He has arrived!

The final appliqué is here for the Gingerbread Man!  I started again with the Gingerbread Paint file.

I then thought about HOW I wanted this design to stitch out.  Remember when we made the cookies, we made the dough first and then cut them out with the cookie cutter.   So the brown background is first!

So I changed the Fill to an Appliqué with an >Offset of -.03 and Cleaning >Laser Cut or Precut.

Then I changed the Outline to a Satin Stitch of between .06-.08. You decide!

I then added and Autoborder >To the inside of 1.0 and Running stitch for an added security measure. ( this is a change that I made this year)

This is last year's design.  This year I left the eyes and mouth with a Paint fill

I hope you give it a try!  Here is the Gingerbread App file.

Gingerbread Man Recipe

Today's lesson is really a quick one.  It seems as if the days are flying by and soon Christmas will be here.

You can find the files for the recipe posted on my SweetAline designs blog here.

***Well it appears that I left the 1/2 off of the recipe for the salt and spices.  Clearly I did not make the recipe while reading my apron! :)  The font is Run Murray Hill and is perfect for stitching recipes on  project!

Here are the revised files:

Gingerbread recipe revised in ART can be found here

Gingerbread recipe revised in EXP can be found here.

Gingerbread Man- He's just a cut up!

Yep - today's lesson is "cut him up!"

After you open up the software, select New and select your Gingerbread Man Paint from your most recent designs.  Change the hoop to your largest hoop with foot #44C.

Click on each section (except the eyes and mouth) and convert the outline to Cutwork and delete the fill.  For all of the sections, I checked  Running Before for 1.0 mm and an Offset of .3mm.

I drew a rectangle around each shape so I could place my pieces on the hoop.

Be sure to convert the outline to a Running Stitch or it will paint the rectangle. Drag the top tray to the bottom so the rectangles will stitch out first.

Here are my cut out shapes. ( I did not save the original design and this year, I did not line them up neatly.)

He is a big guy, so if you want him make him smaller, I would resize the Gingerbread Paint design first.

Here is the cut file if you want to give it a try and do not have time this week to 'play'!

I thought I would also add the link here to my SweetAline designs blog to see the original post from last year.

Let's Celebrate this festive season!

This past weekend, my niece was visiting and I was inspired to bake Christmas cookies!  Now I must tell you this is H-U-G-E!  I haven't made cookies in years..

Why?
#1 - the big guy and I do not need them! (just ask our doctor!)
#2 - who eats them but us? ( no kids at home OR grandkids!)
#3 - I would rather be sewing than baking!

So to help celebrate this festive occasion, I am sharing this week how I made this 'no bake' gingerbread man.  Here is the finished guy on this very cute apron with fabric from my stash!

The pattern is the Lady Godiva apron from Abbey Lane and it was very easy to make!

                                           

Here is the gingerbread file that I used. 

After 'working through the wizard', select Create new and Cotton 2 for your fabric.

Here is the gingerbread man design. Download the file and save it to a folder on your desktop labeled "Gingerbread Man".

From file, Locate the gingerbread gif file and select your largest hoop.  This guy is pretty big at 6" x 8" approximately!

Select Trace and only 2 colors (black and white).

Change your paint palette to the Eddings markers.

Here is the DRAW file for the Gingerbread man.  If you want to skip the above steps, then just load this design into the program as a "New Graphic" and continue with the directions below.

Now start "coloring" your design!  Select the color chip and add a fill and an outline to each section of the design. You will notice some white colors 'sitting on top' which is why the design won't fill in.  Just drag off the white and delete it. Then continuing coloring your design.   I selected gray for the "rick-rack' color.

Here he is- all colored in!  If you would like the PAINT file, you can find it here.

 This would be a quick and easy project for a gift bag or a kitchen towel.  I found a cute idea with the arm cut off and the saying added! (How I did this, is another entire lesson!)

Come back tomorrow for the "how-to" in turning this guy into a cutwork file!