Table of Contents
Video reference: “Cut work Machine embroidery” by M embroidery515
Cutwork turns solid fabric into airy lace—without losing structure. This guide walks you through the complete sequence the project uses: multi-pass outlining, careful in-hoop cutting, dense zigzag finishing, and crisp gold accents that make the motifs glow.
What you’ll learn
- How to stage a strong outline foundation before any cutting
- Where and how to cut for clean, open petals (without nicking stitches)
- The exact zigzag strategy that seals edges and prevents fray
- How to place gold accents to bring depth to flowers and leaves
Primer: What Cutwork Embroidery Achieves Cutwork removes fabric from within stitched shapes to create an airy, lace-like effect—beautiful for floral motifs on sheer substrates. In this project, light blue thread outlines and seals the petals, and gold thread adds a refined shine to centers and leaves. The result is a delicate, open design that still holds its shape.
- When to use it: When you want a translucent, ornamental effect on sheer fabric or to lighten dense areas in a floral composition.
- What it needs: A stable stitched boundary before cutting, then edge finishing dense enough to fully encase raw fabric.
- The sequence that matters: outline → reinforce → stabilize with zigzag → cut → dense zigzag on the new edge → optional metallic accents → final review.
Quick check If you can lift the hoop and the initial outline feels firm (not wispy or gappy), you’re ready to cut after a narrow zigzag stabilizer pass.
Prep: Tools, Materials, and Files Tools
- Embroidery machine with hoop
- Fine, sharp embroidery scissors (small blades help you pivot inside petals)
Materials
- Sheer fabric (used in the project)
- Light blue thread for outlines and edge finishing
- Gold thread for decorative accents
Files and prerequisites
- A digitized cutwork embroidery design file with clearly defined shapes for cutting
- Comfort operating your machine and controlling the hoop while trimming in-hoop
From the comments
- Thread choice: The creator notes using rayon thread and a variety of brands; suggests searching online rather than one specific brand.
Pro tip Metallic thread benefits from tension and speed tweaks—plan to adjust before you start accents.
Prep checklist
- Fabric hooped securely and evenly
- Design file loaded and centered in the hoop field
- Light blue thread installed; gold thread standing by for accents
- Scissors within reach for the cutting step
Setup: Foundation Stitches and Why They Matter Your outline is the guardrail for everything that follows. The project builds it in stages:
1) Initial outline (walk thread)
- Purpose: Plot the exact shape on fabric so you can see and assess alignment.
- Expected result: A single, clean outline matching the design contours.
2) Reinforcement (additional walk thread rounds)
- Purpose: Add strength so the edge won’t collapse when fabric tension changes during cutting.
- In this project: Two passes of walk thread over the initial outline create a sturdy base before the first zigzag.
3) Narrow zigzag (stabilizer pass)
- Purpose: Lock the reinforced outline and minimize distortion when you cut the interior.
- In this project: One narrow zigzag round is applied over the walk thread before any cutting.
From the comments A viewer asked how to set the machine for success; the creator advised increasing bobbin tension from normal. If you see loose underside loops at this stage, consider that adjustment.
Watch out If you skip the narrow zigzag before cutting, the outline can lift or fray when you trim the inner fabric.
Setup checklist
- Outline stitched and reinforced (multiple walk passes)
- Narrow zigzag applied on top of the reinforced outline
- Tension looks balanced on both sides
Operation: The Complete Cutwork Sequence Step 1 — Stitch the initial outline
- Start with the first pass of the flower outline in light blue thread.
- Validate shape and placement; correct now before reinforcing.
Outcome: A clean, single-line outline establishing the petals.
Step 2 — Reinforce with walk thread, then add a narrow zigzag
- Run two more rounds of walk thread over the initial outline to bulk up the edge.
- Apply one narrow zigzag pass directly over the reinforced walk thread.
Outcome: A thicker, stable boundary that won’t shift when you cut.
Step 3 — Pause and cut the interior fabric
- Stop the machine. Use fine scissors to cut inside the petals, staying just inside the zigzag line.
- Work slowly; rotate the hoop as needed to keep the scissor tips aligned with the curve.
Outcome: Clean open spaces with intact blue stitching forming each petal’s rim.
Pro tip Cut in segments: snip, rotate, snip. Short moves reduce the risk of nicking the stitches.
Quick check After cutting a petal, gently nudge the edge. If the outline holds firm and no raw threads pull loose, you’re clear to move on.
Step 4 — Finish the new edges with dense zigzag
- Resume stitching with a dense zigzag that completely covers the newly exposed edges.
- Continue around each cut-out, ensuring the needle falls just off the edge to wrap threads around the fabric core.
Outcome: A satin-like border with no raw fabric visible.
