Welcome to another Tooled Up column where we aim to bring you reviews of cool gadgets and fun products from all over our crafty world.
Today we review the Spool of Thread Free Motion Embroidery kit by Stitched Up By Samantha aka Sam Molloy.
Free motion embroidery is really fun. It’s the art of making pictures by using your sewing machine with the feed dogs down and a darning foot attached to draw any kind of shapes you desire. The world is your oyster! Sam creates amazing works of art from Bowie to landscapes.
I was lucky enough to have a lesson from Sam a few years ago and attend a few of her classes since then. This kit is advertised as a “workshop in a box” and that’s exactly what it is. The kit contains all the fabric you need for the project – in fact twice as much as you need for the spool so you can pick your favourite – Bondaweb, the hoop to frame it in, the cute heart button, metallic threads for the needle and pin and instructions. And the spool fabric enclosed is all gorgeous Liberty print.
The instructions provided with the kit are brilliantly detailed and contain photographs to show you step by step how to put the kit together. It’s like having Sam right there with you all the way. She even explained things so well that I didn’t cock up the Bondaweb, which I have a real phobia of!
It had been quite a while since I had done any free motion, and before that I had only made a few pieces, so this was a proper challenge for me. I found it a really fun project. I even had a lovely cup of tea as I sewed thanks to Sam enclosing a tea bag in the kit too!
The attention to deal in this kit is top notch. From the beautiful envelope it is packaged in, to the tea bag gift with a note attached, to the neatly packed contents, to the beautiful way it was wrapped on arrival.
I spent a lovely relaxing afternoon putting this kit together. The instructions guide you through the process really well and it worked perfectly. Here is my finished kit.
The Spool of Thread Free Motion Embroidery kit retails at £15 including postage on Etsy and if you don’t fancy stitching it yourself you can buy a fully made up version of the kit for £16 including postage. Sam also sells kits to sew up free motion portraits of David Bowie and Adam Ant to name but a few, as well as cards, pouches and lots of other items. You can find her Etsy shop here and read more about her and her “Adventures in Free Motion Embroidery” on her website and enjoy her Instagram here.
What Technique Is This?
This is free machine embroidery and if you want to find out more about it, check out our dedicated post!
