Embroidery Library - Machine Embroidery Designs Inspired Project Page

Refrigerator Magnets

In-the-Hoop Refrigerator Magnets

Click on the image to the right
to see the free video tutorial, or
read below for written instructions.

Video is viewed best in Internet Explorer with
a high-speed connection, and Windows Media Player.

To find the in-the-hoop refrigerator designs, visit www.EmbLibrary.com!

When you download a refrigerator magnet design you'll find three files (applique refrigerator magnets have four files).

Two of the files are marked with "_DL" -- that stands for "dieline."

Applique refrigerator magnet designs have three "DL" files. The files are "_DLFront" for the front pieces, "_DLBack" for the back pieces, and "_DL" files for the inside elements (snowman, etc). The dielines are what we'll use to cut the fabric to the exact shape of the magnet.

If you have embroidery software, print the dielinest. If you don't have embroidery software, you can cut a piece of paper the shape and dimensions of the dielines to help with placement.

Spray a piece of medium-weight cutaway stabilizer with temporary adhesive.

Smooth the fabric for your magnet on top of the stabilizer.

For this demonstration, we're using lightweight canvas to make the magnet.

Place the paper template on top, and cut out the shape. Do this for the front dieline, and the back dieline too.

If you don't have embroidery software, then you can embroider the dielines. Spray a piece of cutaway stabilizer with adhesive...

Smooth the fabric on top.

Hoop the fabric and stabilizer together, firmly.

Embroider the dieline.

After the dieline has finished, cut out the shape.

Do this for the front and back dielines.

Now that the fabric pieces are cut and ready to go, it's time to make the magnet. Hoop a piece of tear-away stabilizer.

Load the full embroidery design into your machine -- that's the design that begins with the letter "X" followed by 4 numbers.

Embroider the design. The first thing to embroider is another dieline, and that traces the shape of the magnet on the stabilizer.

Spray the back side of the front fabric piece with a bit of adhesive.

Place that piece right inside the sewn dieline.

Continue embroidering the design. The next thing to sew is a zig-zag stitch, and this tacks the fabric down to the stabilizer to hold it in place during the rest of the embroidery.

Other elements of the design will embroider next.

If you are embroidering an applique refrigerator magnet design, watch for a note on the color sheet that says "dieline."

After the dieline (or dielines) sew, stop the machine. Use the "_DL" files to cut out the shapes from the fabric of your choice. We backed the fabric for our magnets with cutaway stabilizer to make it more rigid.

Spray the backside of the fabric pieces with adhesive and place them right inside the dieline shapes. Continue with the design, a tack down stitch will sew next.

Other elements of the design will embroider next.

On the color change sheet you'll see a note that says "back piece tack down." When you get to this point, stop the machine.

Spray the back side of the back fabric piece with adhesive.

Remove the hoop from the machine, turn it over, and place the back fabric piece right inside the shape.

If you wish, you can wind a bobbin with the same thread that you'll be using in the top needle and use that for the remaining steps.

Attach the hoop to the machine, and continue embroidering the design. The next thing to sew is a tack-down stitch which binds the back fabric to the stabilizer. And finally, a satin stitch border which gives the magnet a professional, clean finish.

Remove the stabilizer from the hoop and gently tear the excess stabilizer away.

Add self-adhesive magnet strips to the back of the magnet.

Or, apply button magnets to the back with drops of hot glue. You can also use rubber cement, which has great sticking power.

Place them anywhere you need a bit of embroidered beauty -- refrigerators, filing cabinets, and more!

Click here for a printable version of these project instructions.

You'll need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. If you don't have it, you can download a free copy by clicking on the icon below.