Quilted coasters feature embroidered fireworks, the theme which permeates our Ultimate New Year’s Eve celebration party linens. Just imagine the explosive colors at Times Square as the apple drops at midnight! On this coaster, a colorful shaped Madeira border surrounds a white linen center, stippled with silver and topped with fireworks. Learn a Madeira appliqué technique, and some of the many My Design Center functions. Though easily done on THE Dream Machine
or Luminaire,
the coasters can be made on any embroidery machine and for any season by choosing another design or using suggested stitch substitutions. Whip up a stack for your New Year’s Eve party, or take a set as a hostess gift when you celebrate with friends.

Requirements for 1 coaster

• Colorful quilting cotton--9 x 13” and 6 x 6”
• Brother SA540
  water soluble stabilizer (wss) 9 x 13"
• Thin batting, preferably embroidery batting 9 x 13”
• White linen 9 x 13”
• iBroidery.com: Fireworks design DC HY0782 “4th of July”
  
• Threads: Brother embroidery in 3 colors for fireworks design, Brother silver metallic, fine cotton (1) to match quilting cotton and (2) white
• Needles: #75 for embroidery and construction, wing #100 or #120 for hemstitching
• Seam sealant
• Brother embroidery/sewing machine
  with 5x7 frame capability
• Optional: Silver embroidery floss, #7 crewel hand embroidery needle, point turner

Coaster Preparation

Create or download and save embroidery designs in machine memory or on a USB stick A. iBroidery.com DC HY0782 fireworks. Download and save.
B. Circle: In menu #4 select straight stitch circle #10. Resize it to 4.90”. Save. C. Serpentine circular frame: In menu #4 select frame #8. Resize to 4.28 x 4.31. Disregard the red dots which are the second and last color stop in the pattern. They will not be stitched. Save. D. Circular 3.75” stipple pattern: • Those comfortable with MCS, create a circular 3.75” stipple pattern. • Those who prefer detailed instructions, go to the end of the post. A complete, step-by-step picture tutorial is there.

Directions

1. Hoop Hoffman face down against Brother wss stabilizer in 5x7 frame. Two layers may be necessary. 2. Select frame design #8 from memory. Frame substitution suggestion: any circular design with a 3 ¾“opening. 3. Embroider with thread to match fabric, skipping the second color stop of the design. Stitch only color 1, the shape itself. It will repeat 3 times. 4. Remove from hoop and trim to a scant ¼” from stitching line inside the frame. Leave the remaining 9 x 13” piece outside the frame in place. Clip curves—yes, it’s all curves! So, clip all around, more frequently than shown in image below.
5. Turn right side out and use point turner to smooth out curves. Baste approximately ¼” away from shaped edge. No need to fuss over this. Obviously, I did not. This creates a Madeira appliqué frame for the coaster. Press but DO NOT apply spray starch or water. It might seem like a good idea but it is not. Trust me. It will make a mess of the wss.
6. Center and insert starched and pressed white linen and lightweight stabilizer in 5x7 frame. With white thread, stitch saved circular serpentine shape with just one repeat in center of linen. 7. Place Madeira frame over the linen, matching the colored frame to the white stitching line. Generously pin in place.
8. Baste the frame in place near the curved edge with lightweight stabilizer remaining under the linen. After basting, remove white stitches which marked the frame pattern line. 9. Insert wing needle. Use thread which matches the fabric in the needle (DO NOT USE NEEDLE THREADER) and bobbin. Stitch Madeira frame in place with blanket stitch #203, w 2.5, L 3.0. The blanket stitch #203 in menu 2 looks like pinstitch in the menu. It, too, progresses forward just one stitch, but the backward/forward movement repeats only twice, leaving less thread in the hole.

• Traditionally the thread used to join Madeira appliqué to fabric matches the Madeira fabric color. The finest thread available in colors to match the coaster borders is 50/2 DMC machine embroidery thread, which is much heavier than #80/2.
• All the coasters were pinstitched, leaving the wing needle holes almost filled. My aha! moment regarding the better suitability of blanket stitch came as I was researching substitute stitches for pinstitch. I regret not discovering this sooner.
• In summary, for Madeira attachment pinstitch is best with 80/2 thread and the blanket stitch for other fine but heavier threads such as Mettler 60/2 and DMC 50/2.

10. Cut away wss stabilizer close to stitching. Soak to remove remaining wss, roll in a towel to remove some moisture then press dry. Starch and press. 11. Place on embroidery batting. Use 5 x 7 template to center and insert in 5x7 hoop.

Tips

A. Place double sided tape on bottom of inner hoop. Excess tape may extend toward center but any tape extending beyond outer edge of hoop must be trimmed away.
B. Place template in inner hoop and center over design. C. Press down firmly. This joins the inner hoop and contrasting frame. Center over embroidery batting. There are no slubs in this special batting and no stabilizer is needed. However, I have other lightweight batting successfully without stabilizer. D. Pin batting to colored Madeira frame. E. Carefully lift joined contrasting frame, inner hoop and batting. Insert into loosened outer hoop. F. Tighten screw.
12. Attach hoop to machine. Open saved stippling design. Scan hoop with camera. See the camera icon boxed in yellow shown in the following photo. It will initiate the scan. 13. Drag stippling pattern to center of Madeira border with the stylus.
14. Thread needle BY HAND (don’t groan, you can do this.) with silver metallic thread. Do not use needle threader with metallic thread. Stitch the stippling pattern.
15. Open saved fireworks design, scan again and drag the design to the center of stippling. Embroider with chosen threads.
16. Remove basting threads. Open saved straight stitch circle design. As with previous designs, scan and drag design to surround Madeira frame and embroidery. 17. Cut 6” square of Madeira border fabric. Place right side facing down over embroidery to create coaster backing. Tape generously to hold in place.
18. Reduce machine stitching to lowest speed and embroider. Repeat, after advancing beyond the tie off stitches at the beginning of the design. 19. Remove from hoop and trim ¼” outside stitching line. 20. Make 3” slit in backing. Apply seam sealant to slit. Let dry.
21. Turn right side out through slit, taking care not to stretch the opening. Press carefully. 22. Hand stitch the opening closed.

Happy Holidays!