My daughter, Corrie, recently completed dresses for the Lavendar Festival.  This is the occasion when they take their family picture out in the beautiful fields.   Her style this year for the darling dresses was to add an insert, such as you would see in smocking, using instead the embroidery stitches on her machine.

Most everyone has machine embroidery stitches on their machines, which we seldom use.  The main thing to remember when doing embroidery is to use some type of stabilizer on the back.  It can be as simple as typing paper (you'll need to change your needle more often), or a purchased stabilizer.  We prefer a washaway stabilizer so we can dip it in water and its gone, rather than having to pick it out from behind the embroidery stitches.

The first step is to determine the width you would like the band to finish.  This will vary according to the size of your child.  Cut the band fabric about 2" wider than finished size and 2" longer than the bodice front waistline width.  Draw your lines onto the band with a wahout marker.  Stitch the middle embroidery first - which should be a balanced stitch.  Then stitch the same embroidery on each side of the middle.  If these are not balanced, be sure to either reverse the stitch or begin from the opposite end of your strip so the two will look balanced.  You can make as many rows and use different colors to pick up the colors in the dress.

She only cuts a front collar, making the pattern directly from the front bodice piece, exactly the same size and shape.  She shapes the scalloped edge of the collar by drawing her design with washout marker onto her fabric, and using the machine scallop embroidery pattern with  a wide zig-zag.  Cut and lay together, 2 pieces of collar fabric at least 2" longer and 2" wider than the finished size.  With washout marker, draw the shoulder and neckline cutting edge, and the shape you have chosen for the scalloped edge.  Stitch out the scallops.  Fray check from the bottom side.  After the fray check is dry, with scissors, carefully cut around the bottom edge.  The collar can then be laid over the bodice front and sewn into the shoulder and neckline seams.  You have a darling collar, that doesn't flip up on you.

Have fun with your sewing...don't be afraid to try something new.  Learn to use all your machine has to offer you.