Valentine Door Knob Banner!

Hello! I’m Lisa Archer, BERNINA of America Embroidery Spokesperson, and Owner of Pickle Pie Designs. I designed a project to celebrate my love for BERNINA—a fun & festive Valentine Doorknob Banner! This easy project stitches up right in the hoop of your embroidery machine and fits in BERNINA’s Maxi Hoop.

My inspiration for this project comes from a package of fabulous EverSewn Sparkle Fabric that’s been calling to me ever since it arrived in my studio! I wanted to create a fun Valentine decoration for my home that features just a hint of this glitzy fabric as a special touch. Don’t get me wrong—this sparkly fabric is *amazing* and I’m all about glitter and glitz, but my teenage son is decidedly not. I wanted to create something that would make me happy without making him crazy. I think this project fits the bill!

Ask your local BERNINA dealer for EverSewn Sparkle Fabric. If you can’t locate it, feel free to substitute with another fabric, such as cork fabric, felt, velvet – or use your imagination to create something unique!

Let’s get started!

Supplies to Create A Valentine Door Knob Banner

• Fat Quarter of Fabric, cut and labeled as follows:
• Fabric A:  4.5” x 10”
• Fabric B: 4.5” x 3.5”
• Fabric C: 4.5” x 8.5”
• One piece of EverSewn Sparkle Fabric, cut to 2.5” x 2.5”
• Mesh Cutaway Stabilizer
• 8” length of 1/4” wide Ribbon
• Pellon Perma-Stick Seam Tape
• Polyester Embroidery Thread in 2 colors
• Embroidery Tape
• Pickle Pie Designs Machine Embroidery Scissors, or other sharp applique scissors
• Turning tool, such as Clover Point-to-Point Turner
• Valentine Door Knob Banner Design Files

Get ready to start by loading the embroidery design to your machine.  Hoop a piece of stabilizer in your BERNINA Maxi Hoop, and place the hoop on your machine.

Step 1

Prep Fabric B. Fold back one 4.5” edge of the fabric by ½”, wrong sides together, and press with an iron to crease.

Step 2

Place a 4.5” strips of seam tape along the ½” seam, just below the fold of the fabric. Leave the paper backing on the seam tape, and set the fabric aside.

Step 3

Using thread to match your fabric, Sew Stitch Sequence 1 on the stabilizer to create a placement line for the Sparkle Fabric.

Step 4

Center the Sparkly Fabric over the placement line, right side up. Tape in place. Sew Stitch Sequence 2 to tack create a cutting line.

Step 5

Remove the hoop from your machine and trim around the cutting line, getting as close as you can to the line of stitches without snipping through them.

Step 6

Replace the hoop on your machine and sew Stitch Sequence 3 to stitch a placement line for the largest piece of fabric.

Step 7

Center Fabric A over the placement line, right side up. Tape in place. Sew Stitch Sequence 4 to tack down the fabric and stitch the stipple stitches.

Step 8

Change thread color, if desired. Sew Stitch Sequence 5 to stitch a heart outline.

Step 9

Change thread color, if desired. Sew Stitch Sequence 6 to stitch the letters.

Step 10

Sew Stitch Sequence 7 to stitch placement lines for Fabric B, as indicated by the arrows.

Step 11

Fold your ribbon in half and place each end over the top edge of the project as shown. Each end of the ribbon should overlap the top edge by ½”. The fold of the ribbon should face the center of the project, as show. Tape each end in place above the top stitch line.

Step 12

Place Fabric B over the project, right side down, with the fold facing the lower edge of the hoop, as indicated by the arrows. The seam tape will be facing up. Leave the paper backing in place. Tape Fabric B in place.

Step 13

Place Fabric C over the project, right side down, with the top edge overlapping the lower folded edge of Fabric B by ½”. Be careful not to place Fabric C any higher. Tape Fabric C in place.

Step 14

Place an extra piece of tape (shown in yellow) across the top edge of Fabric C to prevent the presser foot from getting caught in the fabric and pulling it away during the next stitch sequence.

Step 15

Sew Stitch Sequence 8 to tack the fabrics together and complete the stitching.

Step 16

Remove the project from the hoop and remove all of the tape. Trim to a ½” seam allowance and clip off the corners.

Step 17

Turn the project right side out through the opening in the back. Poke out the corners with a turning tool.

Step 18

Remove the paper backing from the back of Fabric B, then press the opening closed for 15 seconds to give the seam tape a permanent bond.

Step 19

Press the front of the project.

Step 20

Using the sharp points of your scissors, snip the fabric in the center of the heart.

Step 21

Trim away the fabric within the heart, as shown. You can leave a small seam allowance of about 1/8”, or trim right up to the stitch line. Either way, be careful not to snip through the stitches.

You’re done! Surprise your Valentine by hanging this sweet little Doorknob Banner on his door!