Welcome to My Style, My Stitch™ and enjoy the coolest designs in embroidered embellishment. On-trend with contemporary fashion, My Style, My Stitch™ allows you to select a really hip design, transfer it onto a favorite pair of jeans or top, and stitch over the lines to create a customized fashion statement. It is super simple, and so quick to do. So unleash your creativity and add your personal touch to a favorite garment with a few simple stitches – because it’s your style, in your stitch!

YOU WILL NEED:

• An apparel item (jeans, shirt, jacket – whatever you choose)
• DMC Design Transfer or Stencil
• DMC Pearl Cotton Size 5 with Chenille Size 22 needle or 
  DMC Embroidery Floss with Embroidery Size 8 needle
• Embroidery Hoop
• DMC Transfer Pencil or Pen with removable markings (only if you are using a Stencil)
• Beads (optional)

FASHION GARMENT

Choose the garment you would like to embellish. Make sure to wash your garment before starting, to remove sizing and prevent shrinkage or puckering later.

TRANSFER DESIGNS

Transfer designs are very simple and easy to use. They are printed with a special, permanent ink that works on light and most dark fabrics. Simply iron any transfer design onto your fashion garment and then stitch over the lines with your favorite color of DMC Pearl Cotton or Embroidery Floss.

STENCILS

Stencils are great for repeat patterns, mixing and matching for a unique creation. It takes only a few elements of a design to fashion your own distinctive look. Simply trace any stencil design onto your favorite garment using a Transfer Pen or Pencil with removable markings. Then stitch over the lines with DMC Pearl Cotton or Embroidered Floss for your embroidered embellishment!

THREADS

We recommend using DMC Pearl Cotton Size 5 or DMC Embroidery Floss for your fashion embroidery projects.

DMC Pearl Cotton Size 5 is a non-divisible, 100% cotton colorfast thread that is perfect for beginners (just use it as is, no dividing of strands). It is available in hundreds of shades, including multi-colors and metallics, for endless color combinations. It can be purchased at your local needlework and craft stores.

In order to use the DMC Pearl Cotton skein, remove the labels from each end and untwist the skein, as illustrated in the diagram below (click on the image to enlarge it).  1. Open skein into an oval shape and cut it in half at one end. 2. Pull out one strand of Pearl Cotton from skein. Hint: When first learning to stitch, you may find it easier to work with a shorter length of thread, so simply cut this piece in half. 3. Thread your needle and tie a knot at the end of thread.

DMC Embroidery Floss is the highest quality and most widely used Floss in the world. It is a 100% cotton, colorfast thread composed of six individual strands. You can stitch with three strands for a more delicate look, or all six strands for a bold fashion statement. You should stitch with at least three strands to cover the transferred lines of these designs.

DMC Embroidery Floss is available in hundreds of shades, including multi-colors, and metallics. It can be purchased at your local needlework and craft stores.

It is easier to work with shorter lengths of Floss, so cut the Floss into 12" lengths. Then separate the six strands of Floss by holding one end between two fingers and pulling out one strand at a time. The Floss in your hand will bunch up, but it will loosen once you pull out the single strand completely. Pull out the desired number of strands, one at a time, and then place them together for stitching.

NEEDLE

You will need a sharp pointed DMC needle to embroider your garment. For DMC Pearl Cotton Size 5, use a DMC Chenille Size 22 needle, as this needle’s eye easily accommodates the thickness of the Pearl Cotton. For DMC Embroidery Floss, use a DMC Embroidery Size 8 needle.

To thread the needle, hold the Pearl Cotton or strands of Floss, and moisten the thread tip into a stiff flat point. Then glide the thread through the eye of the needle.

EMBROIDERY HOOP

It is recommended that you use an Embroidery Hoop. It is easier to stitch with a hoop as it helps you to keep the fabric taut and prevents it from puckering. The hoop should be large enough to cover your entire design.

A hoop has an outer and an inner ring, plus a screw to tighten the rings together. In order to use a hoop, place the smaller inner ring on a flat surface. Lay your fabric, right side up, on top of the inner ring. Place the outer ring on top of the fabric and press it down firmly. Tighten the screw so that the fabric is tightly stretched within the hoop.

EMBROIDERY TRANSFER PEN/PENCIL

If you are using a stencil to trace your design onto your garment, you will need to use a Transfer Pen or Pencil with removable markings.

	DMC Embroidery Transfer Pen has a non-permanent, blue ink that allows for easy transfer of designs onto fabric. The ink is removable by using a damp cloth or cold water. The DMC Transfer Pen works well on light and medium colored fabrics.
	DMC Embroidery Transfer Pencil allows designs to be easily transferred onto dark colored fabrics. The white pencil markings are removable by using a damp cloth or cold water. It’s ideal for drawing or tracing designs onto dark colored fabrics.

BEADS

Beads are a great way to accent your designs. Make sure to use large hole beads that can accommodate a threaded Chenille Size 22 or Embroidery Size 8 needle.