Free motion embroidery

Free motion stitching is a technique where you essentially draw with your machine! Using a free-motion/open-toe quilting/applique foot, simply drop (or cover) the feed-dogs and start your stitching!

What you'll need:

- fabric

- thread

- open-toe foot

- optional stabilizer

- optional guide grip / hoop

Start by creating your design on your fabric. You can do this completely freely when you start sewing. Or you can create a design using applique like we have done here. Alternatively you can also use an invisible marker pen to draw a design onto your fabric for you to stitch out.

As an example we are using our fun ice-cream template. We appliqued the design onto our fabric first. You can find our handy step-by-step guide for applique here - https://www.owlandsewingcat.com/blogs/blog/how-to-applique

You can pop some stabilizer under your main fabric before stitching if you wish.

Although it is not necessary you can use a guide grip or free motion hoop.

We're using an open-toe quilting foot. It can also be called a darning foot.

Attach to your machine by removing your regular foot and shank. Attach the open-toe foot in its place.

Next, drop the feed dogs. Most machines have a switch at the back of the machine. However if your machine doesn't allow this, you can often purchase a cover to place over the feed dogs.

It's time to start stitching!

Choose a speed that you feel comfortable with. Move the fabric to create your stitches. Essentially you are drawing with your machine.

You can trim your threads as you go or at the end of your stitching.

Move the fabric freely to create shapes and outlines. You can go over your stitching to create a thicker outline as shown on our ice-cream.

Hope you get to enjoy this fun technique!

We have a number of lovely applique projects to use for free-motion. Have a browse here - https://www.owlandsewingcat.com/search?q=applique

We also have a selection of templates to download for 99p! Including this cute ice-cream deisgn - https://www.owlandsewingcat.com/products/ice-cream-template