Embroidery digitizing company Quality Punch recently released “Pop Out” embroidery designs on its new stock design site, www.qualitycollection.com. I spoke with Karen Habe, co-owner of the Torrance, CA-based firm, about the fun designs and how to use them.

Q: What makes your Pop Out designs special?

Karen Habe: We have over 6,000 embroidered designs on our Quality Collection website and always want to give our customers something fun and exciting. In the Pop Out designs, the middle portion is embroidered onto fabric, and the wings, petals or leaves are left to float freely, or pop out. I call them my mood lifters. They’re cheery, well priced and easy to work with.

Q: What are some ways embroiderers can use them most effectively?

KH: The designs can be added for fashion, home or accessories. Embroiderers put them on garments, towels, table mats, cushions, bags and more. One of our customers made beautiful sandals with them. The possibilities are endless.

Once the design is downloaded, the customer can embroider them as many times as they wish. They can use them for personal or commercial use. The designs are light on stitches and sew easily on all products. They’re a big hit.

Q: Can you share some tips to ensure smooth production?

KH: The designs are very simple to embroider. Each comes with a small guideline. It’s a two-step process. For example, on the butterfly design, you first sew the wings on any fabric. We prefer to sew them on backing. The wings are then cut off with a scissor. Next, the wings are placed on a garment, cushion, shirt or other item, and the center part can be slightly adhered, like an appliqué. The machine then sews the middle body.