Happy holidays! In today’s post we’re making festive decorations for your shoes!

These decorations are designed for lace up shoes and can be given as a gift or to add a fun, festive touch to your outfit.

Below are some free embroidery designs I’ve created for you as well as a tutorial on how to make them.

What will be needed:

• Sewing machine (735)
• Embroidery Module
  –Large Oval Hoop
  –Medium Hoop
  –Drop-Shaped Embroidery Foot #26
  -Embroidery Thread
  -Wash-away Stabilizer
• Organza Fabric or Felt Fabric
• Embroidery Designs (please find below)

Free Embroidery Designs

I’ve created some free embroider designs for you. Click on the red headings to download the zip file.
Please note that they are not for commercial use.

These designs are one size fits most lace up shoe. They won’t necessarily work for shoes below children’s size 5.
You can try resizing them for smaller shoes but keep in mind the size of the holes.

Snowflake or Gingerbread Biscuit

Depending on your fabric choice, you can make Snowflakes with white Organza or iced Gingerbread Biscuits with light brown Felt.
Each embroidered design will be about 8cm x 8cm.

Reindeer

I would recommend using Felt for this design. Brown for the antlers and red for the nose to create Rudolf.
Each embroidered Antler will be about 10cm x 5cm and the Nose 4.5cm x 2cm.

Fairy Wings

A white or colour Organza would be best for this design but Felt would work too.
Each embroidered Wing will be about 10cm x 6.5cm.

Embroider

1. Place the Wash-Away Stabilizer below the Organza in the hoop.

2. Thread your machine.
   Keep in mind that the embroidery design will be seen from all angles so wind your bobbin in the same embroidery thread.

3. Set up your Embroidery machine as you normally would.

After each of these steps, your machine will indicate for you to change the thread colour. That won’t be necessary, this is just how the embroidery design communicates to let you know that the stitch type is going to change.

4. Press start when ready.
   The machine will embroider the Cutting Line first.

5. Once the Cutting Line is stitched and the machine has stopped:
   Lift the presser foot and remove the Hoop from the machine.
   Do not remove the fabric from the Hoop.
   Make a snip at one of the corners and slip the scissors between the fabric & stabilizer. Then cut around inside of the Hoop.
   Neatly cut the fabric (not the stabilizer) about 2mm outside the Cutting Line.

6. Replace the Hoop and proceed to stitch.
   The next stitch the machine will want to do is the Tackdown stitch.
   This will help secure the fabric edge you just cut.

7. Proceed to embroider the Coverstitch Line.

8. Remove the embroidered stabilizer from the hoop and cut away the excess stabilizer.

9. Rinse or soak the items in water.
   Refer to the instructions that came with your stabilizer to know if the water should be warm or cool.
   Place the embroidered fabric between 2 towels, gently roll and press out the liquid.
   Lay the pieces flat, right side down, to air dry.
   If the pieces curl too much once dry, you can press them.
   I would recommend placing a pressing cloth or piece of fabric between the embroidery and iron.

To help visualize the other embroidery designs, I have superimposed them onto my shoes.

Tips

• I chose to use Wash-away Stabilizer for this project as I needed the stabilizer to completely disappear for a neat result. I also like how the stabilizer creates a starch effect on the fabric once washed off.
• If you are using a sturdy/not flimsy Felt, you may not need to use a stabilizer.
• Depending on the placement of the decorations, you may need to remove the shoelaces completely and re-lace them while threading on the decorations.
  For example, the reindeer nose is best placed at the base of the laces so they will need to be removed before attaching the nose.

Hope you have a wonderful festive season.

I would love to see what you make, please feel free to share with me!
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-Hannah-Rose