Monograms & Embroidered Gift Ideas

by Design OCD

I’m very excited that I’m learning how to embroider! As with most new hobbies, there is a lot to learn when you first begin. I am starting with a basic machine that I bought secondhand.

monograms embroidered gift ideas, crafts, how to, reupholster

We have several close friends and family members celebrating wedding anniversaries in March and April. Naturally, I wanted to use my new found skills with our gift giving. I am still a beginner so my finished pieces are pretty simple but I love how embroidery can elevate an item from plain to classy! For my sister and her husband, I embroidered the first initial of their last name on a set of six place mats. The colors coordinate with the colors in their home.

For my brother and his wife I gifted a set of personalized pillow cases. I didn’t want too much contrast against the white fabric so I went with a light gray thread. Embroidering “His” and “Hers” is another idea that may be great for pillowcases too.

Personalized apron for a newlywed.

I am using Monogram It software along with a Little Max card reader. The Little Max card reader attaches to my laptop via USB cable and allows me to save files in the PES format (for my Brother machine) to a card, which I then insert in the embroidery machine directly. The Monogram It software allows me to create various monograms, from one to four letter styles. I am enjoying this software and my new capabilities! See more details on my embroidery lessons and what kind of stabilizer I use on the blog.