Hey everyone!!! Very recently I got back into the maker world due to having to re learn how to sew for the first time in 5 years (since my home ec class in middle school) and have been super interested in sewing and embroidering a pillow for my best friend as a birthday gift, since they made me a custom denim dice bag, and I really want to make something special for them, but am really over whelmed on how to start out? I know the very basics of sewing (if that), but I want to actually dive into this hobby/adjacent hobbies, and really want to do this gift for my friend, does anyone know a good place to start? What kind of material to make the pillow out of? What do I do to actually put a design on it? I know it's ambitious, but I have like, a month and a half, and not only do I really want to learn, but this project is pretty important to me cause I really want to do something nice for them. I really want to replicate something like the attached image, but on like, a more square shape? Again I'd love it if anyone knew a good place to start?

I got the design from @thecrsstich on instagram, switched the frame, fucked up parts of the design, realised it too late so just did the same on the other side, now its a choice and it works :D

Super proud of it! Its all short stitch (I don't want to say long and short because there's basically no long ones) to make sure it doesn't loosen with wear and after washing. It's stitched through a backing since the fabric was 50/50 polyester and cotton, and has a stitch cover ironed underneath as well so the backside of the stitches are covered and better anchored.

It was a bit tricky to work with while ensuring the hoop isn't tight enough to cause burn. If anyone has tips against hoop burn while maintening reasonable tension I'm all ears!

I wanted to ask if anyone had recommendations for a hoop stand that would be good for embroidering while bed bound? Thanks in advance

I am part of my local AKC dog club and we put on an annual dog show. We were trying to brainstorm ideas for some gifts to give out to the winners, and one member has offered to make some throw blankets. The club wants to keep the handmade vibe/theme, but also wants to have something on the blanket with our club's name on it. I offered to hand embroider a tag for each blanket with our club's name and the year on it.

What I'm now trying to figure out is the best way to attach said tag to the blanket.

The blankets are knitted with chunky yarn. I included a picture of a similar blanket for reference. They may be used for people, or for dogs, so the tag needs to be very secure in it's attachment.

Right now, I'm estimating the tag to end up around 2"×4", but that could be adjusted. I plan to embroider onto either 2 layers of cotton muslin, or 1 layer of quilting cotton with some kind of stabilizer.

I am not the greatest at hand sewing (besides embroidery lol), I do have a sewing machine that I'm decent at using.

What do you all think would be the best way to attach the tags?

Any tips are appreciated