Currently Stitching: Earrings

I know it wasn't that long ago that I told myself I would never get an embroidery machine. It was too much work, too many new tools, notions and materials required to make the things I wanted. Plus there's an insane learning curve with a boatload of new terms. As you can probably guess, I was lying to myself. 

Don't get me wrong, there is a learning curve and some upfront investment to get set up right. But there's way more insane and cool stuff to make than I could have ever guessed! There's also a great community of people who love embroidery and want you to be successful and love it too! I am very grateful to learn from and be a part of that community. I hope that any of you reading this get a chance to try it for yourself.

In this episode, we're going to be focused on embroidered earrings. This is a genre of embroidery that is called free standing lace. In some of my other episodes I've embroidered on quilting fabric and canvas. What we're making today does not require fabric and will totally stand on its own. 

Let's get started with a supply list. 

• Stabilizers
• Needle(s)
• Thread, along with matching bobbins
• Embroidery Hoop
• Small scissors for trimming

You're going to need two kinds of water soluble stabilizer. There are several great brands out there any many places to purchase in store or online. I purchased mine from my local quilt shop, and they carry OESD brand stabilizers.

Above is Aquamesh. It's a woven water soluble stabilizer that is great for free standing projects, like ornaments, jewelry, table clothes/ runners, decor and some clothing. The front and the back are the same so you don't have to worry about which side to stitch on.

This is Badgemaster. It looks and feels a little like vinyl. It is a non-woven water soluble stabilizer that is great for jewelry, ornaments, patches, and more. I bought both of these on a roll and then cut them to my desired size.

Depending on the project you've chosen, pick out an appropriate hoop. I'm using a large hoop. I wanted to work with this one so I could load multiple designs. If this is your first time, I would start with one at a time.

Once your stabilizers are cut, load them in to the hoop.

Depending on your machine's needs and how often you use it, you may need a new needle and oil. I am using a Bernina and they like a lot of oil. I have been making a lot of embroidery lately so I put in a new needle. I like to use Schmetz needles, they have performed the best for me on all my machines over the years.

Once your machine and hoop are ready, it's time to load your design(s). Like I said I am doing more than one at a time. I decided to do 4 from a design pack I purchased from OESD. Take a look around a few embroidery websites to see what earrings you might like to make!

Please follow the operating directions that came with your machine. Always be careful when using these powerful machines. Check your surround areas to make sure the machine has enough space to work. 

I like to print out the instructions so I'm not tied to my computer screen. It's also helpful when choosing thread colors. I say again, please remember to make matching bobbins. Because this is free standing lace, you will see the front and back thread colors.

Once everything has been selected and safely set up, it's time to stitch! I always hang out close by just in case. I also like to keep up with trimming excessive threads away so they don't accidentally get stitched in to the design. 

Once the project is completed, you can remove it from the hoop.

From there, it's time to trim down the excess stabilizer. I usually cut it down to a quarter inch or so. 

DO NOT cut all the way flush to the edge of the pattern, there's a risk of trimming the threads. Additionally, when you're rinsing out the stabilizer, it will wash away to the correct point.

Be sure to use warm water to rinse away the excess stabilizer. Then lay them out on a silicone sheet or cookie rack. The earrings are sticky. Please do not lay them on something you don't want to get sticky. And do not lay them to dry on parchment, wax, or freezer paper or saran wrap. They will stick to and damage the earrings. 

Something to keep in mind. When you're washing out stabilizer, it can take some time to find the right balance. You want enough removed that it's not too stiff but it also still has body. In these purple earrings I was making, I washed out too much stabilizer and parts of the design began to unravel. 

Take your time rinsing until you find the right finish for your product. You can always take more out, but you can't put it back in.

It takes several hours for the earrings to completely dry. Once finished it's time to make them attach the earring hardware. 

I like to work with a variety of colors and settings when making earrings, so I buy them in kits like this. You need a set of needle nose pliers. A lot of folks also use a pair of tweezers and a few other things. This is what I've had the most success with and will be using today.

I use both hoop sizes for these earrings to give a little more length. Experiment with the different lengths until you find what you like. You can always add or take away so don't put too much pressure on yourself. 

Use the tweezers to open and close the hoops. Then give them a really good squeeze once they're in place like you like. 

I will post additional photos in the morning. Stay tuned!