Shackets (a shirt which can also be worn as a jacket) and overshirts are coming back this fall; another 90s trend that we are apparently circling back to – as I date myself! lol! I found the perfect way to personalize this overshirt with machine embroidery. The official definition of an overshirt is “a cross between a shirt and a jacket”. Basically, I would use this to describe any button-down shirt that I wear with a t-shirt underneath.
I purchased this denim jean button-down shirt at a big box store.
There’s obviously many, many different ways you can give this a bit more personality using machine embroidery. This one is for a friend… and you know me and dog stuff. So, I’m personalizing this with a friend’s favourite dog breed, the Whippet, embroidered on the back. There are lots of files you can source for machine embroidery, and you can even make your own. Don’t forget to sign up for the free trial of the Artistic Digitizer, which starts October 1st.
When using a file from another source, you want to make sure you select a JEF (Janome Embroidery File) file and get a size which is appropriate to your project and the embroidery hoop you want to use.
This denim shirt is a heavy weight, which is perfect to wear as a shacket. But it’s also great for machine embroidery. I didn’t worry too much about adding an additional stabilizer material to my project because it was so stable all on its own. I wasn’t worried about the density of machine embroidered stitches altering the fabric at all.
My embroidery work was going on the back of my jean shirt so I measured out the centre and made a chalk mark to aid in positioning the file.
For the Janome Skyline S9, which is what I use, there are three hoop sizes: RE20a (6.7″ x 7.9″), SQ14a (5.5″ x 5.5″), and FA10a (3.9″ x 1.6″). For this first design, I used the RE20a.
I like to use the Janome apps when I do machine embroidery. Not only are the ones mentioned here free, they are really easy to use and a big time saver.
To start, I use the Janome AcuEdit app to set up my design.
I imported my design and positioned it in the app. I can resize, rotate, and when I’m ready, send the design via Wi-Fi to my Janome Skyline S9.
My next step is to use the Janome AcuSetter app. This app is definitely a time saver! When setting my shirt in the hoop, I take steps to make sure everything is centered and level, but I don’t have to stress about it as long as I’m close. That’s because the Janome AcuSetter app allows me to adjust positioning till everything is perfectly lined up.
Then I can see exactly how it will look on my garment!
This was a really involved embroidery file. It’s gorgeous, but it had a lot of thread colours; 22 to be exact! Thank goodness for my Madeira thread and for the superior needle threader on my Janome Skyline S9!
The Janome AcuMonitor app also helps manage embroidery projects with ease. I can easily follow along with the progression of my project so I can do other things while it works away, but then come back when I need to change thread, or if I have to manage a thread break.
I love how detailed this embroidery file is, which I guess it should be for being over 22,000 stitches!!
That little chalk mark can now be gently buffed out.
I decided to add a small detail to the front of this shirt. Again, using all three apps Janome apps: AcuEdit, AcuSetter and AcuMonitor made this super easy. I switched my hoop to the SQ14a as this text was a little smaller.
I’m super excited with how this turned out and I know my friend will be as well.
Are you joining in on the shacket trend? There are lots of patterns available to sew your own, too! What’s the greatest number of thread changes you’ve done on a machine embroidery project? I’d love to hear feedback!
Trina
Janome Life 