Machine Embroidery
Machine embroidery opens up a huge range of creative possibilities. Once you have learned the basics of using your embroidery machine, you can begin to explore different techniques, designs and projects and develop your skills at your own pace.
We have listed some of the most popular machine embroidery workshops that we run here at RE Treats Plymouth. If the workshop you would like isn't currently running, please email us to register your interest and we will try our best to accommodate your request.
First Stitches
New to machine embroidery? Learn how to set up your machine, prepare and hoop your fabric, choose the right stabiliser and thread, and stitch your first embroidery designs with confidence.
Technical
Take the mystery out of embroidery files and designs. Learn how to purchase and download designs, understand file formats, transfer designs to your machine and set them up ready for stitching.
FSL
Discover how to create beautiful embroidered designs without a fabric background. Learn about stabilisers, threads, design choice and the techniques needed to successfully stitch free-standing lace.
Beyond The Hoop
Your hoop size doesn't have to limit what you can create. Learn how larger embroidery designs are split, positioned and aligned so that you can successfully stitch designs that extend beyond a single hooping.
Build your skills step by step
Start at the stage that matches your current experience and progress through the workshops as your confidence and skills develop. You don't have to start at the beginning if you already have some experience.
Workshops are kept small, so places are limited on each date.
See what our learners achieve
Real learners, real progress and real projects created using the skills developed at RE Treats Plymouth.
From thinking of selling her machine to producing embroidery bigger than the hoop!
Starting point: When Janice first came to RE Treats Plymouth, she could stitch out designs already stored on her embroidery machine but didn't know how to add new ones. Frustrated by being limited to the built-in designs, she had reached the point where she was considering selling the machine.
Her progress: Working through all four machine embroidery stages, she learned how to transfer embroidery designs from her laptop to her machine and began discovering just how much more her machine could do. As her skills developed, so did her confidence to try increasingly challenging techniques, including FSL (Free Standing Lace).
Achievement: By the end of the four stages, she had progressed from relying entirely on her machine's built-in designs to choosing and transferring her own designs, creating embroidery larger than her hoop and confidently embroidering independently at home.
Larger-than-hoop embroidery
Janice started this larger-than-hoop design at RE Treats and felt confident enough to complete it independently at home.
In her words:
More ways to learn and create
Machine embroidery doesn't stop with the workshops above. Throughout the year you'll find a changing selection of creative and seasonal projects, giving you opportunities to try different techniques and discover more of what your embroidery machine can do.
From personalised gifts and decorations to appliqué, in-the-hoop projects and more creative uses of embroidery, workshops change throughout the year — so take a look at View current workshops to see what's currently available.
If there's a particular machine embroidery technique you'd like to learn, or something you'd like help with on your own machine, you can also request a bespoke workshop. This can be arranged as individual tuition if you would prefer to learn on your own.
Need supplies for your machine embroidery?
If you're building your machine embroidery kit or looking for useful tools and materials, take a look at my Machine Embroidery recommendations in the RE Treats Amazon shop. I've brought together useful craft supplies in one place to make it easier to find what you need.
