In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to use Design Doodler to digitize and bring this charming design to life.

This project is great for brightening your holiday decorations or giving a special gift.

It is fun, creative, and full of Christmas cheer. Ready to wow everyone this season? Let’s get started!

• Design Doodler
  • New to the Doodler? Try the free Design Doodler demo, and start creating your own embroidery designs! While you won’t be able to stitch them out, it’s a great way to explore all the features and get a feel for what’s possible. Includes 5 video lessons!
• Medium-weight tear-away stabilizer
• Two pieces of 10×10 inch felt (we used brown)
• Heat n’ Bond or other fusible bonding material 10×10 inch piece
• Temporary Adhesive Embroidery Spray
• Fabric scissors
• Iron
• Collar stays (4 pieces for leg stabilization) 
• Artwork, which you can download below 

Begin by inserting artwork:

• Select the Load Backdrop icon.
• Navigate to your artwork location.
• Select your file name. 
• Open the Properties Tool and select (click) on your artwork image.
• Resize to 13 x 17 inches (remember the actual artwork is smaller than the sheet of paper.
• Change the opacity to the desired level.

Digitize the outlines:

• Open the color palette and select your desired color.
• Select the Bean Run Stitch (triple stitch).
• Choose the Free draw option and Doodle around the edges of the Objects.

Add the colored dots or your own embellishments:

• Open the color palette and choose your color (we chose red).
• Select the fill brush.
• Choose the circle option and doodle a few spots.

We did red first and then repeated the process with green.

Create the reindeer eyes:

• Open the color palette and choose black (or whatever color you wish).
• Select the Fill brush.
• Choose the circle option.
• Put eyes on your reindeer head.

Save your file:

• Click the Save File icon.
• Navigate to your desired location.
• Name the file and click save.

Step 1: Hoop a piece of medium-weight tear-away stabilizer and lightly spray with temporary embroidery spray.

Step 2: Place one of the felt squares down.

Step 3: Insert your file into the machine and stitch the entire file.

After you finish stitching, remove the felt from the hoop and tear away the extra stabilizer. Make sure to leave all the stabilizers in the centers of the objects.

Step 4: Use a hot iron to adhere the fusible bonding material to the back side of your stitch-out. 

We used old collar stays to strengthen the legs and provide additional stabilization. Lay them on the legs and press slightly. The bonding material is slightly sticky and will hold these in place until you iron on the top layer.

Step 5: Carefully lay the second piece of felt over the prepared felt and iron it.

Step 6: When cooled, carefully trim the excess from around the objects, about ⅛ inch.

Tip: To provide additional stabilization, use Terial Magic or another fabric stiffener. You can also use leftover water-soluble topper pieces dissolved in water as a fabric stiffener!

Lay flat to dry.

Step 7: Carefully clip the notches in placement as shown in the artwork.

Step 8: Assemble your reindeer. 

Congratulations! You’ve just brought a 3D reindeer to life using the Design Doodler. Whether you’re displaying it as part of your holiday décor or gifting it to someone special, this design will spread joy and festive vibes. Don’t forget to experiment with colors, embellishments, and personal touches to make it one-of-a-kind. 

If you haven’t yet, don’t miss out—try a free demo of the Design Doodler software to see how easy it is to create your own personalized designs!

If you create this project, we’d love for you to share it with us in our Facebook Embroidery Design Doodler Software Official Group. Have fun creating, and enjoy showing off your Christmas masterpiece!

Side seam appliqué bows are the latest craze in the embroidery world, and they’re perfect for adding a festive, fun, and personalized flair to your garments. In this blog, we’ll guide you through creating these adorable bows step by step so you can join the trend and make your sweaters stand out this season.

Want a hands-on guide? Watch the video tutorial below!

• 8” x 8” hoop 
• Wash-away stabilizer 
• Two pieces of fabric 6” x 6” 
• Four pieces of fabric 3” x 3”  
• Two pieces of fabric 2.5” x 2.5”
• Temporary adhesive spray
• Masking tape 
• Fabric scissors 
• Double curve scissors 
• Sweater 
• Embroidery design – we use our reindeer bow side seam embroidery design (which is actually a free embroidery design download!)
  • Do you love these designs? Check out our other fun Cutaway Side Seam Bow Applique designs! 

Step 1: Hoop the wash-away stabilizer.

Step 2: Place your hoop in the machine and run the cut line for the design.

Step 3: Use temporary adhesive spray to secure your sweater to the hoop. Line up the seam line with the cut line’s center line and the sweater’s bottom to the cut line. 

Use masking tape to secure the shirt further.

Step 4: Place the hoop in the machine and run the tack-down stitch.

Step 5: Remove the hoop and cut along the tack-down stitch, removing the sweater material.

Step 6: Return the hoop to your machine and run the placement stitch for the first applique.

Step 7: Remove the hoop from your machine, and place two of the 3” x 3” pieces of fabric over the placement stitch, covering it completely.

Step 8: Return the hoop to the machine and run the tackdown stitch. 

Step 9: Remove the hoop from the machine and carefully trim the excess fabric around the tack-down stitch.

Step 10: Return the hoop to the machine and run the placement stitch for the second applique.

Step 11: Place the 6” x 6” piece of fabric over the placement stitch, covering all the stitching.

Step 12: Return the hoop to the machine and stitch the tack-down.

Step 13: Remove the hoop from the machine and carefully cut the excess fabric from around the tack-down stitch.

Step 14: Return the hoop to your machine and stitch the final placement stitch.

Step 15: Place one of the 2.5” x 2.5” pieces of fabric over the placement stitch, covering all the placement stitches.

Step 16: Return the hoop to the machine and stitch the tack-down.

Step 17: Remove the hoop from the machine and carefully cut away the excess fabric from around the tack-down stitch.

Step 18: Return the hoop to the machine and run the final satin stitch around the design.

Step 19: Remove the hoop from the machine and the design from the hoop. Cut away any long threads from the back of the design.

Step 20: Cut the excess stabilizer around the design, carefully not cutting into the satin stitch.

Step 21: Using a warm bowl of water and your fingers, carefully wash away the remainder of the stabilizer from around the design.

Step 22: Repeat all these steps for the other side of your sweater.  

With side seam appliqué bows, you can transform any sweater into a festive and fashionable piece. Whether creating for yourself or planning handmade gifts, this technique will bring smiles and compliments. We can’t wait to see how you bring this trend to life!