SoChick Embroidery {Put a Monogram on It!}

If you are following me on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter... chances are you know what I've been up to.  And if not, I'm about to tell ya!

We'll have been in Western North Carolina for a year now at the end of this month.  When we moved I decided it was time to bring SoChick! Handbags & Embroidery back to where we started, with personalized embroidered gifts.  While I have been making a few bags here and there, I am very excited with where machine embroidery is taking this little business of mine and look forward to growing in our new location.

When you visit our website, www.sochickhandbags.com, you will find that it's been updated with a shopping cart, the ability to create an account and track your orders, as well as complete ease in ordering products with lots of options for personalization!

Here are our newest items:

Ladies Monogrammed Basic Tee... a great gift idea for Bridal Parties!

Monogrammed Caps.. for beach, pool, golf, ... or bad hair days.

Lots of Monogram Styles to choose from...

... and lots of colors, too!

Our most popular item is our Anchor Monogram Tee...

with three shirt colors and two monogram styles (circle or fancy) to choose from!

I invite you to visit our online shop to place your order today!  Our ladies items are on SALE through May 20th!

See you soon!

 *** Don't forget that we also offer local monogramming services as well as personalized embroidered baby gifts!

XxOo~ Melissa

Getting Ready. {Shop Re-Launch}

Just a quick little post to let you know I'm working on some behind-the-scenes stitching at SoChick, and will be re-launching the embroidery shop very soon... how soon?  In time for the holidays!

XxOo~ Melissa

Ruffled Skirt with Appliqued Top {A Handmade Outfit}

I've been wanting to sew an outfit or two for my little chickies for quite some time, but am always hesitant; garment sewing freaks me out a bit.  So, before diving into all of the pretty patterns and kits that I've collected, I decided to try out an easy sewing tutorial to make a ruffled skirt for my youngest chick... of course I made a matching shirt to go along.

[The Project] 
Little Girl's Ruffled Skirt w/ Appliqued Tee

[The Skirt]
Pattern Used:
I used Tanya Whelan's Ruffled Skirt Tutorial, which I found on Pinterest.  I have also pinned the tutorial to my Sewing Board on Pinterest.

Fabrics Used:
Appleville Village, in Chocolate, by Suzy Ultman, for Robert Kaufman Fabrics. 
Tortoise Shell Coral, Saltwater by Tula Pink for Westminster.

[I love being able to keep my iPad open on the table while I work on a project!]

[Pieces cut]

[First Steps complete]

[Finished w/ elastic in the waist and hemmed]

[The Shirt]
Embroidery Machine Used:
Singer Futura CE-150

Embroidery Design:
Bella Frame Applique from PlanetApplique.com
Monogram from my Singer Software

Supplies:
Thread: Floriani & Isacord polyester embroidery thread
Stabilizer: Floriani Fusible Mesh & Oesd lightweight tear away
Fabrics: Same as I used in the skirt
White Tee from Target

[Hooped & stitching]

[With Monogram and trimmed]

[The Verdict]
This outfit was sew fast, easy and fun!

I quickly stitched the skirt while my little chickie was at preschool, on an abbreviated schedule, meaning I got the skirt cut and sewn within two hours!!

I completed the Tee in one evening; using my embroidery software's font feature, I was able to put little chick's Monogram within the Bella Frame Applique design.

I love the way this outfit turned out and the colors are perfect for fall.  We will add tights and a cardigan for chilly fall days.

I think it's safe to say that my little chick loves this outfit, too, because she has worn it several times since I've made it.  Success!

I have Tanya Whelan's book, Sew What You Love, and I like her quick and easy-to-sew patterns.  Have you visited Tanya Whelan's website?  Have you seen her book?  Let me know if you try this Ruffled Skirt Tutorial!

You can find Tula Pink's SaltWater Collection in my Esty Shoppe.

XxOo~ Melissa

My Custom Tankini {Swimsuit Embroidery}

I waited until the last possible minute to find a new swimsuit before we left for vacation last week... well, last possible day, anyway.  I settled on a mix n' match set from Target, coral bottoms with a Navy/White striped tankini top.

Needless to say, I wasn't super thrilled with the top as swimwear... it basically looks like a tube top, cute, but not like a swimsuit, and very plain. BUT, it was on SALE!  Naturally, I decided I should spice it up with some machine embroidery! 

I knew I wanted something nautical, so I headed over to my go-to Embroidery Site, Urban Threads, to purchase my design.  Also, this was a great opportunity to use some of the new supplies I picked up a few weekends ago at The Original Sewing & Quilt Expo in Raleigh.  

Here's the deets:

[The Project] 

Machine Embroidered Swimsuit (top)

Machine Used: 

Singer Futura CE-150

Material: 

 Swimtop from Target, 92% Polyester 2% Spandex; Fully Lined

Supplies:

 Thread: Floriani, 100%Polyester Embroidery Thread in Coral

 Stabilizer: Floriani No Show Mesh

 Topper: Madera Wash Away Avalon Film

 Embroidery Design: Ahoy from Urban Threads

Process: 

  I fused the stabilizer to the back of my swimtop, where I planned to position my design; I lightly hooped the top.  I didn't pull the fabric taught because of it's stretchy-ness and the fact that the area to be embroidered doesn't stretch much when worn.

  I then pinned my wash away film to the top before beginning embroidery.  I used white bobbin thread.

P.S.- Since this was a last minute thing, I had some anxiety about it and asked my machine, "Please don't eat my swimsuit", a few times... the whole design and process went very smoothly!

Here is the design right after taking it off of the hoop and trying on the top: 

Here is the design after a week of vacation, several wears at the beach and pool, including washing:

[The Verdict: on Embroidering Swimwear]

  The embroidery held up better than the top!  While the top is still perfectly fine to wear, I am super bummed that it was so stained by sunblock... I don't know that it'll last past this summer, but for a last minute sale find, I'm happy. 

  Embroidering on this swimsuit wasn't as difficult as I imagined.  That could be because it's not the super stretchy kind of material, but I have an old top that is, and I plan to try my hand at machine embroidery on it... I'll let you know how it goes.

P.S.~ The first day on the beach I saw a similar Target top... but it wasn't custom embroidered, like mine... Winning. *wink*

XxOo~ Melissa

February Is National Embroidery Month [Yay!!!]

I heart embroidery! Mostly, for me, it's machine embroidery... but I appreciate all types!


I plan to stitch something fun later in the month, but for now I wanted to share some fun-stitchy-embroidery-yummyness with you...


Enjoy!


{Embroidery floss in a rainbow of pretty Colors}

Source: flickr.com via Melissa on Pinterest

{Beautiful hand embroidery! I love the little bumble bee!}

Source: flickr.com via Melissa on Pinterest

{A stunning example of free-hand machine embroidery}

Source: flickr.com via Melissa on Pinterest

{One of my Go-To Sites for Embroidery Designs!}

Source: urbanthreads.com via Melissa on Pinterest

{Example of a cool Urban Threads design, Ahoy Matey, that I used for some gifted scarves}

Do you embroider by hand or machine? Planning to stitch up something for National Embroidery Month?? Leave a comment, I'd love to hear about it!


XxOo~ Melissa