Sister's Choice Quilts

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A New Interest

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Can you guess what it is?  Embroidery!

Last week I visited a quilting event where there were numerous vendors.  One of the booths where I found myself lingering was called Bird Brain Designs.  (Love that name).  Bird Brain is about all things embroidery and stitching related.  Robin Kingsley is the bird brain (couldn't resist) behind this company, and she has come up with what I think are some of the best embroidery designs out there. Most stitchery patterns are way too juvenile or "cutesy" for me, but Bird Brain Designs are more whimsical.   Robin also has a blog, which is really fun to check out.  The online store is definitely worth investigating, as there are free patterns provided.  One of the most recent ones, "Beware, the Witch is Coming" is adorable.

0001058_300 Who wouldn't want this on a tea towel????  Check it out, it's FREE!

So, as often happens, I got a bit carried away.  I started to chat with one of the ladies at the booth, who helpfully led me around and showed me all the cute pattern designs the company offers, plus what all I would need to get started with my own embroidery projects.  Before I knew it…

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I had a stack of tea towels to embroider, some seriously cute patterns, Perle cotton in a gazillion colors and all of this stuff:

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I think the thing that is absolutely irresistible to me is the thread.  All those colors.  Oh my.  So pretty.

So, now I have myself some new projects to work on.  My first step is to get the cute stitching designs transferred onto the tea towels.  I bought a pack of something called Transfer-Eze, which you put through your printer and copy the embroidery design onto.  I forget exactly how it gets put on the tea towel–maybe I iron it on?  Of course I could always go buy a $50 light box and trace the designs myself.  Or, there always is the tape-your-pattern-to-the-window-and-trace method.

My question today is directed to all you embroidery ladies.  How do you transfer your designs onto the surface to be embroidered?  Do you have a favorite pattern company?   Do I need a class to get started, or can anyone with basic (but rusty) embroidery skills just plunge right in?

68 responses to “A New Interest”

  1. I enjoy embroidery and get into it every once in awhile. I’ve always used one of my windows to trace the design. It can get a little much when the design is large or complicated but for the amount I do I wouldn’t invest in a light table. Have fun Nicolle, hopefully I won’t catch the bug again right now!

  2. I enjoy embroidery and get into it every once in awhile. I’ve always used one of my windows to trace the design. It can get a little much when the design is large or complicated but for the amount I do I wouldn’t invest in a light table. Have fun Nicolle, hopefully I won’t catch the bug again right now!

  3. I am confident your rusty embroidery skills will do just fine! I am cheap, so I use the window to transfer. Your patterns look very cute. Again, my cheapness comes into play–I purchase patterns very rarely. I find great free ones online, in coloring books, etc. Can’t wait to see some finished products.

  4. I am confident your rusty embroidery skills will do just fine! I am cheap, so I use the window to transfer. Your patterns look very cute. Again, my cheapness comes into play–I purchase patterns very rarely. I find great free ones online, in coloring books, etc. Can’t wait to see some finished products.

  5. You’ll do fine with basic skills, just jump right in. I have a small light box that I picked up at a craft store for just a few bucks that helps with design transfer. Using the Micron pigma pen in the color of your thread is also a good idea. I notice “Bird Brain Design” has them in her store. Happy Stitching!

  6. You’ll do fine with basic skills, just jump right in. I have a small light box that I picked up at a craft store for just a few bucks that helps with design transfer. Using the Micron pigma pen in the color of your thread is also a good idea. I notice “Bird Brain Design” has them in her store. Happy Stitching!

  7. I enjoy embroidery too, there are so many pretty colors of perle cotton and wonderful patterns out there. I found these gals when they were at the Road to California show a few years ago, when I got an interest in embroidery too. When it comes to getting my pattern on the fabric, I use this method:
    http://cottonsnwoolens.blogspot.com/2009/04/tutorial-embroidery-using-sandcastle-or.html I have a light box but I still find it hard to trace the patterns onto thicker fabric. This works great for me. I usually buy mine by the roll off of Overstock.

  8. I enjoy embroidery too, there are so many pretty colors of perle cotton and wonderful patterns out there. I found these gals when they were at the Road to California show a few years ago, when I got an interest in embroidery too. When it comes to getting my pattern on the fabric, I use this method:
    http://cottonsnwoolens.blogspot.com/2009/04/tutorial-embroidery-using-sandcastle-or.html I have a light box but I still find it hard to trace the patterns onto thicker fabric. This works great for me. I usually buy mine by the roll off of Overstock.

