Designs in Machine Embroidery

Eileen is the founder, publisher, and editor of Designs in Machine Embroidery magazine. She is also an innovator in her field—developing products in the embroidery industry that save time and money while enabling embroiderers to fulfill their creative passion for machine embroidery. Eileen is a sought-after teacher whose enthusiasm for embroidery and sewing is contagious.

She is a frequent guest on Sewing With Nancy and she also hosts the Embroider It Yourself educational video series. She is the author of Contemporary Machine Embroidered Quilts, Contemporary Machine-Embroidered Fashions, and Contemporary Machine-Embroidered Accessories.

Eileen and her family call Dallas their home.

What you’ll learn from Eileen:

Take home creative ideas for embroidered gifts but don’t stop at the gift. Learn how to wrap it in style with embroidered wrappings and ribbons.
Struggling with placement? Eileen shows you her tried and true techniques for perfect placement every time.
Learn the Four F’s of Monograms – Fabric, Feel, Font, and Finish. Use the Four Fs to create traditional to trendy monograms for men or women.
Don’t press start without this 10-step guide to stitching success.

Marie Zinno—She sew knows the embroidery biz!

Marie Zinno is a contributing writer for Designs in Machine Embroidery. She co-created the Children’s Perfect Placement Kit and the Adorable Décor EIY series DVD with Eileen Roche. She’s an enthusiastic national speaker.

She is founder and owner of Sew Creative Embroidery, a commercial embroidery company specializing in unique embroidered products for baby, home décor, spirit wear and corporate items. Most recently, she authored the book Machine Embroidery for Babies and Tots and also contributes to Stitches Magazine, a commercial embroidery trade magazine.

Marie lives in Canton, OH with her husband, Doug and their two children, John and Lindsey.

What you’ll learn from Marie:

Identify, target and capture your customer niche when building your successful home embroidery business.
Package your products like you would want to buy them – find unique and creative ways to bundle several products to increase your revenue.
Know when to stitch and when to outsource! Analyze every order and make the right decision on how to produce quality embroidery in a timely manner.
Work at home like a pro- set up an efficient work space and a customer communication system that respects your family’s privacy.
Dazzle your customers with innovative monograms. Learn to stack and layer initials for unique monograms.

Deborah Jones—She knew computerized embroidery before embroidery was cool!

Deborah Jones has been involved with computerized embroidery soon after home embroidery machines were introduced. During her career she has perfected embroidery techniques for many types of apparel and accessories – even shoes. She has shared her knowledge through magazine articles, national and international seminars, and private consulting. In 1998, she was the third recipient of the prestigious Floriani Lifetime Achievement Award for embroidery education.

Recently, Deborah has devoted much of her time to developing educational videos for embroiderers and writing the book Machine Embroidery on Difficult Materials.

She enjoys caring for her Yorkshire and Silky Terriers at her rural home outside Dallas.

What you’ll learn from Deborah:

Starting a Successful Embroidery Business

If you think you want to take your hobby to the next level, and embroider for profit, this class is for you. Whether you are interested in a part time business to supplement your income or dream of something bigger, you will learn valuable information in this day-long class.

Here is a list of some of the valuable skills you will learn to help get your business off on the right foot.

Identify Your Products: Taking aim is better than a shotgun approach. We’ll take a look at what you really like to embroider and which products can be most profitable.

Reach Your Target Customer: Identifying your product is only the beginning. Knowing how to reach your customer and show your products is key to successful selling.
Find Wholesale Resources: Finding unique, value-priced garments is a big part of the equation that equals a successful business. Learn where to find the best products at a price that allows you a profit.

Equipment Options: Perhaps you plan to continue to use single needle home model equipment, or you may have your eye on a multi-needle machine. We’ll discuss the considerations of each equipment type in a business application.
Achieving Professional Quality: How does the quality of your embroidery compare to other professional embroiderers? Learn how to assure that your embroidery will be long-lasting and remain beautiful for the life of the garment.

Pricing Your Product: Setting prices that allow a fair profit can be a challenge even for veteran embroiderers. We’ll use real numbers in pricing sample products and do other pricing exercises to practice your pricing.

Mary Mulari—Mary has the knack to make sewing simple and fun!

Since 1983, Mary Mulari has traveled around the U.S. presenting sewing seminars. She has developed a national reputation for her unique garment embellishments, accessories, appliqués and classy, clever ideas. She appears frequently on PBS television’s Sewing with Nancy. She has written 21 creative sewing books, designed patterns and fabric as well as appliqué/embroidery cards. Her ideas and projects appeal to sewing and embroidery fans and quilters of all ability levels.

Mary lives in Aurora Minnesota.

What you’ll learn from Mary:

How to turn plain sweatshirts into cardigans and other comfortable styles enhanced with appliqué and embroidery trims. You’ll see makeover ideas for women’s and children’s sweatshirts during Mary’s trunk show.
Great ways to make and wear reversible aprons. Inspired by vintage aprons and reinvented with new style, Mary’s aprons feature practical coverups with unique pockets and size adjustments. Quick sewing projects using two yards of fabric.
Looking for new uses for zippers, besides closures? You may be surprised to see all the ways invented to create bags from rolls of zippers.
Appliqué techniques for your embroidery machine and for hand guided sewing machine appliqué. See designs Mary has created for embroidery machines and also for sweatshirts. It’s not all about satin stitching any more!
Upgrade your tote bag collection with unique trims and useful features and learn how to sew five additional shapely totes.

Nancy Zieman—The TV Studio is her classroom!

Nancy is host and producer of Public TV’s longest airing showing on sewing, quilting, and embroidering, Sewing With Nancy. Since 1982, Nancy has been teaching her love of sewing to millions of people across the country. In ’79 she founded Nancy’s Notions, a direct mail company, and is the spokesperson for Baby Lock Sewing Machines.

Nancy has written over 30 books and recently launched a notions product line through Clover Needlecraft.

Nancy and her family live in Beaver Dam, WI.

What you’ll learn from Nancy:

Timesaving sewing techniques are Nancy’s trademark. Learn her favorite tips and techniques when sewing, quilting, and embroidering, including Wrapped Corners, Bravo for Bindings, Roll Away Storage, Elusive Elastic, Switch-able Seams—is your interest piqued yet!
Be creative with Nancy as she shares innovative sewing techniques. You’ll see how just one jacket pattern can be made in several ways—serged, embroidered, or just plain speedy!
See how a ½ yard of fabric can be transformed into trendy handbag. You’ll only need an evening of time to create bags. Soon you’ll be making them for all your friends!
Finally, see Nancy’s passion—landscape quilting. Learn the secrets of using the other right side when creating Monet-like artwork with fabric.