Machine embroidery involves using a specialized sewing machine to create tiny stitches in predetermined patterns from digital files, duplicating the pattern onto fabric. Throughout history, women have enjoyed embroidery and found it fulfilling. While techniques have modernized, the essence of using decorative stitching remains the same. There are various types of embroidery like applique, free standing lace, cutwork, and quilting. Finding high quality free machine embroidery designs can be difficult, but websites like the OPW Mall provide a large selection of designs from many vendors.

1. Free machine embroidery designs
Machine embroidery is the process of doing embroidery with a specialized sewing
machine. The sewing machine creates tiny stitches in a predetermined pattern, which
duplicates the pattern on the fabric, from electronic digital files.
The sewing machine sitting in a corner of the room is a common sight of nearly every
household. Throughout history, women of the household would spend time over the
machine, stitching and embroidering garments, household items and gifts. Every once in
a while, she glances over from the machine, lifts her creation up and smiles. Creating
each masterpiece gives her immeasurable pleasure and pride in her accomplishments.
Embroidery has been an integral part of a woman’s life since time untold. Through
technological improvements, from stitching with bones, to needles and now electric
machines, methods have changed so much. Yet the essence of embroidery will always
remain the same; using decorative and functional stitching to enhance and improve
fabric projects.
Machine embroidery is the process of doing embroidery with a specialized sewing
machine. The sewing machine creates tiny stitches in a predetermined pattern, which
duplicates the pattern on the fabric, from electronic digital files. There is a wide variety of
types of embroidery that can be done. Some of the main types of embroidery are
appliqué, free standing lace, cutwork, full stitch and quilting. Women over the years
have loved embroidery designs of all types. Embroidery designs are in certain shapes
and sizes to serve specific purposes.
Appliqué is a form of embroidery that applies fabric cut out into the shape of the pattern
being used with stitching tacking it down. The design is usually highlighted by stitching
vibrant threads on to the lines which are in between. This kind of embroidery is beautiful
when made and has existed for centuries.
Free standing lace is done entirely on the embroidery machine, creating the entire
pattern with thread, in a way that it all remains intact without stitching it on fabric. The
embroidery becomes ‘free standing’, with no fabric under it.
Cutwork, is just that… the art of having open areas in the pattern where the fabric below
has been cut away, creating interesting dimension to the project.
Full stitch work is done on fabric or a patch, and fills in each area of the artwork with
stitches.
Quilting is a form of embroidery done, when three or more layers of cloth are stitched
together to create a thicker padded material. Quilts have been popular in many cultures
throughout the ages. With the introduction of the embroidery machine, the quilter can
add decorative embroidered designs on the quilt as they stitch the layers together. These
designs usually represent motifs and things that the culture the woman belongs to, holds
dear. In quilting, embroidery patterns are usually termed as quilt squares. These squares
are stitched together with the rest of the layers when the quilt is being stitched. The

2. result is a huge quilt segregated into squares, triangles and other shapes of colorful
fabric alternating with squares with embroidery in them.
Another popular free embroidery design is linear designs for corners, hems and edges.
These designs help to fill in areas and provide a beautiful edge to the cloth.
Before commencing with embroidery, every woman has a design, specific or otherwise, in
mind. She knows what she wants to create. The choice of the embroidery designs is very
important. Different types of designs will completely change the look of the project.
Machine embroidery is a relatively fast method of embroidery as compared to hand
stitching and therefore the design should always be at hand. Free machine embroidery
designs are vastly available on the internet but quality designs are hard to come by. One
great resource of all of these types of designs and more is the OPW Mall, where over 100
different vendors make available a vast array of high quality embroidery designs. It’s a
great place to find all the materials you need to create a wonderful one of a kind
creation.
For more information visit our website: http://www.oregonpatchworks.com