How to Make Embroidered Tags

I love making these reusable gifts tags. When Christmas is over this year, I’ll save the tags again for next year. (If I put them on gifts for others I hope they use them as a bookmark.) They sure brighten up otherwise dull-looking wrapped presents for my kiddos.

You will be using a font that is approximately 1” tall. I like adding an extra little mini Christmas picture as well. You can buy them here.

I can make 4 tags at a time in my large 5”x10” hoop. Arrange all your names and designs in your hoop and stitch.

Once I stitch my designs (I used linen fabric and a very stiff tear away stabilizer) I cut them out into rectangles using regular scissors or your rotary cutter and back them with another piece of linen. I chose not to remove the stabilizer so that the tags would stay firm. Pin your front and back piece together and using pinking shears, cut only the edge that will hold the ribbon tie. For my gift tags, that’s the left side, as seen below.

Cut a piece of 10” ribbon, fold in half, and place the folded part between the pinked edges of the two layers of fabric. Sew all the around the tag. Then pink the other 3 edges close to the stitching—but don’t cut the stitching.

All done, not bad for 5 minutes of sewing, huh?'

The tag below feature my scribbled cursive alphabet. I chose not to make a few tags specific to Christmas so that my children can use then as bookmarks after they open their gifts.

The tag below features the Riverside Alphabet and the reindeer design.

Great to personalize Christmas stockings as well:

Merry Christmas!

Monogrammed Pillows without an Embroidery Machine

My Bernina 830 is still in the hospital. She’s gonna make it, but it’s going to be a few more days on life support. Phew. 

And I really needed her this week to help me make some graduation and wedding gifts for some special ladies. I love giving something monogrammed as a gift—totally personal and unique. However, what’s a gal to do when she has no embroidery machine? Heaven forbid I do something with just my regular ol’ Bernina 131 and my two hands. Gulp.

I printed out some letters in bold at about a 600-700 point font size using Gill Sans Ultra Bold font, flipped them over,  and traced them on the back. You always trace the letters onto the Heat n Bond lite backwards, so that when you iron them on, they are front facing.

Follow the manufacturer’s directions for the Heat n Bond, pick a nice dark fabric in a solid (or nearly solid) that will stand out on the background fabric, and iron onto your fabric.

This next step is optional because this stuff is permanent so you don’t need to sew the letter down, but I like it super secure and I love topstitching. I went around each letter 3-4 times with a straight stitch on my sewing machine. And for heaven’s sake, please don’t sew completely straight. You want that scribbled look. My scribbled embroidery designs are my best sellers for a reason—nobody wants that perfect look, at least not all the time.

How cute are these chevron striped fabrics from Riley Blake? Yummy and oh so trendy. Premier Prints also has the same design. Click here.

After you iron/sew the letters on, you are ready to make the fabric into pillow, preferably with an invisible zipper. Follow my instructions here if you are desperate.

The hot pink damask is from Amy Butler. I need more pink in my house.

I realized as I made these pillows that it’s 2012 and I graduated from high school in 1992. Yup, 20 years ago. I’m getting to be that nice middle aged lady. Only I don’t feel so nice. Nor middle aged.

I love these little cellophane bags from XPedx for gifts. After all, the fabric is cuter than any wrapping paper—I want them seen.

I survived my afternoon without my embroidery machine. Sewing like a pioneer women (sort of, ok not really) makes me tired.

Monogrammed Make-Up Bags

For teacher appreciation week I didn’t have much time. But I definitely wanted my kids’ teachers to know how much I appreciate them. (At least the kids’ teachers in elementary school. Not sure how to do gifts for 7 teachers in junior high.)
These little 5x5 inch zipper pouches are made in about 10 minutes. The embroidery on the black canvas also took about 10 minutes each, so in less than one hour I made two little gifts for some awesome teachers. We all need a little make up bag for our purse don’t we? Yup, I couldn’t live without my powder compact and lip gloss.

The monogram is my Roman Wreath design. You can stitch it with the included letters or you can use the blank wreath and add your own letter.
Oh, and the little 5” zippers and awesome zipper pulls came from zipit on etsy. I’ve never seen pulls like that—love them. Can’t wait to add them to anything with a zipper. I assume you all know how to make these super simple zippy pouches, but if not, just google “how to make a zipper pouch” or watch this video I found on youtube. This video is almost exactly how I make my pouches only I shorten the zipper (if necessary) before hand and I do not use lining since I used canvas for the exterior.

Christmas Gifts 2010

I did my bestest to give mostly handmade gifts to friends and family this year. Obviously I couldn’t do this post earlier because  the masses would then know what they are receiving.  There is something about a handmade gift because I know that receiving such a gift means I was thought about. I hope all my friends and family know how much love went in to all my gifts this year.
I embroidered lots of aprons for friends and fam:

I made pillows for nieces and nephews:

And I embroidered t-shirts and bibs as well for my nieces and nephews:

I hope everybody liked their stuff! And of course I made my girls their dresses. Luckily I started back in October….just seeing these pics make me tired, although they do bring a smile to my face.

A Handmade Christmas

I was determined to make as many Christmas gifts this year as possible—something truly from my heart for those I love. So here are some….cashmere scarves for friends and family, rag dolls for my girls, mini make-up bags for friends, and a pillow or two.