Apple-a-day with Janome: Apple Coasters

There is so much inspiration out there! When we decided to do an apple theme for National Sewing Month, I recalled seeing instructions for Apple Coasters in the brand new Sew-it…today magazine August/September 2014 issue.

This type of quick project is perfect for creating a stitch sampler for your machine. Whether your machine has 25 stitches or 500 stitches, they look so much better stitched out.

Start out with stabilized fabric, to support all the different stitches. Use one that fuses to the fabric. I cut 4 – 7″ square pieces of plain fabric to do my stitching, to create the ‘fabric’ to cut out the apples! For complete instructions for the coasters, please check out the magazine.

Select different stitches and stitch randomly all over each fabric square. Use this time to ‘play’ with your machine. Trying the different features, such as autolock to complete a stitch pattern. Stitch combinations. See how different patterns join to another. Program lettering…. An apple a day!

Test different weights of threads. Embroidery threads will give a nice sheen to the decorative stitches. 100% cotton will result in a denser stitch. Bobbinwork with a 12wt in the bobbin. Try and line up designs, bird ‘sitting’ on a vine. Stitch a test pattern and use it as a template to calculate where to start.

Challenge yourself and stack the stitches together, getting all pertinent points to match! I found using the stop/start button, if you have one, more accurate. Set speed of machine at medium and the patterns match up better. If you don’t have stop/start or speed control, sew at a even speed, not too fast and not too slow. The border guide foot is a great accessory to help line them up.