  9. Oh, I love Bird Brain Designs! I’m a fairly new convert to embroidery and I’ve been having so much fun with the tea towels, too. I love these small projects especially with the holidays right around the corner.
    I’ve used two methods of transfer thus far; one is the window and the other is a little (about 6×9 inch), acyrlic light box that I use to use for stencils. It cost about $10 and I think I got it at Michael’s or Joann’s. Both methods work great! I also use a tiny micro pen that I couldn’t live without now.
    I learned mostly on my own but I have some great teachers in my local quilt shop, Thimblecreek, in Concord, CA. They have an amazing area within the store dedicated to embroidery. Through the staff there, I’ve learned some basic stitches, etc. They also have weekly drop-in classes and even an upcoming class (this Saturday, 9/25) on embroidered tea towels. You can certainly just plunge in on your own, too, but I think a class can always give you a few tips and tricks that you may not discover for awhile.
    Oh, and Cosmo thread – love it! Really beautiful to work with and the colors – oh my!
    There are so many resources online as well as really cool embroidery books now. Just wait until you see some of the Japanese Embroidery books – you will swoon!
    Have fun Nicole!

  10. Oh, I love Bird Brain Designs! I’m a fairly new convert to embroidery and I’ve been having so much fun with the tea towels, too. I love these small projects especially with the holidays right around the corner.
    I’ve used two methods of transfer thus far; one is the window and the other is a little (about 6×9 inch), acyrlic light box that I use to use for stencils. It cost about $10 and I think I got it at Michael’s or Joann’s. Both methods work great! I also use a tiny micro pen that I couldn’t live without now.
    I learned mostly on my own but I have some great teachers in my local quilt shop, Thimblecreek, in Concord, CA. They have an amazing area within the store dedicated to embroidery. Through the staff there, I’ve learned some basic stitches, etc. They also have weekly drop-in classes and even an upcoming class (this Saturday, 9/25) on embroidered tea towels. You can certainly just plunge in on your own, too, but I think a class can always give you a few tips and tricks that you may not discover for awhile.
    Oh, and Cosmo thread – love it! Really beautiful to work with and the colors – oh my!
    There are so many resources online as well as really cool embroidery books now. Just wait until you see some of the Japanese Embroidery books – you will swoon!
    Have fun Nicole!

  11. My local quilt shop handles the transfer-eze and the women LOVE it. But,I’m pretty sure you don’t iron it on. A beautiful and new varigated thread is Valdani brand too. You only need one strand of it. I’ve just started so don’t have any advice.

  12. My local quilt shop handles the transfer-eze and the women LOVE it. But,I’m pretty sure you don’t iron it on. A beautiful and new varigated thread is Valdani brand too. You only need one strand of it. I’ve just started so don’t have any advice.

  13. Transfer-eze is wonderful! I purchased some a few weeks ago, and I love it!!! It is soo easy – all you need is a copy machine – you just run your paper copy through and print it out on the tranfer eze paper then peel it off and iron on to your fabric – no tracing involved – so quick and easy. I’m not affiliated with the company but I am a happy customer.
    I love doing embroidery, it’s so portable. I don’t usually do towels, I just put them on muslin and frame them for a quick seasonal change in every room.
    Have fun.

  14. Transfer-eze is wonderful! I purchased some a few weeks ago, and I love it!!! It is soo easy – all you need is a copy machine – you just run your paper copy through and print it out on the tranfer eze paper then peel it off and iron on to your fabric – no tracing involved – so quick and easy. I’m not affiliated with the company but I am a happy customer.
    I love doing embroidery, it’s so portable. I don’t usually do towels, I just put them on muslin and frame them for a quick seasonal change in every room.
    Have fun.

  17. I have a good friend who puts a small lamp in her laundry basket and a sheet of plexiglass over the top. It works great for all sizes of transfers. The open holes in the laundry basket keep the lamp from getting too hot…

  18. I have a good friend who puts a small lamp in her laundry basket and a sheet of plexiglass over the top. It works great for all sizes of transfers. The open holes in the laundry basket keep the lamp from getting too hot…

  23. I love embroidery. You should check out the following designers, they’re amazing:
    Gail Pan
    Anni Downs of Hatched and Patched
    CrabApple Hill
    Cinderberry Stitches
    Rosalie Quinlan
    Bronwyn Hayes – Red Brolly
    If I think of more I’ll be back. . .

  24. I love embroidery. You should check out the following designers, they’re amazing:
    Gail Pan
    Anni Downs of Hatched and Patched
    CrabApple Hill
    Cinderberry Stitches
    Rosalie Quinlan
    Bronwyn Hayes – Red Brolly
    If I think of more I’ll be back. . .

  25. Love the patterns and I still do embroidery that I learned as a child. I doubt you need classes but a teacher usually makes things easier to see.
    I used embroidery stitches when doing red work on two pillow shams for my mother many years ago. I really enjoyed doing it.
    We have a small light box, too, but I’ve also used a glass door we have!
    Two companies I love are:
    Lace Tales – http://www.lacetales.com
    Crabapple Hill – http://www.CrabappleHillStudio.com
    Enjoy the fun!
    Hugs!

