Embroidering on Hoodies with Crafty Cut Applique Embroidering on Hoodies with Crafty Cut Applique These cozy, snug-as-a-bug-in-arug, hipper-than-hip hooded sweatshirts are worn everywhere. Now you can create cool, hip hoodies, zipped to perfection with crafty cut applique embroidery! We'll show you how to add words to a sweatshirt and how to stitch odd-numbered words and monograms across plackets, carrying the theme and message to each side of the sweatshirt. Read below for these free project instructions! file:///F|/Source/ELProjects/html/PR1688.html (1 of 16) [3/27/2012 9:34:48 AM] Embroidering on Hoodies with Crafty Cut Applique Supplies Needed: **Zip-front sweatshirt **Wool felt or ultrasuede **Medium-weight cutaway stabilizer **Temporary spray adhesive **Air-erase pen (or other marking tool) **Craft knife and cutting pad **Straight edge Designs used: A Collegiate Crafty Cut (Applique) Alphabet Design Pack (3 Inch) Lovin' and Stitchin' (small) Filigree Scissors (large) Strutting in Style (small) The alphabet design pack is also available in other sizes: A Collegiate Crafty Cut (Applique) Alphabet Design Pack - 5 Inch, 4 Inch, 2 Inch Also try a Greek Crafty Cut (Applique) Alphabet, perfect for fraternity or sorority members, or classicists. Or, choose from a variety of themes to satisfy all sorts of personalities. Pick your favorites -- cupcakes, butterflies, flowers, robots, dinosaurs, puppies and more! Project Tips: We recommend using enmeshed fabrics such as ultrasuede or wool felt for the applique pieces. Enmeshed fabric, as compared to woven or knit fabrics, will not fray through regular wear or laundering. We found our wool felt at Joann's (a 20% to 30% file:///F|/Source/ELProjects/html/PR1688.html (2 of 16) [3/27/2012 9:34:48 AM] Embroidering on Hoodies with Crafty Cut Applique wool blend). For this project, we embroidered the words "craft diva." Words with an odd number of characters will need to be sewn with a split center letter over the zipper (the "a" in "craft," for example). The other letters are not split. The word "diva" has an even number of letters, so no split design is necessary. When you download a crafty cut applique letter design, you will see two or four files. For the nonsplit letters you will see two files: one file starts with a "Y" followed by 4 numbers - this is the embroidery file. The other file ends with "_DL" and that stands for dieline. For the split letters, you will see four files: two start with the letter "X" followed by 4 numbers and one letter - these are the embroidery files (the "a" file is the left half of the letter and the "b" file is the right half). The files marked with "a_DL" and "b_DL" are the dieline files. Print the dieline files at full size using embroidery software. The dieline printouts will be used as templates for placement and also for cutting the fabric pieces. Using paper templates for placement is essential for proper spacing and balance. If you'd like a recommendation for an embroidery program that can make templates, consider Embird from www.Embird.com. If you do not have embroidery software, you can sew the dielines on paper. Hoop a piece of paper, load the dieline file (the file that ends in "_DL") and sew the dieline directly onto the paper. After the templates are printed or sewn, trim the letters right along the bottom edge. Also, trim around the side and top edges of each letter leaving about 1/4 inch of excess. For the split letters, trim right along the inner edges of each half as well. file:///F|/Source/ELProjects/html/PR1688.html (3 of 16) [3/27/2012 9:34:48 AM] Embroidering on Hoodies with Crafty Cut Applique Now we will position and mark the letters. Lay the sweatshirt flat with the zipper zipped. Starting with the top line, position the top of the letters about 1 1/2 inch from the top of the zipper (where the zipper meets the hood). If the top line includes a split letter, start the placement of that letter by aligning the inner edges of the templates with the inner edge of the fabric along the zipper, with both halves of the letter aligned together (if the top word does not include a split letter, read on: our bottom row of letters doesn't include a split letter. Using an air erase pen (or other marking tool), poke holes in the centers of the templates and mark the fabric. Also, mark the horizontal and vertical axis points. Using a straight edge, draw horizontal lines out from the bottom of the center letter. This line will be used as a baseline for the remaining letters in the top row. file:///F|/Source/ELProjects/html/PR1688.html (4 of 16) [3/27/2012 9:34:48 AM] Embroidering on Hoodies with Crafty Cut Applique Position the other letters by aligning the bottom of the letters right along the base line. Space the letters equally apart - we spaced our letters 3/4 inch apart from outer edge to outer edge. Since all letters have a bit different shape, you may need to adjust the spacing between the letters to balance the word from side to side. Poke holes in the centers of the letters and mark the fabric. Also, mark the horizontal and vertical axis points. To position the bottom row of letters, position the top edges of the center two letters about one inch from the bottom edges of the top line of letters. Then, take the measurement for the letter spacing for the top line and divide it by two (ours was 3/4 inch, so 3/4 inch divided by two is 3/8 inch). Use this measurement to space the inner edges of the center two letters from the inner edge of the fabric along the zipper. Both center letters should now have the same amount of space between them as the top line of letters (ours is 3/4 inch). Be sure to keep the inner edges of the letters at least 1/4 inch from the edges of the zipper. file:///F|/Source/ELProjects/html/PR1688.html (5 of 16) [3/27/2012 9:34:48 AM] Embroidering on Hoodies with Crafty Cut Applique Using a straight edge, draw horizontal lines out from the bottoms of the center letters. Align