When you download an in-the-hoop clothespin cover design, you'll find four files. One file will begin with the letter "X" followed by 4 numbers. That's the embroidery file. The other files are marked with "_DL" -- those are the dielines. The dielines are used to cut the fabric for the front, back, and pocket of the clothespin cover ("_DLfront", "_DLback", and "_DLpocket",).  

If you have embroidery software, open the DL (dieline) files and print them at full size. These are the templates we will use to cut the shapes.   If you do not have embroidery software, you can sew the dielines directly onto paper.   To do this, hoop a piece of paper and embroider the dieline files.

Cut out the shape. Repeat this process and cut out the remaining fabric pieces: the back, and the pocket.

Now that the fabric pieces are cut and ready, it is time to embroider the clothespin cover.   Hoop a piece of tear-away stabilizer.

Attach the hoop to the machine and load the embroidery file (the file that starts with an "X" followed by four numbers).   Embroider the design. The first thing that sews is another dieline. After the dieline has sewn, stop the machine.

Spray the backside of the front fabric piece with adhesive. Lay the fabric right inside the shape and continue with the design.   A tackdown stitch will sew next around the entire outer edge of the shape. This binds the fabric piece to the stabilizer for the remainder of the design.

Continue with the design. The inner elements of the design will sew next.

Look for a note on the color change sheet that says "border" ("butterfly border" for example).   This is the top edge of the border of the main shape.   Match the color of the thread for this step with the final step which is the outer border (labeled as "back piece tackdown").

Look for a note that says "back piece tackdown".   When you reach this step, stop the machine.   Remove the hoop from the machine but do not remove the stabilizer from the hoop.  S pray the backside of the back fabric piece with adhesive and add it inside the shape on the backside of the embroidery.  

Spray the corners of the backside of the pocket piece with adhesive and align it with the top tab of the back fabric piece and smooth in place.

Since both sides of the embroidery will be seen, we are winding a bobbin in the same color as the top thread for the remaining step.  

Attach the hoop back on the machine and continue with the design.   Another tackdown stitch will sew next (the outer border). This binds the front, back, and pocket fabric together.  

Unhoop the stabilizer and gently tear away the stabilizer.

Now your clothespin cover is complete! Insert the clothespin into the pocket on the backside of the cover. The clothespin will be snug in the pocket, however, if you want it to stay in place permanently, add a couple drops of glue to the clothespin (on the inner side), insert it into the pocket, and press it in place on the backside of the cover.

If you like, you can create a refrigerator clip by adding a couple drops of all-purpose glue to a button magnet and pressing it in place on the backside of the clothespin.