What to use for embroidery?

fizzyfeet_2

I'm sure some clever person on here will have some ideas

I've just started doing making rag dolls (well I've only made one so far, but I'm planning on a few more!) don't have an embroidery ring (is that what they're called??) and don't really want to go and buy one yet, until I know that I'm going to get use from it.

Is there something else I can use, or do to make it easier?

Thanks, Fizzy x

Olliebeak

Is this for embroidering the features on the face, fizzyfeet? It seems a bit much to have to buy a ring just for a few stitches.

Have you tried to do it without the frame by stretching the fabric over the 'spreaded-fingers' of your left-hand while embroidering with your right hand. I've got three different sized embroidery rings but find that they don't always help to improve the finished appearance - they can often leave unsightly marks on the fabric. If you're only embroidering something small, like the face of a rag-doll - I can't see how one would help at all.

Your rag-dolls sound lovely - Good Luck with them!

odds-n-sods

Emboidery hoop is the term you're looking for. I don't use them anymore myself. if its a small kit, i just hold the fabric in my hand, if its a large one I use a frame on a stand.

Olliebeak, to help keep the fabric nice, if you take the hoop off after every time you stitch and only have it on while you are working in it it won't leave the indentations as badly.

dolly_day_dream

When I have made rag dolls in the past I have always embroidered the features once the doll was made up and stuffed. The fabric is taut enough then and you don't/can't use a hoop on it.

fizzyfeet_2

Thanks you guys! Yes it is for the faces, maybe it was just awkward as I'm not actually that confident with it yet. I normally only make easy things with my sewing maching.

At least I know that the hoop won't make it easier, so don't feel that I'm missing out by not having one!

Thanks again for your replies xx

Penelope_Penguin

fizzyfeet wrote: »

I'm sure some clever person on here will have some ideas

I've just started doing making rag dolls (well I've only made one so far, but I'm planning on a few more!) don't have an embroidery ring (is that what they're called??) and don't really want to go and buy one yet, until I know that I'm going to get use from it.

Is there something else I can use, or do to make it easier?

Thanks, Fizzy x

They quite often come up on Freecycle. I've used them in the past but now find they're too much of a faff, so don't bother.

HTH, Penny. x

stefejb

A hoop that size wouldn't be very much - about 50p or so but I agree with dolly day dream in that it's easier to sew the features on to the stuffed face. I can see that you might want to do the embriodery first though if you're not confident about getting it right before you've finished the doll. alternatively you could draw the features on with fabric pens which could easily be done before the rest of the making up. sounds like a fun project - stick a piccy on when you're one

razra

I do a lot of cross stitch and I know when I needed a small hoop for something rather than buy one I cheated. I got a pastry cutter then put the fabby over it then secured it with rubber bands around the outside of the cutter.

It didn't hold it amazingly tight but it gave it enough tension so that I could stitch the bit I needed to

Hope that makes sense

Racklen

i did the eyes on the rag doll i did for my neice without a hoop ( also first embriodary i have ever doen) and its seems ok hope it stay sok without me using a hoop thought id only mneed a hoop if i was doing a big piece of work.