Hanging Ornaments from Summer Fun Coaster Designs

These projects use the Flower, Butterfly and Berry coaster designs in the Summer Fun 
Coaster collection and the Floral Heart Coaster from the Spring Coaster collection.  
However, any appropriate appliqu design with a finished edge could be used instead.  
Just be sure to stitch the outside outlines first, apply the front and back fabrics, then 
complete the center designs if any.  For this project you will need to use the same color of 
thread in your bobbin as the top thread for each different thread color in the design.

Before beginning, preshrink all project fabrics and back them with fusible webbing such 
as WonderUnder.

If you have a mini-iron (highly recommended for this project and all other appliqu 
projects) fuse each applied fabric piece after trimming away the excess fabric from 
around the outline stitches before stitching the satin stitch finishing edge.  Lay the hoop 
on a hard, flat heat protected surface to do this.  Even though this project requires you to 
place fabric over the front and the back of the hooped stabilizer, only fuse the front piece 
of fabric while it is in the hoop.  Fusing the back piece may accidentally dislodge the 
project from the hoop unless the stabilizer is supported from beneath.


Flower

1. Hoop a piece of Ultra-Firm cut-away stabilizer.
2. Advance forward in the Flower Coaster design until stitch sequence #5, first 
outline stitching for the flower.  Stitch #5 stitch sequence.
3. Remove the hoop from the machine.  Place a piece of fusible web backed fabric 
over the outline stitching on both the front and the back of the hoop.  Be sure to 
cover all the stitching lines. Use temporary spray adhesive to hold the fabric in 
place.  Put the hoop back in the machine and stitch the next stitch sequence #6 
second outline stitching for the flower.
4. Remove the hoop from the machine and trim away the excess fabric on both the 
front and the back of the hoop.  Trim as close as possible to the stitching line 
without cutting through the stitches.  If you have a mini-iron, fuse the flower 
fabric to the cut-away now.  
5. Put the hoop back in the machine and stitch the final satin stitch finishing edge 
(stitch sequence #7) using the same color of thread in the bobbin as on top.
6. The design will now have advanced back to the beginning of the color chart.  Sew 
stitch #1 stitch sequence, the flower petal detailing.  You can either use the same 
color thread as the satin stitched edging or a shade lighter or darker.  Just 
remember to use the same color of thread in the bobbin as well.
7. Sew stitch #2, appliqu material for the flower center.  Remove the hoop from the 
machine and lay a piece of fabric for the flower center over this circle outline 
stitching on both the front and the back of the hoop. Be sure to cover all the 
stitching lines. Use temporary spray adhesive to hold the fabric in place. 
8. Sew stitch sequence #3, appliqu position for the flower center.  Remove the hoop 
from the machine and trim away the excess flower center fabric from both the 
front and the back of the hoop.   If you have a mini-iron, fuse the flower center 
fabric to the flower fabric now.  
9. Put the hoop back in the machine and stitch #4, appliqu for the flower center 
finishing the edges of the flower center. Remove the cut-away from the hoop and 
follow the "Assemble your hanging ornament" directions below to finish.

Butterfly

1. Hoop a piece of Ultra-Firm cut-away stabilizer.
2. Advance forward in the design and sew stitch sequence #3, first outline stitching.   
Remove the hoop from the machine.  Place a piece of fusible web backed fabric 
over the outline stitching on both the front and the back of the hoop.  Be sure to 
cover all the stitching lines. Use temporary spray adhesive to hold the fabric in 
place.  Put the hoop back in the machine and stitch the next stitch sequence #4 
second outline stitching for the butterfly.
3. Remove the hoop from the machine and trim away the excess fabric on both the 
front and the back of the hoop.  Trim as close as possible to the stitching line 
without cutting through the stitches.  If you have a mini-iron, fuse the butterfly 
fabric to the cut-away now.  
4. Reverse back to stitch sequence #1, veins in the butterfly wings.  Stitch that 
detailing using the same color of thread in the bobbin as in the top. This thread 
color should either be the same color you will use for the satin stitching around 
the outside edge of the butterfly, or a color that is slightly darker or lighter than 
the butterfly fabric.
5. Sew stitch sequence #2, detailing on butterfly wings.  Variegated thread works 
nicely for this.  Use a contrasting color that compliments the butterfly fabric.  
Remember to use the same color in the bobbin.
6. Advance forward to stitch sequence #5, satin stitch edging for the butterfly. Sew 
this finishing edge using the same color in the bobbin as on top.
7. Sew stitch #6, appliqu material for the body of the butterfly.  Remove the hoop 
from the machine.  Place a piece of fusible web backed fabric over the outline 
stitching on both the front and the back of the hoop.  Be sure to cover all the 
stitching lines. Use temporary spray adhesive to hold the fabric in place.  Put the 
hoop back in the machine and stitch the next stitch sequence #7 appliqu position 
for the butterfly body.
8. Remove the hoop from the machine and trim away the excess fabric on both the 
front and the back of the hoop.  Trim as close as possible to the stitching line 
without cutting through the stitches.  If you have a mini-iron, fuse the butterfly 
body fabric to the cut-away now.  
9. Put the hoop back in the machine and sew stitch sequence #8, appliqu for the 
butterfly body using the same thread color in the bobbin as on top. Remove the 
cut-away from the hoop and follow the "Assemble your hanging ornament" 
directions below to finish.

