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Cardstock embroidery designs have been specially digitized to be embroidered onto paper. Only use designs labeled as cardstock designs, or the embroidery may just cut the paper rather than sew onto it.

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When selecting paper, choose a heavy-weight cardstock (65lb or heavier), handmade paper, or watercolor paper. When using paper with shorter fibers (such as cardstock) the needle perforations will be more visible around the embroidery, but it will still work well. Paper with longer fibers (such as handmade or watercolor paper) will hide the needle perforations better as the fibers can move more. This makes the holes left by the needle less obvious on the long fiber paper.

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Cut a piece of paper that is larger than the design. For example we cut our paper to 6.75" by 3" to cover our design (which was 2" x 6").

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Hoop a piece of medium-weight cutaway stabilizer. Make sure it is tight in the hoop with no wrinkles.

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Attach the hoop to the machine and load the embroidery file. Use a 75/11 sharp sewing needle instead of an embroidery needle. The sharp sewing needle has a finer point and it will make smaller perforations in the stabilizer. The first thing to embroider will be a 'Dieline' or 'Outline' stitch. This marks the area on the stabilizer where the paper piece will be placed.

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After the dieline has sewn, remove the hoop from the machine but do not unhoop the stabilizer. Spray the wrong side of the paper with temporary spray adhesive. Place the paper over the sewn dieline, and smooth it into place.

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Next, place the hoop back on the machine and embroider the "Cut line." This marks the area on the paper piece where the finished design will later be cut out. It also holds the paper piece in place.

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After the paper piece is sewn in place, follow the color change sheet, and embroider the inner details of the design.

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When the embroidery has finished, unhoop the stabilizer. Using scissors, carefully cut along the inner edge of the "cut line." Cutting right along the inner edge will remove the cut line from the edge of the paper, leaving a clean edge around the front half of the design.

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After cutting out the shape, turn over the design and trim the stabilizer close around the embroidered design. This will keep the stabilizer from being seen between the two pieces of paper, and make it easier to glue together. When cutting, be careful not to cut the paper or the embroidery.

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Cut a piece of the accent paper bigger than the embroidered bookmark. We cut another piece at 6.75" by 3". Then use white craft glue or permanent double sided tape to adhere the accent paper to the back side of the main paper. Doing this will hide the stabilizer and backside of the embroidery.

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Make sure the glue has dried completely before cutting the accent paper to shape. Once the glue is dry, carefully trim the accent paper by following the edges of the front embroidered paper. In the end you want both the front and accent back paper to be cut to the same shape with flush edges.

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These next three steps are optional. They allow for an accent ribbon or hanger to be added to the design. First, use a 1/4" single hole punch to put a hole into the center top of the design. This will be where the ribbon or hanger will go.

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Cut an 8" piece of ribbon or cord.

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Then thread the ribbon through the punched hole. To make a hanger, tie the ribbon into a loop at the top.

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Discover lots of machine embroidery ideas and inspiration on the Embroidery Library Pinterest page. Pin it yourself using the "Pin It" button on this page.

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Questions or comments? Let us know! Send an email to us; the address is support@emblibrary.com.