  26. Love the patterns and I still do embroidery that I learned as a child. I doubt you need classes but a teacher usually makes things easier to see.
    I used embroidery stitches when doing red work on two pillow shams for my mother many years ago. I really enjoyed doing it.
    We have a small light box, too, but I’ve also used a glass door we have!
    Two companies I love are:
    Lace Tales – http://www.lacetales.com
    Crabapple Hill – http://www.CrabappleHillStudio.com
    Enjoy the fun!
    Hugs!

  27. p.s. I use regular DMC thread, Weeks Dye Works or any of the crosstitching threads out there. I find that the perle cotton is too thick and knots too easily.

  28. p.s. I use regular DMC thread, Weeks Dye Works or any of the crosstitching threads out there. I find that the perle cotton is too thick and knots too easily.

  29. NO……….don’t iron the Transfer -Eze, bad idea, believe me. It just sticks down and is wonderful to use. I also use a light box, and pigma pens to transfer designs.The smallest nib on a pigma pen, you’re going to stitch over it. Have fun, embroidery is very relaxing.

  30. NO……….don’t iron the Transfer -Eze, bad idea, believe me. It just sticks down and is wonderful to use. I also use a light box, and pigma pens to transfer designs.The smallest nib on a pigma pen, you’re going to stitch over it. Have fun, embroidery is very relaxing.

  33. I use a light table because my daughter has one and it’s cheaper than buying the Transfer-Eze! I use a “disappearing ink” fabric pen or pencil or matching jelly roller pen to transfer the design. I love, love embroidery! It’s so soothing after a hard day to sit in front of a movie or even a window and day dream while stitching… in fact you have motivated me for today to get some designs transferred so I can stitch tonight! Love!

  34. I use a light table because my daughter has one and it’s cheaper than buying the Transfer-Eze! I use a “disappearing ink” fabric pen or pencil or matching jelly roller pen to transfer the design. I love, love embroidery! It’s so soothing after a hard day to sit in front of a movie or even a window and day dream while stitching… in fact you have motivated me for today to get some designs transferred so I can stitch tonight! Love!

  37. I LOVE embroidery! I’m just about to trace off the embroidery panels for the “To Grandmother’s
    House We Go” Quilt top, to work on in the evenings this fall. I just put the pattern on my sun room wall and trace away with a micron pigma pen!

  38. I LOVE embroidery! I’m just about to trace off the embroidery panels for the “To Grandmother’s
    House We Go” Quilt top, to work on in the evenings this fall. I just put the pattern on my sun room wall and trace away with a micron pigma pen!

  39. I found Bird Brain Designs at the International Quilt Festival and bought a darling redwork pattern and perle cotton, but have yet to do anything with it. There is no local store that carries perle cotton in more than basic colors but I have lots of regular embroidery thread since I’m a cross stitcher from way back. My mom has a light box she bought for about $20 at Michael’s or JoAnn’s so I’ll borrow that. Karen over at Sew Many Ways showed how to make a homemade lightbox a couple of months ago. http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/search/label/light%20box
    Have fun!

  40. I found Bird Brain Designs at the International Quilt Festival and bought a darling redwork pattern and perle cotton, but have yet to do anything with it. There is no local store that carries perle cotton in more than basic colors but I have lots of regular embroidery thread since I’m a cross stitcher from way back. My mom has a light box she bought for about $20 at Michael’s or JoAnn’s so I’ll borrow that. Karen over at Sew Many Ways showed how to make a homemade lightbox a couple of months ago. http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/search/label/light%20box
    Have fun!

  41. I’ve been in the mood for embroidery for awhile now. My attempt, Hocusupocusville, was too ambitious for a beginner, so I gave up. Maybe I need to start over, smaller. I would jump at the opportunity of a class, I need to look around and see if one is available in my neck of the woods. Good Luck!!

  42. I’ve been in the mood for embroidery for awhile now. My attempt, Hocusupocusville, was too ambitious for a beginner, so I gave up. Maybe I need to start over, smaller. I would jump at the opportunity of a class, I need to look around and see if one is available in my neck of the woods. Good Luck!!

  45. I have one really small project to embroider and I’ve been putting it off! I have so much quilting to do. When I go to the shows, and PIQS is coming up, I have to look away from the booths that have embroidery or punch needle or other crafts. I chant, “I don’t need another hobby! I don’t need another hobby!” Seriously, though, something small and portable would be nice to have to work on……

  46. I have one really small project to embroider and I’ve been putting it off! I have so much quilting to do. When I go to the shows, and PIQS is coming up, I have to look away from the booths that have embroidery or punch needle or other crafts. I chant, “I don’t need another hobby! I don’t need another hobby!” Seriously, though, something small and portable would be nice to have to work on……

  47. I started doing embroidery when I was about 10. My grandmother taught me, and I have wonderful memories of us doing it together. I’ve done dresser scarves, pillowcases, tablecloths – but haven’t done it in years. It is great for a portable project, and the designs out there now are so fun. Good luck!

