How to Use Puff Sheets for Embroidery

Using puff sheets can give dimension to your embroidery.

Puff sheets are foam sheets designed to help create raised areas in machine embroidered designs. They come in a variety of colors, designed to match your thread color, and help add depth and interest to your designs. Using the puff sheets requires careful preparation. It may require several attempts before you have perfected the technique. Puff sheets are especially good when used strategically in your designs. Consider using the puff sheets to add dimension to your flowers and leaves for example.

Things You'll Need

• Puff foam sheets
• Embroidery material
• Embroidery machine
• Embroidery thread
• Embroidery pattern

Instructions

1. Trim the puff sheet so it fits within the embroidery hoop. Do not attempt to hoop the puff sheet.

2. Set your satin stitch to the most dense setting. In most cases, that is either a 7- or 8-millimeter setting. It is essential that the satin stitch be as dense as possible in order to completely cover the foam sheet underneath.

3. Satin stitch over your pattern.

4. Set a tight running stitch, and outline the portion of your pattern that is puffy. It is important to make these stitches very close together and very close to the satin stitch portion. The running stitch outline actually serves to puncture the foam sheet so you can detach it from the rest of the pattern.

Tips & Warnings

• Follow your machine's instructions regarding the use of stabilizer.

• Always do a test swatch working with the puffy sheets before you attempt it on your final piece.

• There are various thicknesses of puffy sheets. The thinner the sheet, the easier it will be to work with.

References

• Flying Needle Machine Embroidery: Puffy Foam Embroidery