Want to do something that really stands out this Halloween? This easy project uses machine embroidery and glow in the dark thread to make a pair of store-bought gloves really show off in the dark. This accessory can be paired with any spooky costume this Halloween for that extra flair. We’ve even included a free pattern for your embroidery machine so you can easily make this project at home! You download the free pattern for your embroidery machine here: http://bit.ly/2K2sCs2
If you’d like to, you can watch us make this bone chilling accessory while you make yours! After all, friends can’t do spooky things alone. You can watch our YouTube video here:
After you have your pattern loaded on your embroidery machine, you’ll next need to choose your thread. For the top thread, we’ll be using this glow in the dark thread called Ahrora. It’s a 40wt thread that comes in 8 different colours, but we’ll be using AR02 Cream for our skeleton hands. Would you like to add this glow in the dark thread to your collection? You can shop for Ahrora on our website here
You can use a regular bobbin thread with your design, but to make the appliqué step a lot easier, we’ll be using this 80wt cottonized polyester called DecoBob. By putting this thread in the bobbin you’ll create a lightweight freestanding lace that will be easy to move once attached to the glove.
Need some lightweight bobbin thread? You can shop for DecoBob pre-wound bobbins on our website, here
Stitch out the design on a layer of water-soluble stabilizer. Make sure you choose the soft version that feels a little bit like fabric. Stitch out the left hand and right-hand designs on a 140mm by 140mm size hoop.
Once your design is finished stitching out, remove it from the hoop and rinse away the water-soluble stabilizer with warm water, gently massaging the embroidery between your fingers to fully remove it. Lay the pieces out to dry. If you think you’ll forget which order the finger bones go in, don’t snip the thread between each finger bone so that when you wash away the stabilizer they hang in the order that they should go in! Once they’ve dried and you’ve pinned them in place, you can snip the extra thread close the freestanding lace to clean it up.
Once your embroidery pieces are dry, arrange them on your gloves with the Ahrora thread facing up and the DecoBob side facing down against the fabric. You’ll be able to tell the difference because the DecoBob side, or the wrong side, will have some small knots while the top will look crisp and clean stitched out. Press in place with an iron on low heat to eliminate any curl from the freestanding lace. Low heat will also help you avoid melting the fabric of the glove. Not only will it make the gloves stiff a waxy, you’ll also create a bit of a mess on your iron and your freshly stitched freestanding lace!
Next we’ll need to appliqué the pieces down to hold them securely. We’ll be using this 60wt cotton thread called Efina as the cotton material will help it blend into the gloves, the cotton thread has a tooth that helps prevent it from slipping while you do your appliqué.
Efina makes for a great lightweight appliqué thread, so why not add it to your collection! You can shop Efina threads here
Knot the end of your thread and pull your needle from behind the appliqué to hide the knot between the appliqué piece and the glove. Taking small stitches, appliqué each piece down, making sure to stitch all the way around each piece to hold it in place. Take care not to accidentally stitch too far into the glove so that you don’t stitch into the second layer of fabric, otherwise you’ll stitch the glove shut. Be careful not to tug on the thread too hard, as it might create a bit of stiffness and puckering around the appliqué.
If you’d like to appliqué without the stress of accidentally catching the bottom fabric, you can put a pencil into the fingers of the glove while you stitch! This will create a barrier between the top and bottom fabric and eliminate any possibility of catching the bottom fabric.
Once you’re finished appliquéing each piece down, tie off the thread. You can now take your gloves out at night or into a dark room to show off your spooky new accessory!
If you’d like to get a bright glow out of your glow in the dark skeleton gloves, you can purchase a UV flashlight! Shine this light on the Ahrora thread for only a few seconds for an intense glow. Be careful not to look directly at the flashlight while it’s on, as this can cause harm to your eyes.
You can find UV flashlights here: https://amzn.to/3iD4JE7
If you’d rather not use a UV flashlight, you can also let these gloves lay in the sunshine for a short period of time to intensify their glow!
If you’re in need of some costume ideas to pair these with, don’t you worry. We’ve searched the internet and found the coolest DIY Halloween costume to pair these spooky gloves with.
The most simple idea would be a skeleton! If you don’t want to splurge on a full costume, here’s the perfect DIY for a skeleton costume using a black long sleeve and a white shirt! http://thisisladyland.com/make-a-10-minute-skeleton-costume/
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