Easy to Sew
Embroidered Door Hangers

Don't limit yourself to purchased "in the hoop" door hanger embroidery designs. With your embroidery sewing machine, you can make your own doorhangers and use designs of YOUR choice without needing fancy digitizing software. The one shown here was for my granddaughter and says Princess Kaitlyn's Room. Make them for your kids, grand-kids, pantry, bathroom, bedroom, whatever. Let your imagination go!

You can make this as a rectangle or you can curve the top following the alternate pattern line leaving one side open so it will fit on non-round door handles (like you find on refrigerators, etc.).

Embroidering (4x4 hoop):

Copy the template shown below using these dimensions: 10" high and 4" wide. For the opening at the top, you can trace around your favorite soft drink can (that's what I did!).

Instructions:

Cut 2 pieces of fabric (your choice) and 1 piece of heavy cutaway stabilizer. Each needs to be at least 9" wide and 14" long (for proper hooping).

Using the door hanger template, trace onto one of your fabric pieces. Be sure to mark the center of the design area as indicated by the + on the template so you can center your embroidery design during hooping.

Lightly spray the back of the fabric piece you plan to embroider on and adhere it to the stabilizer.

Hoop both layers, and as noted above, make sure that your pattern center spot (+) is centered in your hoop and make any needed adjustments with your machine.

Stitch your design.

Remove the layers from the hoop. DO NOT remove the stabilizer.

Lay the embroidered piece on top of your backing piece and smooth the fabric. You can use spray adhesive to keep everything together or use sewing pins to keep the layers in place.

Easy Sewing:

Set your sewing machine for a satin stitch using your zig-zag setting with the stitch width on 3 and the stitch length on 4. You might want to test your stitch on an area that will be cut away later.

Following the pattern outline you traced earlier, satin stitch the entire outline including the circle. Don't rush, take your time.

When you finish stitching, carefully cut away the excess fabric and stabilizer as close to the stitching line as possible. Cut the fabric and stabilizer from inside the circle.

NOTE: If you should accidently cut the thread (in the satin stitching), fray block or fray check can be applied.

ALSO: The instructions above will work for smaller items as well such as luggage tags, name tags, etc. See how creative you can be.