Step 5 — Repeat for additional flowers
- Repeat the cut-and-finish sequence on other motifs in the hoop.
- On subsequent designs, the project demonstrates up to three walk-thread passes before zigzag—use extra passes whenever the fabric is especially delicate or the shape is tight.
Outcome: Multiple flowers with consistent, sealed edges.
Step 6 — Add gold thread accents
- Thread the machine with gold thread and place accent stitches around the flower centers and along leaf lines.
- Slow down and mind tension; metallics benefit from deliberate pacing.
Outcome: Elegant shimmer that defines centers and leaf veining without bulk.
Operation checklist
- Outline set and reinforced
- Narrow zigzag stabilizer pass complete
- Interior neatly cut
- Dense zigzag fully covers edges
- Gold accents stitched cleanly
Inline keyword notes
- If your toolkit mentions machine embroidery hoops, know that the core method here still relies on firm hooping and careful edge coverage.
- Some readers refer to their setup as an embroidery hoop machine; the sequencing above remains the same: outline, stabilize, cut, and seal.
- If your equipment labels this as a sewing machine embroidery hoop workflow, the cutting and dense zigzag steps are unchanged.
- Many shops stock a general embroidery frame for similar work; the technique does not change with that terminology.
- Larger projects sometimes rotate between multiple embroidery frames—consistency in reinforcement and zigzag density is the constant.
- If you’re practicing hooping for embroidery machine skills, prioritize even fabric tension before you ever start the outline.
- Whether your kit lists “embroidery machine hoops” or standard hoops, precise cutting near the zigzag line makes or breaks the finish.
Quality Checks: What “Good” Looks Like After the stabilizer zigzag (pre-cut)
- The outline looks smooth, with no gaps between walk thread and zigzag.
- No puckering around petals.
After cutting
- Cut edges are crisp and stop just inside the zigzag.
- No snags or loose threads trailing into open areas.
After dense zigzag finishing - The satin-like border fully encases the raw edge—no fabric fuzz peeks through.
- The stitch line is even and follows the petal curve without stepping off the edge.
After gold accents - Metallic lines sit where intended: flower centers and leaves, without tangles.
Quick check Hold the hoop to light. You should see clean, open petals with uniform borders and no stray fibers hanging in the openings.
Results & Handoff: Finishing and Use Your finished piece should display:
- Multiple cutwork flowers with dense, clean borders
- Gold accents concentrated in centers and leaves for sparkle and definition
- Even tension and no visible raw fabric edges
Use cases
- Sheer panels, light scarves, and decorative inserts benefit from the airy cutwork effect.
From the comments Viewers praised the elegance of the result; keep that standard in mind during your final review.
Troubleshooting & Recovery Symptom: Outline looks wobbly after first pass
- Likely cause: Fabric not hooped firmly; insufficient reinforcement
- Fix: Re-hoop more securely; add additional walk thread round(s) before the initial zigzag
Symptom: Puckering during reinforcement or zigzag
- Likely cause: Tension too high for the fabric; hoop tension uneven
- Fix: Re-balance tension; ensure fabric is taut and evenly hooped
Symptom: Nicks in the outline while cutting
- Likely cause: Dull or large scissors; cutting too far from edge
- Fix: Switch to fine, sharp embroidery scissors; cut in short segments right along the inside of the stabilizer zigzag
Symptom: Fraying visible after cutting
- Likely cause: Dense zigzag not yet applied or not dense enough
- Fix: Increase zigzag density and width so stitches fully wrap the edge; add another pass as needed
Symptom: Metallic (gold) thread breaks
- Likely cause: Metallic sensitivity to speed/tension
- Fix: Reduce stitching speed and adjust tension for metallic; re-thread carefully
Creator-confirmed setting insight
- The creator advises increasing bobbin tension from normal. If you notice loose underside loops or edge coverage that seems soft, this can help tighten the finish.
From the comments Common reactions highlighted the beauty of the finish. One viewer asked about thread brands; the creator uses rayon thread from various brands and recommends searching online for options.
From the comments (mini-FAQ) Q: How do you set your machine for this technique? A: Build the outline with multiple walk-thread passes, add a narrow zigzag before cutting, and consider increasing bobbin tension from normal per the creator’s tip.
Q: Which thread brand should I buy? A: The creator uses rayon thread from various brands and suggests searching online for availability.
Q: How do I stop fraying on cut edges? A: Apply a dense zigzag that fully covers the raw edge; add density until no fabric shows.
Final quick pass
- Outlines reinforced? Yes.
- Pre-cut zigzag stabilizer applied? Yes.
- Cuts clean and close? Yes.
- Dense zigzag fully encasing edges? Yes.
- Gold accents placed cleanly? Yes.
With these checks complete, your cutwork flowers will present the same crisp, lace-like clarity showcased in this project.