Heart

1. Hoop a piece of Ultra-Firm cut-away stabilizer
2. Advance forward in the design to stitch sequence #3, appliqu material, which is 
the first outline stitching for the heart.  After stitching, remove the hoop from the 
machine and place a piece of fabric backed with fusible webbing over the 
stitching lines on the front and the back of the hoop. Be sure to cover all the 
stitching lines. Use temporary spray adhesive to hold the fabric in place. 
3. Put the hoop back in the machine and sew stitch sequence #4, appliqu position, 
which is the second outline stitching of the heart.
4. Remove the hoop from the machine and trim away the excess fabric on both the 
front and the back of the hoop.  Trim as close as possible to the stitching line 
without cutting through the stitches.  If you have a mini-iron, fuse the heart fabric 
to the cut-away now.  
5. Put the hoop back in the machine and sew stitch sequence #5, appliqu, which is 
the satin stitch edging for the design.
6. Now complete the center floral design, remembering to use the same color of 
thread in the bobbin as the top thread.  Remove the cut-away from the hoop and 
follow the "Assemble your hanging ornament" directions below to finish.

Strawberry

1. Hoop a piece of Ultra-Firm cut-away stabilizer.
2. Sew stitch sequence #1, first outline stitching.  Remove the hoop from the 
machine.  Place a piece of fusible web backed fabric over the outline stitching on 
both the front and the back of the hoop.  Be sure to cover all the stitching lines. 
Use temporary spray adhesive to hold the fabric in place.  
3. Put the hoop back in the machine and advance forward to stitch sequence #5, 
second outline stitching for the strawberry.  Remove the hoop from the machine 
and trim away the excess fabric on both the front and the back of the hoop.  Trim 
as close as possible to the stitching line without cutting through the stitches.  If 
you have a mini-iron, fuse the strawberry fabric to the cut-away now.  
4. Put the hoop back in the machine and sew the next stitch sequence #6, satin stitch 
edging on the berry portion of the strawberry.  Use the same color of thread in the 
bobbin as on top.
5. Advance forward in the design to stitch sequence #2, seeds on the strawberry.  
Use either black or yellow thread in both the bobbin and the top to stitch this 
sequence.
6. Advance forward the stitch sequence #4, appliqu material for the strawberry cap. 
Remove the hoop from the machine.  Place a piece of fusible web backed fabric 
over the outline stitching on both the front and the back of the hoop.  Be sure to 
cover all the stitching lines. Use temporary spray adhesive to hold the fabric in 
place.  
7. Put the hoop back in the machine and stitch the next stitch sequence #5, appliqu 
position for the strawberry cap. Remove the hoop from the machine and trim 
away the excess fabric on both the front and the back of the hoop.  Trim as close 
as possible to the stitching line without cutting through the stitches.  If you have a 
mini-iron, fuse the strawberry cap fabric to the cut-away now.  
8. Put the hoop back in the machine and advance forward to stitch sequence #7, 
appliqu satin stitch edging for the strawberry cap.  Use the same color thread in 
the bobbin as on top.  Remove the cut-away from the hoop and follow the 
"Assemble your hanging ornament" directions below to finish.

Assemble your hanging Ornament

Materials Required:

Needle Nose Pliers (for crimping beads)
Wire Cutters 
Glass Beads
Lobster Clasp
2 Crimping Beads

1. Carefully cut out the design, trimming away the excess cut-away stabilizer.  Cut 
as close as you can to the satin stitch edging without clipping any stitches.  If you 
do, mend them with a bit of seam sealant.  Use scissors with small curved blades 
for best results.  Embroidery Nips from www.tools-gadgets.com work perfectly 
for this job.
2. Iron the ornament from the back and then again from the front to complete the 
fusing of the fabrics.  Protect the embroidery stitches with a press cloth while 
ironing.
3. Using a large needle, push a hole slightly under the satin stitch edging through all 
layers of the ornament. This is where the beaded hanging wire is placed, so 
consider how the ornament will hang before placing the hole.
4. Cut a 12" piece of beading wire. Thread a crimp bead over the wire before you 
poke it through the hole, then loop the wire back through the crimp bead again 
forming a loop around the edge of the ornament.  Pull one end of the wire down 
so that you have a 1" tail above the crimping bead, leaving the other end of the 
wire long.  Crimp the bead firmly, securing the loop. The crimp bead should be 
sitting just slightly above the satin stitched edge of the ornament.
5. Thread pretty glass beads in a pleasing arrangement onto the wire, enclosing the 
1" tail under some of the beads.  When you have a desired length finished, poke 
the end of the wire through another crimping bead, through the hole in the end of 
a lobster clasp and back through the crimping bead again.  Before tightening, push 
the wire down through two or three beads.  Holding the lobster clasp, pull the 
wire so that the excess is removed and the loop through the lobster clasp is snug.  
The loop should not be so tight that the wire cannot swing, but also should not be 
large and sloppy.  Holding the tail end of the excess wire close to the beads, crimp 
the crimping bead.  Clip the excess wire away as close to the beads as possible.  If 
you have a tiny piece sticking out, use a pin to poke it into the beads below.
6. Hook your new hanging ornament on a purse, the belt loops of your jeans, a 
favorite hat band, or the chain pull of your fan, your backpack or whatever you 
desire and enjoy!

Please do not reproduce or distribute copies of this project article without written permission from Evy 
Hawkins of A Bit of Stitch.
