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In-the-Hoop Gift Tags

In-the-Hoop Gift Tags

Christmas is a big time of year for gift tags, but not the only one! In addition to labeling all your gifts this holiday season, create one-of-a-kind tags for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, graduations, and all sorts of special occasions, with these colorful and quick-sewing gift tags.

Use any fun fabric to give these gift tags a festive appeal. And, when you use muslin fabric on the back, you can easily write a personal message with a fabric marker or fine-point pen.

Supplies needed:

** Small piece of fabric (for front)
** Small piece of 100% cotton muslin fabric (for back)
** Tear-away stabilizer
** Cut-away stabilizer
** Spray adhesive
** 1/8-inch-wide ribbon
** Fabric marker or fine-point pen
** Craft knife

Designs used:
In-the-hoop Christmas Gift Tags

Instructions:
The gift tag designs come with two files. One file will begin with the letter "X" followed by 4 numbers -- that's the embroidery file. The other file begins with "X" but ends with "_DL" -- that's the dieline file.

The dieline is used to cut the fabric for the front and back of the holder.

If you have embroidery software, open the dieline file, and print it at full size.
This will be a template for the design.

If you don't have embroidery software, then hoop a piece of paper to embroider the dieline and make a template.

Load the "_DL" file into your machine and embroider it onto the piece of paper.

To prepare the front fabric of the tag, make a "sandwich" of stabilizer, fabric, and the paper template. We are using a cotton print for the front fabric. Start by spraying a piece of cut-away stabilizer with a bit of adhesive, and smooth the fabric on top. Then use a bit of adhesive or masking tape to keep the template in place.

Cut out the shape.

To prepare the back fabric, make another sandwich of cut-away stabilizer, fabric and, paper template. Follow the same process as before -- use spray adhesive to temporarily bind the fabric and stabilizer together, and a bit to hold the paper template in place.

We are using 100% cotton muslin fabric for the back.

Cut out the shape.

Now, with the gift tag pieces cut and ready, we can embroider the tag.

Hoop a piece of tear-away stabilizer.

Attach the hoop to the machine, load the design (the file that starts with "X" followed by 4 numbers), and begin embroidering the gift tag. The first thing that will sew is another dieline.

After the die line has sewn, spray the stabilizer side of the front fabric "sandwich" with a bit of adhesive and...

...lay the "sandwich" directly inside the die line that has just sewn. Continue embroidering the design. A zigzag/tack-down will sew next. This holds the fabric in place during the embroidery.

Then, the inside elements of the gift tag will sew.

On the color change sheet you'll see a note that says "back piece tack down." Stop the machine and remove the hoop. Now it's time to add the back fabric to the gift tag.

If you are planning to personalize the label, this is a good opportunity. You can do this after the tag is completed, of course, but if you make a writing mistake, at this point you can always cut another back piece.

Spray the wrong side of the back fabric.

Add the back piece to the backside of the embroidery.

The next parts to embroider will be seen from both the front and back of the holder. We want the bobbin thread to match the top thread for these remaining steps, so we wound a bobbin with the same thread that we're using in the top.

Put the hoop back into the machine, and continue sewing. Another zigzag/tack down will sew. These stitches will attach the back fabric to the holder.

After the tack down stitches are complete, an eyelet will sew, and a satin-stitch border finishes the edge of the tag.

When the design is finished sewing, remove the hoop and unhoop the stabilizer. Gently tear away the excess stabilizer.

Use a craft knife to cut a small hole in the eyelet. Be careful not to cut any of the stitches.

Cut a length of ribbon (we used about 8 inches) and thread it through eyelet.

Search for Gift Tags at www.EmbLibrary.com!

Commemorate weddings, anniversaries, graduations, wedding showers, and any happy occasion, with beautiful and versatile in-the-hoop gift tags!

Tie the tag to a gift package or gift bag, and your one-of-a-kind gift is complete.

Click here for a printable version of these project instructions.

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