General Sewing:

Although the automatic monogram stitch patterns on computerized sewing machines are convenient and easy to stitch, you may want to create different sizes or styles of monograms, using free-motion machine embroidery.

Materials needed:

Monograms can either be drawn directly onto the fabric or onto a piece of water-soluble stabilizer. If you are monogramming a bath towel or sweater, it is easier to draw the monogram on water-soluble stabilizer than it is to draw it on the textured fabric; the stabilizer is then placed over the fabric to use as a guide for stitching. Draw a horizon line under each letter and keep it horizontal as you stitch so the stitching will automatically taper in the right places.

Use a narrow, wooden hoop or a spring hoop for monogramming. Wooden hoops with fixing screws hold the fabric more tightly, but spring hoops are available in the small sizes needed for areas such as pockets, cuffs, and collars. It is helpful to place tear-away stabilizer under the hoop to prevent the fabric from puckering.

You can use either 30-weight or 40-weight machine embroidery thread for monogramming; the 30-weight thread is a little heavier and fills in faster than 40-weight thread.

Practice stitching the upper case 'M" and lower case "e", because these two letters include all the techniques required for the other letters in the alphabet. When you monogram, think of the sewing machine needle as a pencil. Start to stitch each letter at the same place you would start writing it with a pencil.

The size of the letter determines the stitch width; the larger the letter, the wider the stitch width. The widest stitch width setting on the sewing machine works well for 2" (5 cm) letters, but a medium stitch width should be used for smaller letters.

This and other projects can be found in the Decorative Machine Stitching volume of the Singer Sewing Reference Library by Creative Publishing International.

Compatible with: 2950, 3343, 4830, 5040, 5050, 3962, 2638, 2662, 5062, 5705, 5825, 5830, 1525, 6038, SCHOLASTIC, SCHOLASTIC PLUS™, 57820, 57825, QUANTUM® 7312, QUANTUM® Décor 7322, QUANTUM® 7350, QUANTUM® 9940, QUANTUM® 9920, QUANTUM® 9910,

Equipment needed:

Instructions:

How to Stitch an Upper Case "M" Monogram

1. Draw an upper case "M" about 2" (5 cm) high on fabric; draw horizon line under letter. Place fabric in embroidery hoop. Set stitch width to 0. Draw up bobbin thread at top of "M"; stitch in place a few times to secure stitches. Set stitch width to the widest setting.

2. Satin stitch up to the first stem of the letter, using short zigzag stitches; keep horizon line horizontal as you sew.

3. Stitch down the first stem of the letter, using longer zigzag stitches, to prevent a buildup of stitches on the stem. Satin stitch back over the stem, using short, closely spaced zigzag stitches. (Darning foot was removed to show detail.)

4. Continue satin stitching to second stem of letter; repeat step 3 for second stem. Satin stitch remainder of letter. Set stitch width to 0 and secure stitches.

1. Draw lower case "e" about 1" (2.5 cm) high on fabric; draw horizon line under letter. Place fabric in embroidery hoop. Set stitch width to 0. Draw up bobbin thread at left side of "e"; secure stitches. Set stitch width to a medium setting.

2. Satin stitch, using short, closely spaced zigzag stitches; stitch on the outside of loop so center of loop does not become too small. Keep the horizon line horizontal as you sew. Set the stitch width to 0 and secure stitches.

Change stitch width as you stitch the letters for an interesting effect. Change the width when sewing side stitch or at top of letter so width change is less noticeable and flows with the letter.