Using stacked stitches to make quick quilted add-on gifts

It’s been a busy week around here! One stitch has led to another and several add-on gifts have been created. In yesterday’s post, I made some mini stitched ornaments using the decorative stitches in the PFAFF quilt expression 720. Today I want to show yet another type of stitch available on this machine – stacking stitches – and a fun way to turn them into a gift!

Quilted mushroom bookmark anyone??  🙂

I couldn’t resist! There are several sets of stacking stitches on this machine. To make them stitch one out and then stitch the next one directly on top, thus stacking them. Here’s a photo of the stacking stitches menu so you can see the variety available – this is just the first menu! The stitches are paired, stitch one stacks with stitch two, and so on.

I found a 3″ wide strip of bright yellow fabric and threaded the machine with burgundy thread and put it in the bobbin too. I used another piece of stabilizer beneath it and pressed the Start/Stop button to let the machine stitch while I guided the fabric. I tried to line up the stitch to go down the middle of the strip knowing I could trim it to center after.

Then I selected the stitch that pairs with the mushrooms – some grass – and line it up to start at exactly the same place as the first stitch. You can press the presser foot lift button to raise the presser foot to help you see to line up the needle. I try to line up the red guidelines on the presser foot with the edge of the fabric for both stitch lines to make this step easier, but I usually end up lifting the presser foot a few times to double-check anyway.

Take a moment to smile at the happily stacked stitches then grab a bit more fabric to make a bookmark! I knew I had a bit of the ladybug fabric in my stash and I cut my stacked stitch fabric the same length to match. With a piece of batting the same size – all approximately 2½” x 7″ – I layered the batting, top and bottom right sides together. I stitched around the edge with the ¼” quilting foot, leaving a 2″ turning gap on one side.

I turned the bookmark through the gap and finger pressed it close. This time I decided to change my topstitching thread to a neutral color so it would blend in to the fabric and not take away from the cute mushrooms.

Topstitch to finish the bookmark.

A closer look at finishing small projects

This week I’ve been using several of the features on the quilt expression 720 to help me get precise stitching on my small projects. I wanted to focus on how easy it’s been for me to get a professional-looking finish as I show my smallest project yet – a mini dated gift tag!

I started by using a small piece of dark blue batik in my stash  – approximately 2½” x 3″ – and one of the favorite holiday stitches among quilters I know on the PFAFF quilt expression 720, stitch 5.4.3.

I inserted the stitch into the sequencing program and added the Stop and Thread snips commands so the stitch would only be sewn once. I also used a small piece of stabilizer beneath the fabric. Once the flower stitch was complete, I added the date using the Comic font.

Then it was time to assemble the gift tag. I layered a bit of backing fabric on top of some batting and with some thread for hanging tucked into the middle, I put the stitched tag right side down on top.

Here’s where I relied on the guide marks on the ¼” quilting foot to help me see where to stop sewing at each corner; the front red lines are ¼” back from the edge. The outside edge of the right foot is ¼” away from the needle which helps me keep my seams straight. Then I turn the corner and keep going until I reach the side of the turning gap. Trust me, leave a decent size turning gap on small projects too!

It is a little tricky to turn such a small item right side out through a gap, but I took my time and then finger pressed the seams flat. With the turning gap seam finger pressed closed, I now line up the inner edge of the ¼” quilting foot with the edge of the project to get a ⅛” topstitch.

It’s important to keep an eye on the hanging string to make sure it stays outside of the topstitching line!

The tag is done! I can see putting it around a bottle of wine for a hostess gift, but it would work around a plant cover or another wrapped gift.

I had a lot of fun creating little add on gifts this week. I feel like I’m ahead of the game as now I know what I need to buy to go with these little quilted gifts. The PFAFF quilt expression 720 has helped me grow as a quilter and continues to provide me with creative opportunities to express myself and share my love of handmade. I hope these posts have inspired you to stitch-and-give this holiday season too!