Tutorial Dish Washer Magnet. . .

Last week I went to the Bernina Creative Center and took a class on using my Bernina 880.  I'll never out grow this machine, as there is functionality to it that I had never used. (I'll post more on it later).

When I returned I was in the mode to do some embroidery.  So I decided that I would create a Clean/Dirty magnet to use on my dish washer.  When the "clean side is up, it means dishes need to be removed from the dishwasher.  When the "dirty" side is up, it means dishes need to be washed.

Initially we had been using a magnet: if it was on the dishwasher, the dishes were dirty; otherwise they were clean:

Hospital Magnet that was used to indicate clean/dirty dishes

Completed Dirty Dishes Side

Completed Clean Dishes

If you wish to create this, here are the instructions.

Supplies:

•  buckram for lining (adds stiffness to magnet)
• 2 different pieces of  fabric, each large enough to fit in embroidery hoop, 1 for each side (I used leftover flannel from a quilt)
• iron-on fusible interfacing to use as backing to fabric
• fabric for binding or use prepackaged binding
• stabilier used for machine embroidery
• embroidery thread
• 3x8 inch strip of muslin

 Instructions:

1. Select 2 designs to use for your magnet (1 for the clean side other for dirty side). Use your embroidery machine or embroidery software to generate your design for each side of the magnet.  Include lettering to indicate clean or dirty.
2. Iron the fusible interfacing to each side of the fabric to be used as the front/back of the magnet
3. Prepare side 1 for emboidery: place fused fabric and stabilizer in hope and embroider.
4. Repeat step 3 for side 2.
5. Trim fabric peices 1 and 2 to the finished sixe for your magnet.  In my case my magnet finished size is 5" by 8"

 

1. Add buckram to backside of each fabric piece. (Note, I only added to one piece of the fabric, but recommend you add it to both pieces)

Fabric piece with buckram applied

Magnets purchased from Staples Office Supply store

1. Fold the 3x8 inch muslin in half lengthwise, and insert magnets. ( I used round magnets; however I would recommend a magnetic strip).  Make sure that the magnet doesn't have any adhesive on either side. You need to make two of these; one for the top and one for the bottom.
   

   

   3x8 muslin folded in half

   You should make two of these strips that will be attached to one of the fabric pieces. The magnets should be inserted into the strip.  Since I used individual round magnets, I stitched holding lines on either side to hold them in place in the strip (NOTE: you will have buckram on the back of your embroidered piece).

   

   Fabric piece with magnetic strips applied

1. Next turn the 2 fabric pieces so they are wrong sides together.  Curve the corners to make it easier to apply binding.  Your final step will be to apply bias binding around the edges.
    
   Once this is done you will have a completed dishwasher magnet that is very sturdy: 
   
   
   
   The magnet in use:
   
   
   Happy Sewing,
   Sandy