How to Make Fabric with Decorative Stitches

[@debjacobson9800]

Thank you Kim 🧡

[@jwstanley2645]

Good Video. Thank you. Too often I see videos of sewers who just do the straight stich, ignoring the fancier stitches the machine can make. Two areas of use occur the me (just me). One, as you mentioned, a quilt. Imagine a quilt has 5 blocks by 7, all the same. One could use this method to make a subtle variation among those blocks. That variation could create a look of development. For example, the often repeated flying geese unit. In some units, the fabric could be plain. In the second, the fabric could have one line of decorative stitching. In another two. In another three. Across the quilt, one might made a development of decorative stitching to add variation, the spice of life, to the overall design. Two, clothing. Many articles of clothing use piecing as a shaping function. One could use this method to turn function (shaping) into form (decoration). Thank you for pointing out the enormous possibilities of decorative stitches built into modern sewing machines. Sewers and quilters could make great strides in art and craft if they would but take the time to explore what their fancy machines can do.

[@anniecooper379]

Hi Kim, I have both an awesome Janome 15000 and DC6050. My understanding is that the walking foot cannot be used for decorative stitches that go back and forth, yet here you are disproving that. Wow, what a difference that will make in my decorative sewing. Thanks for that knowledge.

[@Chatterboxquilts]

Yes, absolutely

[@maryhull531]

You are so easy to understand . Great tutorials .

[@melindatijerina3433]

Good Morning Kim thank you for this tutorial regarding the special stiches , I didn't know about the stabilizer , so this can be used for table runner as well

[@lorraineknox7695]

Lovely video. I think you can also put the same fabric on the back and your fabric will then be lined and used in a pencil case or make reversible fabric.

[@lavernecady8832]

I was looking for this subject matter and you had exactly what I was searching for. Subscribed, liked and hit special notifications button.

[@Chatterboxquilts]

Awesome, thank you!

[@frauzou1584]

Thank you so much for sharing the info. My new sewing machine is an Elna 680, which is a perfect twin to your Janome machine. I m so happy, I found your channel because there are nearly zero videos online about computerized sewing machines made by Elna. Your videos are so helpful and percise.

[@TheLadycopeck]

Very good info. I will be using my special stitching more often

[@joane8651]

Thanks for the helpful tips. I was making a crumb block to donate and when I finished my 12 inch square thought it kind of looked just okay. I picked a stitch that I had never used before and sewed across a piece on an angle and was amazed at how much prettier the block became. I need to use those stitches more often. Your little 'chart' you made to test was a great idea!

[@Chatterboxquilts]

You're welcome, Joan. Those decorative stitches can really jazz up a project!

[@SuperMsCarol]

Oh great idea. Thanks so much.

[@mohanramsujatha]

Excellent tutorial!

[@cindymcfarland4686]

Great information, Kim. I have so many stitches on my Viking Sapphire that I've never used since I mostly use my machine for piecing quilt blocks.. This is a good way to incorporate some of the pretty stitches into my quilting. I appreciate the tip on the stabilizer. I should know that since I embroider, too, but it never dawned on me to use it for decorative stitches.

[@Chatterboxquilts]

Glad you found it useful, Cindy. Yes, that stabilizer makes all the difference ;)

[@jeanwhite4097]

Great idea to use stabilizer......when I got my 9400 my dealer said that there were only a few decorative stitches that could be used with the accu feed foot ie the serpentine stitch would work. I often wondered about this. Will definitely be asking my dealer about this again. Thank you for the video.

[@Chatterboxquilts]

Hi Jean! Maybe this is a case of ignorance, but I didn't know that I wasn't supposed to stitch these types of stitches with the walking foot. Worked well for me and doesn't cause any issues with the machine, so why not?!

[@debbyledonne1410]

I’m wanting to learn how to access stitch #20 in quilt

[@rashmivij4390]

Thank you for this video. I have a Brother Dreamweaver with tons of decorative stitches, and, haven't used them till date. You have given me a great idea to make some cushion covers with a central block with these stitches. Can I use batting in place of the stabilizer?

