Sewing Machine Hoop Art Tutorial (A Handmade Gift) ♥ Fleece Fun

Hi all!! I’m Jeanine Thomlinson, a Canadian blogger over at The Crafting Fiend! I mostly blog about free motion applique, sewing for myself and my girls and every now and again you’ll see some recipes and other fun things on my blog! Today I’m VERY excited to share a fun Sewing Machine Hoop Art Tutorial and free pattern with you for free motion applique wall embroidery hoop art (or put it on a shirt or wherever you can imagine it!). I can’t wait to gift these to friends this holiday season (and I’m gifting one to myself as well…). I decided on hoop art for a gift to crafting friends because they are fabulously fun and light to ship!
Free motion applique is kind of like loose sketching with your sewing machine, so, try to not worry about wobbly lines – they just add to the sketch and style of the art!

You will need:

free motion/darning/quilting foot.

heat n bond lite (or equivalent)

stabilizer (or extra broadcloth/muslin fabric)

a square of fabric that is 2 inches larger than your hoop all around

scraps of fabric

an iron

black thread

the free template (located at the end of the post)
So let’s get started shall we! Who is excited? I really hope it’s not just me.. haha. but seriously… This will become your new addiction if you give it a try!

Sewing Machine Hoop Art Tutorial:

First off I want you to choose your hoop size (I order mine off Ebay for pretty cheap and then waited 3 months for them to arrive ahahaha). Once you have that sorted, print off the pattern and get out your heat n bond lite. You will trace the sewing machine and whichever decorative pieces you want to add to it. cut loosely around your traced pieces.

Now I want you to iron the traced pieces to the back side of the fabric you have chosen.
and then cut around the traced shaped on the lines, you are almost ready to start the free motion applique fun!

Now peel off the backing
and then iron to the center of your piece of fabric you have chosen for the hoop art background. I used plain muslin here so the art work would really shine and be the focus. If you do choose to use patterned fabric I HIGHLY suggest a LIGHTLY patterned fabric that is almost a tone on tone look, anything too busy and you will lose your image and wording in the fabric.
Next you get to add wordage! You can use the text ideas given in the pattern, or choose your own! There are soooo many fun sewing themed ideas out there! You can freehand your own wording or trace the wording provided. If you freehand I suggest you make sure everything will fit nicely into the hoop by laying down your hoop when you writeNow, it is time to get out the free motion foot!!! I have a video up HERE for you to check out the set up I have and putting it on.*VERY important and not to be missed step – use a piece of stabilizer or muslin or broadcloth the size of your hoop fabric! I recommend a not tearway mid weight stabilizer.Drop the feed dogs on your machine before you begin free motion applique. I do not change stitch length for free motion applique from the regular setting.
Now you will free motion applique all around the edges and adding the details. I have a video HERE showing a free motion applique in the making if you are nervous and want to see how it works and what speeds I go at I suggest checking it out.When you get to the wordage I find it easiest to stitch upside down, I know that might sound a bit crazy – but I find it easiest to view my penci lines from this angle and find I keep my lettering on a straighter line from this viewpoint.And there you have it – DONE!!! Are you surprised at how quickly that went? It is easy to make a whole stack of hoop art in an afternoon! Gifts for ALLLLLLLLL your sewing and crafty friends! You just finished the Sewing Machine Hoop Art Tutorial.I really hope you have enjoyed this tutorial! and please do check out my blog for more sewing fun! It is hard to pick a couple favourite projects from the year… but I LOVE this romper I made for myself, the 50$ kitten themed party I DIY’d for my youngest, and this adorable (and FREE) bunny free motion applique pattern if you are eager to see more of my work!I hope to hear from you in the sewing facebook community and find tags showing off your adorable and fun #thecraftingfiend hoop art soon! Feel free to tag me on IG so I can be sure to see your projects!