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Tutorial: Machine Embroidered Fabric Bracelet

Tutorial: Machine Embroidered Fabric Bracelet

by Elaine Theriault

As sewists we are all guilty of being too serious. Everything has to be perfect, we have no time to play and really learn our sewing machines. Right?  Oh yes – I know this is true and yes – I am guilty as charged. That is why I have enjoyed writing these blog posts and hopefully inspiring you to do a bit more playing with your sewing machine.

I’ve had a blast checking out the Husqvarna Viking Designer Ruby Royale. There are so many bells and whistles, well it could make your head spin and sometimes after all that experimenting, we want to make something.

I have a small and quick project for you this week – a machine embroidered fabric bracelet.  If you do not have an embroidery sewing machine, you could use decorative stitches from your sewing machine or try using some trim. Either way, get your thinking cap on and see what creative ideas you come up with.

Supply List

Fabric for the front and back of the bracelet

Fusible fleece (not shown)

Embroidery thread

Covered button forms

Elastic

Embroidery designs

Supplies for machine embroidered fabric bracelet

Supplies for machine embroidered fabric bracelet

The first step is to choose a design(s) that you will embroider onto the bracelet fabric. The ones I choose all came from the built-in embroidery designs in the Designer Ruby Royale.

I thought I would economize my time and embroider four bracelets at once. Since I did not any of them identical to each other, I cut a strip of four different fabrics and sewed them together. Then I hooped all four fabrics as one.

Four different backgrounds cut and sewn together are hooped as one fabric

Four different backgrounds cut and sewn together are hooped as one fabric

I choose and placed the embroidery designs using the Embroidery Edit screen on the Designer Ruby Royale. It was easy to position the items using the large interactive screen so that each design was placed in the correct position on my multi-fabrics in the hoop.

Four different designs were embroidered

Four different designs were embroidered

Embroidery is finished - yeah!

Embroidery is finished – yeah!

Embroidery designs complete - note the small blue flower at the top of the hoop

Embroidery designs complete – note the small blue flower at the top of the hoop

Once the embroidery was complete, I separated the four different fabrics. I am only going to focus on the orange bracelet.

I trimmed the bracelet to the unfinished size  (2 1/4″ wide by 8″ long). The size is dependent on the size of wrist and the type of stitching on the bracelet. My finished size is 1 3/4″ by 7 1/2″. I have also trimmed that lone blue flower which I am going to use to cover a button.

The fusible fleece was trimmed 1/4″ smaller on ALL sides from the measurement of the bracelet. – in this case that is 1 3/4″ by 7 1/2 “.

Components for the embroidered bracelet

Components for the embroidered bracelet

Using the tool that comes with the buttons to cover kit, I made the covered button.

Covered button made with embroidered flower

Covered button made with embroidered flower

The Elastic

In a deal world, we would be able to purchase colored elastic. It is not that easy to find. I have used hair elastics from the dollar store which comes in a variety of colors, but the quality is sketchy so I didn’t want to chance that the elastic would deteriorate quickly.

I found some narrow elastic in my supply box. Hmmm – it is going to look very boring with white or even black elastic on that bright orange bracelet.

Boring white elastic compared to the colored elastic

Boring white elastic compared to the colored elastic

I took an orange permanent marker and simply colored the white elastic and it came out orange. Enough to disguise the white elastic.

Color the white elastic with a permanent marker

Color the white elastic with a permanent marker

Center the fusible fleece on the wrong side of the front of the bracelet and fuse with a hot iron.

Fusible fleece fused to the wrong side of the bracelet front

Fusible fleece fused to the wrong side of the bracelet front

Baste the elastic on the right side of the back of the bracelet.

Elastic is basted to the right side of the back of the bracelet

Elastic is basted to the right side of the back of the bracelet

Sew the front and back of the bracelet together leaving an opening so you can turn it inside out.

Front and back of bracelet are sewn together leaving an opening to turn inside out

Front and back of bracelet are sewn together leaving an opening to turn inside out

Trim excess fabric from the corners. I cut the point off and then an angle cut on the sides leading into the corner. Too much fabric in the corner makes a thick lumpy corner when turned right side out.

The corners are trimmed

The corners are trimmed

Before you turn the bracelet inside out, pre-press those seam allowances of the opening. I find it very hard to make a smooth crease along the seam allowance of the opening so I am trying to press it before I turn it right sides out. I used a lined index card as a guide to try and keep the edges of the opening straight.

Index card used to fold over the seam allowance of the opening

Index card used to fold over the seam allowance of the opening

Now turn the bracelet inside out and poke the corners out with a point turner. Instead of sewing that opening shut, I like to use a narrow strip of fusible webbing. I keep the paper on, insert the strip along one of the seam allowances inside the bracelet. Once it is in the correct position. iron in place. Remove the paper and iron the opening closed.  It is a fast and easy way to close up openings. I have better pictures in this post.