the remaining letters along the base line you just drew. Space the letters and mark the fabric just as you did earlier. Remove the templates and draw lines to connect the axis points. These lines will be used for hooping. file:///F|/Source/ELProjects/html/PR1688.html (6 of 16) [3/27/2012 9:34:48 AM] Embroidering on Hoodies with Crafty Cut Applique Lay the paper templates on top of the fabric and cut out the shapes. We sprayed the back of the paper templates with a bit of adhesive to help hold it in place while cutting. For cutting out any small inner holes, we used a craft knife and a cutting pad. After cutting, peel off the paper. file:///F|/Source/ELProjects/html/PR1688.html (7 of 16) [3/27/2012 9:34:48 AM] Embroidering on Hoodies with Crafty Cut Applique Cut a piece of medium-weight cutaway stabilizer a bit larger than your hoop. Spray the stabilizer with adhesive. Unzip the sweatshirt and smooth the fabric on top of the stabilizer leaving a few inches of the stabilizer extending out past the edges of the fabric. Use a straight edge to extend the center line out onto the stabilizer. Hoop the fabric and stabilizer together by aligning the marks on the hoop with the lines on the stabilizer - leave a couple of inches of the stabilizer exposed. Doing this will allow the needle of the machine to easily reach the edge of the zipper. file:///F|/Source/ELProjects/html/PR1688.html (8 of 16) [3/27/2012 9:34:48 AM] Embroidering on Hoodies with Crafty Cut Applique Attach the hoop to the machine and load the embroidery design (the file that starts with "X" followed by 4 numbers and one letter, or "Y" followed by 4 numbers). We are embroidering the left side of the split letter "A" (the file starts with "X" and ends with "a"). Move the hoop so that the needle is directly over the center point. Embroider the design - the first thing that sews is the dieline. After the dieline has sewn, stop the machine. If you're using the Hip to Be Zipped designs, some detail in the design may sew before the dieline. Follow the color change sheet to see the sewing order. Spray the back of the corresponding fabric shape with a bit of adhesive. file:///F|/Source/ELProjects/html/PR1688.html (9 of 16) [3/27/2012 9:34:48 AM] Embroidering on Hoodies with Crafty Cut Applique Remove the hoop from the machine but do not unhoop the fabric. Lay the fabric right inside the shape. The dielines have small "tabs" wherever there is a point or corner on the shape. Align the points or corners of the fabric piece with the tabs on the dieline. Change the thread to match the fabric color. The next thing that sews is a tack down stitch that sews about 1/4 inch from the outer edge of the fabric piece this binds the fabric piece to the hooped fabric. Choosing a matching thread color helps this tack down to blend in with the fabric so it will not be seen. file:///F|/Source/ELProjects/html/PR1688.html (10 of 16) [3/27/2012 9:34:48 AM] Embroidering on Hoodies with Crafty Cut Applique Change the thread color and continue with the design another tack down stitch will sew. This tack down is a decorative stitch that follows along the outer edges of the letter. To embroider the remaining nonsplit letters, keep the fabric and stabilizer hooped. Load the next file, move the hoop so that the needle is directly over the center point, and embroider the design. The first thing that sews is the dieline. file:///F|/Source/ELProjects/html/PR1688.html (11 of 16) [3/27/2012 9:34:48 AM] Embroidering on Hoodies with Crafty Cut Applique Spray the back of the corresponding fabric piece with adhesive, remove the hoop, and lay the fabric piece right inside the shape aligning the points and corners of the fabric with the tabs of the dieline. Continue with the design - a tack down will sew next. This tack down binds the fabric piece to the hooped fabric and has a decorative stitch, so there is no need to change the thread color to match the color of the fabric. file:///F|/Source/ELProjects/html/PR1688.html (12 of 16) [3/27/2012 9:34:48 AM] Embroidering on Hoodies with Crafty Cut Applique Continue sewing each character until you're finished with the first line of the first side of the sweatshirt. Carefully trim away the stabilizer on the back of the embroidery. Repeat the hooping and embroidering process for each side of each line of text just as you did for the first hooping. When hooping for the bottom line you may have to hoop over the top letters - this is OK. The letters will not be damaged by the hoop. file:///F|/Source/ELProjects/html/PR1688.html (13 of 16) [3/27/2012 9:34:48 AM] Embroidering on Hoodies with Crafty Cut Applique We also added a couple coordinating designs to our sweatshirt for a little more pizzazz. Tips for laundering: Wash your sweatshirt using cold water on a delicate cycle. Turn the garment inside out to help protect the embroidery. Tumble dry on low. The applique will come out a bit wrinkled, but... file:///F|/Source/ELProjects/html/PR1688.html (14 of 16) [3/27/2012 9:34:48 AM] Embroidering on Hoodies with Crafty Cut Applique ...press it with a cool iron and pressing cloth to restore it to its original crispness. Whooooo's ready to get started? Stitch a name, phrase, or word, or pick from a variety of themes to embellish your hoodie, and choose colors that match your personal preference and taste. Whichever designs you decide to use on your hoodie, it's sure to be a hoot! file:///F|/Source/ELProjects/html/PR1688.html (15 of 16) [3/27/2012 9:34:48 AM] Embroidering on Hoodies with Crafty Cut Applique Combine these designs to decorate a fashionable new sweatshirt, and then use coordinating designs to create a matching T-shirt to go underneath! Click here for a printable version of these project instructions. You'll need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. If you don't have it, you can download a free copy by clicking on the icon above. file:///F|/Source/ELProjects/html/PR1688.html (16 of 16) [3/27/2012 9:34:48 AM]