Hey guys!! I have a surprise for you today
. Well, it’s not like a present or money or anything good like that, so don’t get your hopes up too high 
. But I did attempt to make a video with a full tutorial of how to embroider a name onto a baby blanket. When I first started out with machine embroidery, I really struggled with the basics. Things like hooping, placement, and which stabilizer to use are just to name a few. Today I wanted to share with you an easy beginners machine embroidery project to help you see exactly how to add a name to a baby blanket. I go through the entire procedure, minus making the design on the computer, from start to finish. I plan on making another video soon on how to make the design using Embrilliance. Read here to learn more about the programs Embrilliance offers and what I recommend.
Before we start, remember all of the supplies I am using can be found in my previous post on How to Get Started with Machine Embroidery. There, you can find links to all the products I use today
. Also if you want to learn about my DIY Craft Table and Pegboard, click here.
Hooping using the Floating Method
The baby blanket that I am embroidering today is pretty thick. Therefore, trying to hoop it the traditional way would be a little hard. So instead, I show you how to float the blanket onto the stabilizer. First cut a piece of stabilizer that is a little larger than your hoop. Then snap the hoop together with the stabilizer between the two pieces and tighten. I then use the grid that came with my hoop to mark for placement crosshairs.
I also use the hoop grid to mark placement crosshairs on the blanket.
Once everything is marked, I spray the stabilizer with temporary adhesive, then carefully line up my blanket crosshair with the stabilizer crosshair.
When the blanket is in place, I pin a piece of water-soluble topper onto the blanket. This also helps further secure the blanket to the stabilizer and hoop.
Easy Beginners Machine Embroidery Project Video
Disclaimer: This is my first time ever making a video so please don’t laugh too hard. I tried not to get nervous, but it definitely shows in the parts where I can’t even speak English correctly 
.
In the video below you can see step by step how I hoop the stabilizer and float the blanket onto the hoop. I then show you how I set up my Brother PE770 embroidery machine. I share a few tips and tricks along the way. Lastly, I show you what to do once your blanket is finished stitching.
If you have more questions please join my Facebook group for embroidery and vinyl crafts discussion and motivation.
Other Machine Embroidery posts you might like:
How to Get Started with Machine Embroidery: Supplies you will need
Brother PE800 Embroidery Machine Unboxing and Setup
Embrilliance Embroidery Software: The Best Program for Beginners
All About Stabilizers for Machine Embroidery
My Favorite Places to Buy Embroidery Designs
How to Hoop and Embroider a Baby Onesie
Hooping a Shirt for Machine Embroidery
Applique Tutorial from Start to Finish
How to Cut Applique Fabric using Silhouette Cameo
How to use 5×12 Multi-position Hoop
How I organize Fabric and Blank Clothing
How I Built my Sewing and Craft Desk (with mini craft room tour)
I hope you enjoyed my attempt at making a video tutorial on an easy beginners machine embroidery project. Please let me know if you have any specific techniques you would like to learn more about in future posts. Also let me know if you have any questions about the PE770. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
The post contains affiliate links and I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on my link. All opinions are my own and I only promote products that I use and love.
This was such a great tutorial! You explain things in a way that is easy to understand!
Thanks so much Denise!!
This makes me want to do machine embroider! I just need the sewing machine . . . Thanks so much for sharing at our Party in Your PJs.
I am just setting up my sewing machine for sewing this winter. I haven’t done much embroidery with my machine. I’ve made quite a few baby blankets, and fun easy projects. I’m excited to get back to sewing. Thanks for sharing at the Inspiration Spotlight party. Pinned & sharing. Hope to see you again this week.
I don’t know much about embroidery but this makes me want to buy one haha! I am pulling out my sewing machine soon !! Thank you for sharing!!
Hmmm… perhaps I should buy that embroidery machine. You make it look so easy, Karlie, and the results are impressive. I’ve always loved embroidery on towels, etc. I’ve showcased your post and video tutorial today.
Thanks so much Pam!!
Hi Karlie have just found you through Threading My Way, yes I have subscribed to your website and am looking forward to your videos.
I have Two Janome Machines a 9700 and an 1100 love both of them, I use 1100 mostly for machine embroidery and the 9700 as my sewer. Yes they both sew and embroider.
Thanks again for your Video on naming a baby blanket.
I look forward to seeing what comes next. I also use Embrilliance as my soft ware together with Embird and really like both of them
Happy days to you and yours
Gayle Z
Hi Gayle and thanks for subscribing! How do you like your Janome machines? I am just starting to use Embrilliance since my PC with Sew What Pro recently died, but am liking it so far. I have heard good things about Embrid but haven’t tried it yet. Hope you are having a great New Year 🙂
This was SO helpful. I hope you more.
I am a super new beginner to the pe770. It’s been in the closet for 2 years but I’m determined to break it out. I’ve been watching videos and I came across your blog about tools and essentials. Is the embrillince software absolutely necessary? I plan to monogram towels, bibs, burp cloths, shirts, and also do appliqués. Do you have a suggestion on which one would be best for me?
Hi Laura! Yes you will need some kind of embroidery software in order to use any designs that you purchase online, like monogram fonts. I recommend getting Embrilliance Essentials. With this program you will be able to merge designs (like embroidery fonts) and line them up to be placed on the hoop as you want. You will also be able to open an applique design, then add a name underneath. When buying embroidery fonts, look and see if it is offered in BX format. If so it makes using it in Embrilliance so much easier. Hope this helps and let me know if you have any other questions!
I bought a used brother pe780D and am attempting to personalize my children’s things, with fonts purchased separately from the machine. the machine did not come with any software; would the pe design 10 work to import these fonts and use them to make names? I’m extremely new to all this, thanks!
Hi Kara! No, your embroidery machine does not come with any software. I use Embrilliance Essentials software (http://www.embrilliance.com/jamaffiliates/karliebelle) to use designs and fonts I buy online on my machine. I have not used pe design but from my understanding, you would be able to upload fonts you buy online and be able to digitize your own artwork, but I believe this program is significantly more expensive than Embrilliance due to the digitizing features. If you are simply looking to use your fonts, or merge a cute applique design with you fonts to add a name under it, then I would go with Embrilliance. Hope this helps!
Thank you so much… this was great! New to embroidery and am so excited to do my first project. Looking forward to watching more from you. Do you have any tutorials on appliqués?
Thanks so much! I don’t currently have any tutorials on appliques but I will try and work on one. I have been trying to be more active on Instagram using stories and highlights. I recently added a how to hoop video that you can find in my highlights section. I will add appliques next!