Broadening my horizons

People sure do love a personalized quilt, don’t they? Well, how can you blame them. Especially when it’s a baby gift, there’s something very sweet about having the name/initials and birth date on their special first quilt.  And embroidery is probably the nicest way to do it.

Sadly, I know next to nothing about embroidery.  I’ve been kind of hacking it with the times that I’ve done it.  More than a year ago, I saw Mamie do some adorable french knots on shirts for her boys, and immediately looked up a tutorial. But it was literally the only embroidery stitch I knew, and while cute and textural, not necessarily the greatest fit for lettering.

A few weeks ago, I figured I should work on expanding my repertoire a little bit, and found the most-awesome Sublime Stitching. I was inspired by the coolness, plus they have a few basic stitch tutorials posted. Now, I don’t suspect I’m going to turn into an embroidery nut.  I think it’s cool, and I think it could add some neat things to some quilts, but I don’t anticipate suddenly having a boatload of embroidered aprons around my house.  Seriously, there are only so many hours in the day.

But it sure can make for a cute label.

I borrowed a few techniques for this one.  First, I found a font that I liked, and printed out the name and birth date on my computer.  Taped it to a window in the sunlight, taped the fabric over the paper, and traced in washable pen. I love that I am no longer limited by my own handwriting and total lack of drawing ability!  I then made the label in my new favorite style.  And yes, I know it’s a touch off-center, but oh well.

Oh, and it’s done in split-stitch, which I suddenly have memory of learning (poorly) in middle school sewing class. Middle school sewing class? Do they even do that anymore? I remember cooking and woodworking, too. Wonder if they’re all long gone…