[@Chatterboxquilts]

Hi Rashmi: I would try using batting on a small sample to see how it goes, but I think that you will find that you need to use stabilizer to avoid the scrunching up of the fabric. It depends on the density of the decorative stitch that you are using. Good luck and I'd love to see what you create.

[@oldtimerlee8820]

Interesting video. Enjoyed seeing the concept. My machine has 150 stitches and I haven't seen many of them. Do have a question. Why do you lock stitches at the beginning and end of a row, when you know the fabric will be cut to go into a project? I see this so much, in places where locking the stitches is a waste of time, IMO. Thanks for the video and opinion.

[@Chatterboxquilts]

I find that I need to lock my decorative stitches if I'm using them where they don't go completely to the edge of the fabric. I think it's also just a habit 😉 I agree that if you are going to be cutting through the fabric and through part of the stitched decorative stitches that you don't need to lock them. Good question!

[@rhondabarlow860]

Informative video. Question: Is there a reason you are sewing on the diagonal? Would the technique work just as well on the vertical or horizontal?

[@Chatterboxquilts]

Because I love anything on a diagonal! You can definitely do this horizontally or vertically - your choice.

[@akhilaradhakrishnan3233]

How to change the number? for the decorative stitches?

[@Chatterboxquilts]

From the Home menu, you can choose different stitch categories on the touch screen. I'd check your manual to see how to do this.

[@fkovacs1]

I know this is generally quilting, but I want to add a decorative stitch to enhance the stripes in a fabric I will be turning into a garment. Would it be better to add the stitch before or after I cut the garment pieces out? I m thinking I would get a better overall stitch if I do the whole piece before cutting. I'd rather do some more work to achieve a better result. Any suggestions?

[@Chatterboxquilts]

I would think that it might be better to do it before cutting out the fabric pieces, especially if some of the stitching would be near the edges of the fabric. I would use a water soluble stabilizer. You could trace the cutting line of the garment pieces on the fabric, do the decorative stitches, and then cut out the pieces. Good luck!

[@fkovacs1]

@@Chatterboxquilts Thank you, that was pretty much what I thought, down to the water soluble stabilizer. I'd rather get the opinion of someone with more experience in this area before I go and destroy something! 😄

[@tatyrdrgz]

My machine is making the decorative stitches under the fabric instead on top. Do you know how can i fix it?

[@Chatterboxquilts]

This could be a tension issue so I would suggest adjusting your top tension. Also be sure you are using stabilizer under your fabric - you should try this first. If you are still having issues, I would contact your local Janome dealer for more help.

[@charie212]

Hi there, I bought a 12000 4 yr ago and I have been nothing short of miserable ever since. i have tried using the walking foot to do decorative stitches and every three seconds it stops and tells me to make sure i have the right foot on.I have debated selling this machine and going back to Bernina. This machine is nothing but trouble,numerous problems.useless to take it back to dealer,been there,done that over and over again.. How did you get your walking foot to do decorative stitches???? Thanks, any help is very much appreciated.

[@Chatterboxquilts]

First, I have used a walking foot to do these on a Janome MC9400 and MC9450, not a 12000. I know that Janome doesn't suggest that you use a walking foot - they prefer you to use an F (satin stitch) foot. I sometimes push the boundaries ;) Sorry to hear that you are having so much trouble with the machine and yes, unfortunately, the local dealer is really the best place to go for help. Perhaps there is another dealer in your area that will be better able to help you?

[@mickeyhunt4656]

I have found my decorative stitches distort on a sandwiched quilt if there is any side or back stitch component to them - how does one remedy this?

[@Chatterboxquilts]

Typically this doesn't happen as the layers are usually sufficient to stabilize the quilt. I would suggest 1. going slowly as you stitch a decorative stitch and 2. Adding some tear away or wash away stabilizer under the sandwich to give additional support.

[@kimwood5239]

My brand new M7 is doing this too, and with a quilt sandwich. It’s overlapping ,like the shirt and pants ,pants are on top or into the the shirt. At first it was beautiful. I’m hoping I can figure this out.Thanks for video.