This fox-themed play book has embroidery on its laces and its spine!

Welcome back! In our first post, we stitched the front cover of our playful fox-themed book. Now, it’s time to move on to the next exciting steps! Today, we’ll use the PFAFF creative icon 2 to machine embroider custom sayings directly onto laces, adding a personal touch to each piece. We’ll also assemble the book spine. Let’s continue our creative journey and bring this project to life!

Play book and custom embroidered laces with the PFAFF creative icon 2 sewing & embroidery machine

Just like yesterday, we’re starting in embroidery mode. On the welcome screen, select the Embroidery option. A pop-up message will prompt you to clear the embroidery arm and remove the hoop (if attached) before calibration. Tap ‘OK,’ and the machine will calibrate, moving the embroidery arm into the ready position. Load the bobbin, thread the machine, and attach the 6D Dynamic Spring Foot.

Take the creative 260 x 200 Elite  Hoop (260 x 200 mm) and prepare your sandwich with the following layers: start with an 18” x 12” piece of PFAFF Tear-a-Way medium-weight stabilizer, then place the lace directly in the center. Hoop the sandwich. Pin the lace in place to keep it secure. We’ll remove the pins as we go during the embroidery process. On the screen, select the correct hoop size from the options. Once selected, click “Start Hoop Scan.” A pop-up message will appear, asking you to attach the hoop. Simply slide the hoop connector into the attachment from front to back until it clicks into place. Then, press “OK” on the screen.

The PFAFF creative 260 x 200 Elite Hoop (260 x 200 mm)

The PFAFF creative icon 2 sewing & embroidery machine 10.1-inch capacitive touch screen

It’s time to design the text! I chose to embroider “This Book Belongs To” on one lace, and my daughter’s name, “Anastasiya,” on the second lace. To create the text, I clicked on “Embroidery Fonts” and selected “Belle 10.” I entered the text using the pop-up keyboard, making it all uppercase for better visibility. I clicked the “Edit Design” icon and rotated the text 270 degrees to adjust the placement and fit for the lace. For the ⅝” width lace, I resized the text to 12.6 x 138.8 mm. Before starting, I used the projector to double-check the placement. Now, we’re all set for embroidery! To begin, click the “GO” icon on the screen and press the start button on the machine panel.

The PFAFF creative icon 2 sewing & embroidery machine 10.1-inch capacitive touch screen

The PFAFF creative icon 2 sewing & embroidery machine 10.1-inch capacitive touch screen

As the machine embroiders the lettering, it will occasionally prompt you to take action. After each letter, a pop-up window will appear with instructions. You’ll need to cut and pull the thread to prevent tangling or a messy back, which is especially important since the back of the lace will be visible. Once you’ve done that, click “OK” on the screen and press the start button on the machine panel. When the first lace is complete, remove the hoop and load the second piece of lace in the same way.

The PFAFF creative icon 2 sewing machine creative 260 x 200 Elite Hoop (260 x 200 mm)

Once the second lace is finished, trim the water-soluble stabilizer around the embroidery. Wash each piece to dissolve the stabilizer, let it dry, and then press it.

Trimming water soluble stabilizer around the embroidery design on the lace.

Finished the embroidery design on the lace demoing the stabilizer dissolving process

Two finished laces with embroidered sayings, dried and pressed.

Click the home icon on the screen and select the sewing mode. Attach the 0A Standard Presser Foot for the IDT System. Pull the IDT system down until it engages. Now it’s time to finish our laces! Trim the lace raw edges if needed. Fold one raw edge of each lace twice, then stitch along the edge to secure the fold.

Close-up of the lace with the raw edge rolled twice.

The stitching the edge of the lace to secure the folded edge with 0A Standard Presser Foot for IDT System on PFAFF creative icon 2 sewing machine

To create the book spine, take one 3” x 6⅛” piece of deep ombre green fabric and one 3” x 7” piece of light ombre green fabric. Place them right sides together and pin along the short edges. Stitch with a ¾” seam allowance. Turn the loop right side out and insert a ¾” x 6⅛” piece of ultra-firm stabilizer, positioning it in the middle between the short edges. Press with steam

Creating the book spine with two different shades of ombre green fabric. Place right sides together. Pin and stitch along short sides creating a loop.

Demoing the inside of the sandwich for the book spine

The final step for the spine is to secure the stabilizer. And we’ll do it with a decorative built-in stitch! To load a stitch, click on “Load a Stitch” and scroll to the “Decorative” category. For this project, I chose the “Leaves and Flower” category and selected stitch 3. Click on stitch 3 to set it up for stitching. Next, click the Projector icon to adjust the background color and LED Work Light by moving the indicator. For easier navigation, turn the stitch preview to “On.”

The PFAFF creative icon 2 sewing machine 10.1-inch capacitive touch screen

The PFAFF creative icon 2 sewing machine 10.1-inch capacitive touch screen

Place the spine sandwich so that the stitch projection is directly in the middle. Quilt from edge to edge using the projected stitch navigator. Trim the threads along the raw edges and press the spine with steam.

The PFAFF creative icon 2 sewing machine with adjusted 0A Standard Presser Foot for IDT System

The quilted and pressed book spine

We’re right on track for day 2 of our project! Today, we created custom laces and a unique book spine. Now, let’s take a break and get ready for day 3! What can you expect? We’ll work with mesh fabric, attaching a zipper for the inside pocket, adding Velcro details, and putting the book cover together! I can’t wait for day 3!

This is part 2 of 5 in this series

Go back to part 1: PFAFF creative icon 2 | Sewing a play book with ease

Go to part 3: Make a zippered, mesh fabric pocket for a play book page

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