The twin's birthday party is coming up, and one of the people we have invited has just had a baby girl. I felt like I couldn't leave her out, but she is much too small for a goody bag like her brother would be getting... so I went to Etsy to see what was trending for baby! I saw a ton of these embroidery hoops with baby names, but they were charging an arm and a leg for them. So, to the scrap closet I went! You can make your own hoop, too... If you know basic sewing like a back stitch, and can use a pair of scissors, this is completely easy (and cheap!)
For this project you will need:
Scissors
An embroidery hoop (I used a 6" wooden hoop)
Fabric to fit your hoop
The name you want to use, printed
A writing utensil
Felt, soft and stiff
Thread (optional: Embroidery thread)
Needle
Ribbon (optional, for hanging)
You'll of course want to start with the prep work! Go on to your computer and choose a font you like (one that you think will be easy to cut out). I used Pump Demi Bold in Photoshop for my text. Choose a size text good for your sized hoop. The longer the name, the larger the hoop you will need. Print! You will then cut out the letters of the name, and trace them on to the felt you chose for the name. Be sure you flip the letters backwards when you trace. This way, if any marker/pencil/what have you is left on the letters after you cut them out, it will be on the back side of the felt! For the bunting, you will need to cut out triangles of different colored felt. Mine were a bit over an inch a piece.
I used cotton quilting fabric for the background of this hoop. Wash, press and stretch your fabric inside of the hoop you want to use. Before you lay down your felt pieces to sew, be sure your screw is at the very top, so it will hang straight later. I used three strands of embroidery thread and a running stitch to sew the bunting on, using three stitches per each triangle. For the name, I used a back stitch and three strands of embroidery thread. I simply stitching through the middle of each letter.
Backing your embroidery hoop is an optional step. Some people like to leave their hoops open, but I prefer to close mine to give them a more finished look. I use stiff felt for backing. Simply take the inner circle of your embroidery hoop (preferably before you start making your project) and trace around it onto the stiff felt. Then cut the circle out.
Next, you'll need to fold the fabric into the back of the hoop, like the photo above. Use a running stitch to tightly hold the fabric into place. Then place the felt circle you cut out earlier over the back of your hoop.
Start by bringing your thread through from the back side of the felt, then use a whip stitch around the entire felt circle securing it to the cotton fabric underneath!
Usually I use a matching thread, so the stitches are less visible, but I used a nice pink so you could see what it looks like completed! I had the twins "helping" me ... they seem very amazed by sewing, so please excuse the wonky stitches.
Since you can't hang your closed embroidery hoop by the back anymore, you will need some other way to hang it up. I make a ribbon hanger. It's really simple! Just take about one foot of ribbon, and double it over. You will want to tie a slip knot about half way down the length of your ribbon. After this is done, place the knot behind the screw at the top, and tie a bow around the screw, underneath it.
It should look like this when you're done! Just trim up the ribbon and you have a hanger!
Ta-da! Super cute, right? I think I'm getting a bit obsessed with hoops, now I want to make an entire wall of them for my house...
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