Getting ready to fuse the opening shut using a narrow strip of fusible webbing

Getting ready to fuse the opening shut using a narrow strip of fusible webbing

Bracelet is almost done - just needs the button

Bracelet is almost done – just needs the button

Bracelet is complete - button is sewn over one of the flowers

Bracelet is complete – button is sewn over one of the flowers

Machine embroidered fabric bracelet

Machine embroidered fabric bracelet

I love it. So bright and cheery and very lightweight. There are so many ways to customize the bracelet for you or as a gift. They are easy to make, and if you got a production line going – you could make a lot in a short time. Instead of using a covered button, you could use a regular button, a snap, or velcro. Make a small pocket in the bracelet for a key or coffee money so when you are walking the dog, you can stop for a coffee along the way.

Add lace or trims, use the decorative stitches on the sewing machine. Oh my – there are a  LOT of possibilities!!

I hope you enjoyed that tutorial on the machine embroidered fabric bracelet. Don’t be shy – I’d love to see what super idea you came up with for your machine embroidered fabric bracelet.

Before I close out, I would like to thank Paula for sharing this. She followed my tutorial (scroll to the bottom of the post) to make the tags for insertion into your projects. Paula used the built-in alphabet on her sewing machine to create her tag.

Project tag

Project tag

Making the machine embroidered fabric bracelet was a snap with the Husqvarna Viking Designer Ruby Royale. The large hoop meant that I could make four at a time or even more depending on the width of the bracelet. It was easy to position all the designs with the large interactive screen.

Tomorrow I will wrap up my session with the Designer Ruby Royale by highlighting the top ten reasons why I love the Designer Ruby Royale. If you have followed the posts, I bet you can think of several of them. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post to see if you are right!

Have a great day!

Ciao!

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11 comments

Pauline March 8, 2015 - 5:02 am

The embroidery on the button and the bracelet is gorgeous – I am seriously going to have to think about getting myself a Ruby!!!
Pauline

Reply
Katy March 6, 2015 - 4:03 pm

So lovely!

Reply
Elaine Theriault March 7, 2015 - 7:05 am

Katy
Thanks for the feedback. If you make one – send us a photo. Elaine (thanks for following QUILTSocial)

Reply
Pam B March 5, 2015 - 3:55 pm

Hiya Elaine!!! I don’t have a fancy embroidery machine, but did take the time back in December to do stitch-outs with all my computerized stitches available on my machine. Oh my, was I impressed. Still haven’t used many of them, but it was definitely an eye opener. Thanks to you and the other ladies on Quilt Social, I have learned so much. Keep up the good work. Blessed be, hugs!!! Pam
pamspretties57 at gmail dot com

Reply
Elaine Theriault March 6, 2015 - 9:32 am

Pam – thanks so much for your feedback. We are having fun and so glad that you are enjoying the posts. That is awesome that you did some stitch-outs! Now that you know what your sewing machine can do, you have to put your thinking cap on to come up with ideas. Remember those fancy stitches can be used around the edge of a pocket, the top of a bag, along the border of a quilt, even the quilting on a quilt. Good luck with the ideas and shoot us a picture or two when you put those stitches on a project. We’d love to post them. Elaine (thanks for following QUILTSocial)

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Vicki H March 5, 2015 - 3:43 pm

Cute idea for a bracelet. I love the covered button.

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Elaine Theriault March 6, 2015 - 9:29 am

Vicki – thanks. They are awesome and good for all ages. The covered buttons are so much fun and the ideas keep over flowing. If you make buttons send us a picture. I’d love to post it. Elaine (thanks for following QUILTSocial)

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Sarah J. March 5, 2015 - 2:27 pm

Such a fun idea– while I don’t have an embroidery machine I have lots of vintage trims I could use! Thanks for sharing!

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Elaine Theriault March 6, 2015 - 9:28 am

Sarah – oh – the vintage trims would make an awesome bracelet. Make one and send us a picture so we can post it. Elaine (thanks for following QUILTSocial!)

Reply
Diane Sinclair Meigs March 5, 2015 - 1:22 pm

Thank you for all the updates and tutorials. I love my Ruby and have learned so much here.Much appreciated

Reply
Elaine Theriault March 6, 2015 - 9:27 am

Diane – thanks so much for your feedback. The Ruby is well – you know – it is WONDERFUL. These new sewing machines have so many features and functions, it is hard to remember all that you can do until you see (or do) them in action. Happy to know that you picked up a couple of tips. Elaine (Thanks for following QUILTSocial)

Reply

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