  48. I started doing embroidery when I was about 10. My grandmother taught me, and I have wonderful memories of us doing it together. I’ve done dresser scarves, pillowcases, tablecloths – but haven’t done it in years. It is great for a portable project, and the designs out there now are so fun. Good luck!

  49. Hi there. I am a window girl. It’s a pain sometimes but that’s what I do. Especially if you get inspired to do something at night like I often do and there is no sun. We now have a spotlight pointed at a window instead of the yard like it’s meant to be 🙂 I love stitchery and have made a few. I always use a pencil to trace the design too. I have just started Hocuspocusville so that will keep me entertained for awhile. Good luck Nicole and enjoy yourself 🙂

  50. Hi there. I am a window girl. It’s a pain sometimes but that’s what I do. Especially if you get inspired to do something at night like I often do and there is no sun. We now have a spotlight pointed at a window instead of the yard like it’s meant to be 🙂 I love stitchery and have made a few. I always use a pencil to trace the design too. I have just started Hocuspocusville so that will keep me entertained for awhile. Good luck Nicole and enjoy yourself 🙂

  51. I have recently started to do some embroidery. I did stockings for everyone last Christmas with panels of snowmen etc on muslin and crazy quilt fabric around it. I used my husbands old neckties forr the backs of the stocking doing strings on muslin.
    Lynette Anderson has some beautiful quilt patterns that use stitchery in them.
    Enjoy and I must second the recommendation for Cosmos thread. Bunny Hill designs I believe carries them.

  52. I have recently started to do some embroidery. I did stockings for everyone last Christmas with panels of snowmen etc on muslin and crazy quilt fabric around it. I used my husbands old neckties forr the backs of the stocking doing strings on muslin.
    Lynette Anderson has some beautiful quilt patterns that use stitchery in them.
    Enjoy and I must second the recommendation for Cosmos thread. Bunny Hill designs I believe carries them.

  53. I had a good laugh, I bought a package of transfer ease as well, at the bird brain booth. I was holding it in my hand as I was reading your post. I’m very anxious to give it a try. I normally use a blue, water soluble transfer pen with a light box. It sometimes runs, so I don’t get crisp lines.

  54. I had a good laugh, I bought a package of transfer ease as well, at the bird brain booth. I was holding it in my hand as I was reading your post. I’m very anxious to give it a try. I normally use a blue, water soluble transfer pen with a light box. It sometimes runs, so I don’t get crisp lines.

  55. Oh and if you have the chain Aaron Brothers around you (framing & art supplies), they have coupons sometimes and you can get a light box that’s pretty reasonable. I think mine was less than $30.

  56. Oh and if you have the chain Aaron Brothers around you (framing & art supplies), they have coupons sometimes and you can get a light box that’s pretty reasonable. I think mine was less than $30.

  59. OH WOW Nicole I am Glad You Are going to do some Stitcheries I use A pigma pen For mine I hope you let us see what you do?
    Hugs Mary.

  60. OH WOW Nicole I am Glad You Are going to do some Stitcheries I use A pigma pen For mine I hope you let us see what you do?
    Hugs Mary.

  61. Were you at the San Mateo craft show?!? So was I! I picked up some Bliss and my friend bought a boatload of wooden spools. I had to resist the embroidery, and also the stuffed animals that promised “only two pattern pieces”. I can’t have any more hobbies!

  62. Were you at the San Mateo craft show?!? So was I! I picked up some Bliss and my friend bought a boatload of wooden spools. I had to resist the embroidery, and also the stuffed animals that promised “only two pattern pieces”. I can’t have any more hobbies!

  63. Hi. You are going to love Transfer -Eze. I am using it now and it is so easy. Don’t iron it though..it has some sticky that just adheres. Then you put it in water to remove. So easy! Have fun! Janet

  64. Hi. You are going to love Transfer -Eze. I am using it now and it is so easy. Don’t iron it though..it has some sticky that just adheres. Then you put it in water to remove. So easy! Have fun! Janet

  65. Jump right in – rusty skills and all. You’ll be fine. I have a very old light box that I use to trace designs with a very very fine pigma pen. Silver gel pens also work well. We are very spoiled here in Aus with the range of local designers. Quilts with embroidered blocks are my favourite thing to do.

  66. Jump right in – rusty skills and all. You’ll be fine. I have a very old light box that I use to trace designs with a very very fine pigma pen. Silver gel pens also work well. We are very spoiled here in Aus with the range of local designers. Quilts with embroidered blocks are my favourite thing to do.