitely does.
I think it is the thread color combination that makes this look like tiny diamonds all over. I am in love with this Mylar Elephant.
Again, this design will show you exactly where to place the Mylar first.
Once the fill has completed you will remove the hoop from your machine. You can see I just used plain silver Mylar for this design. See how the thread color determines the finished result on this one versus the previous Pot O Gold Design.
Then the Mylar is torn away and instant sparkle. Replace the hoop in your machine.
Then all of the final details stitch out. Don't you love that check fabric?
Just a couple of cute project ideas for this design.
I did put the Mylar Elephant design on baby bib to see how it would look and I think it would be absolutely precious but let's talk about care of your garments with Mylar designs. A baby bib does get washed frequently and you can launder your Mylar projects with care. I would advise using a delicate cycle on your machine or hand washing. Maybe even use a laundry sack for undergarments. Then hang to dry or machine fluff/dry on low. If you need to press out a few wrinkles I would always use a press cloth on the reverse side of the Mylar so it doesn't come into direct contact. Remember, it is a synthetic material so it will need to be treated like you would any other delicate textile.
So are you inspired to try Mylar with your embroidery? I think you will really have fun watching the sparkle come to life. I hope you have enjoyed this post, share what you learn and are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work.
