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Directions for Monogrammed Soap Dispenser and matching Toothbrush Holder / July 2000

(This project utilizes letters from our Arts & Crafts Monogram Set 2.)

Step 1. Print the template and instructions.

These are .pdf files, and require Adobe Acrobat Reader software in order to view and print.
To insure printing in exact size, be sure that FIT TO PAGE (see Properties under the Print Menu) is not selected.

Step 2. Cut out the template.
Using either sharp scissors or an x-acto knife, carefully trim the template along its outside edge.

You will notice that the trimmed template is not a perfect rectangle - the bottom edge is shorter than the top edge, creating an angle on each end. This is because the interior of the soap dispenser and the toothbrush holder are not perfectly square - they taper slightly from top to bottom. The shape of this template will allow the ends to meet correctly when the fabric is inserted. It will be useful to mark the top and bottom edge so that you know which is which.

Using an x-acto knife or a paper punch, create a hole at each cross position on the template to assist in locating the center of the design.

Step 3. Review instructions and materials required (materials list at the end of these instructions).

Step 4. Create or Purchase Accent Design
We used an additional flower accent in several locations.
If you have editing software you can isolate the flower accent that is part of each letter in this style.

If you do not have this softrware, or if you would prefer to purchase this accent already created as a separate design, complete your purchase and download the design.

Step 5. Combine Designs.
Since both the soap dispenser and the toothbrush holder have an interior space into which you insert your embroidery, the embroidered fabric will create a 360 degree viewable surface.

We close the letter B, and decided to use it twice. We also combined several flower designs as accents.

If you have a large hoop - 10 inches wide (254 mm) or more - you can sew all of the designs in one hooping. If you have a smaller hoop the designs will have to be sewn in several hooping, but placement will be very easy using the template included, which has registration marks for design placement.

Large hoop users can either scan the template, then use it to merge the required designs together within their software, then save this new combination under a new filename, or elect to sew the letters and the accents one at a time, using the template.

The template marks the design center. From left to right, we used positions 1 and 3 for the placement of the letter B, and positions 2 and 4 for the placement of the flower accents. We elected to use two flowers at each position, but could have easily used more. The placement of the flower accents does not need to be scientific - the position marks are provided for guidance.

In order to fit the letters into the available space, we chose the smaller size letters from the Arts & Crafts Monogram Set 2.

Step 6. Hoop the fabric.
We chose to use felt for this project. Felt is easily obtained, easy to embroider on, and will not unravel at the edges once it is trimmed.

We applied a layer of heat fusible Pelon to the back of the felt with a hot iron, removed the paper backing once the surface had cooled, then bonded the felt to one layer of medium-weight tearaway stabilizer.

This has the advantage of not only stabilizing the felt, but also creating a stiffer surface, which will be easier to trim.

Step 7. Embroider the letters and accent.
Embroider the letters and flower accents, either all at once if your hoop size permits, or in stages.

Placement is aided by marking the correct positions of the design centers through the template with an air soluble marker.

Step 8. Trim the fabric.
Place the template over the embroidery, aligning the template and the embroidery using the holes in the template.

Mark each outside corner with a pencil mark, or with an air-soluble marker. This will be more accurate if the embroidery and the template are turned face down, so that the marks are placed on the stabilizer.

Carefully trim the fabric, using a straight edge and an x-acto knife.

Step 9. Insert the fabric into the dispenser.
The base portion of the soap dispenser and the toothbrush holder are exactly the same. The appropriate top screws onto the base, and the base consists of a clear plastic interior cup lining inserted inside the clear plastic base. There is a space between the two into which the fabric is inserted.

The two ends should meet snugly, and the interior cup will hold the fabric in place so that no permanent joint is necessary.

The soap dispenser and toothbrush holder come with a paper liner, which you can insert behind the embroidered fabric so that the bottom stitching doesn’t show.

If you plan to use both the soap dispenser and the toothbrush holder, as we have done, you will need two identical copies of the embroidered fabric - or use different letters and/or different flower placements for variety.

Congratulations! Your project is complete.

Sources for Materials

Heat-fusible Pelon, Felt, Stabilizer

Widely available from sewing stores. Pelon is marketed as "Wonder-Under" or similar.

Soap Dispenser and Toothbush Holder

Both of these items are available from Kapres & Company, who sell clear accessories for embroiderers. The company has online ordering.

http://www.kapres.com/clear-accessories.html