Flying Geese Side of Cushion
Hour Glass Side of Cushion
I finished my cushion. I’m calling it my ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ cushion because the fabrics on each side are so different.
In the end it came together quite easily. I wondered how easy it would be to put a zip into two quilted pieces of fabric, but that was fine. Now I have to decide what block to do next.
You can find the machine embroidery designs here.
Filed under Digitizing, Foundation Blocks, Machine Embroidery, Quilting
Wadjemup Lighthouse
We’ve been away on holiday to Rottnest Island (Miss A went on camp and we just tagged along). Above is the lighthouse in the middle of the island (I love lighthouses). This photo was taken about 6:30am – I went for a run every morning and the weather was perfect.
Salt Lakes at Rottnest
This photo was taken on the way back to the settlement. We had a fabulous time – went to the beach, the bakery, read books and I even managed to do some knitting.
Back to crafty stuff. This is my hour glass block…
Hour Glass Block Made Using Foundation Piecing by an Embroidery Machine
Here is four of them in a cushion top …
Four Hour Glass Blocks
Some of the tack down stitching shows on the middle square. I’m tempted to just ignore it or use water soluble thread, but the best thing would be to change the design.
Filed under Digitizing, Foundation Blocks, Machine Embroidery, Patchwork
I’ve been busy (if not actively blogging) working on my quilt blocks. Above is a new flying geese block (which you can find here). I am going to make this sample into a cushion cover (hence the straight line quilting).
Once I have finished my block designs – I will write a tutorial – I’m working on an hour glass design at the moment.
The fabric is from here.
Filed under Digitizing, Foundation Blocks, Machine Embroidery, Quilting
I bought Font Engine to go with my studio. I thought it would be handy to be able to type words and then make the embroidery file rather than arranging individual letters. First thing I tried was appliqued letters – sorry about the image it is all a bit dodgy! You can’t tell from the image, but the letter is about 125 mm tall.
I thought it would be easy to create the applique, but it was quite fiddly and I intend to write a tutorial (if only to help myself remember next time!).
I used my A to make Miss A a bag for her dance stuff. Obviously there is a P as well!
As I have misplaced my applique scissors, I haven’t been able to trim the fabric as closing to the tack down stitches.
Filed under Applique, Digitizing, Sewing
Lion digitised using Embird Studio
I’m still working my way through the Embird Studio tutorial – I am up to pg 674 of 786!
The above image is of a lion I digitised (one of the lessons).
In each lesson I learn something more and now I know how to add extra detail in the outline and how to make fur.
I’ve also learnt how to delete double-ups in the outlines – like this on the whale (I outlined the purple section and the blue sections and so in places there are two outlines).
Whale has a double-up outline
I’m almost ready to tackle some of my own original designs.
Filed under Digitizing, Machine Embroidery, Software
Digitised Flower
I’m still learning how to use Embird Studio.
In the above image I created one petal (using the drop library shape) and then used the Auto Repeat command to rotate and duplicate the petal. However, the blue circle in the centre is on top of the pink petals – I can’t seem to delete the bits underneath and it will be too bulky and dense. I tried using the Create Fill Opening Object, but it just cut a hole in one petal (rather than all of the petals). I do have one more idea to try …
Filed under Digitizing, Software
Whale Stitching – density 4, pull compensation 0.1
I’ve been working on my digitising tutorials. I wanted to stitch something out and get an idea of what works on my machine. As you can see it is quite puckered and the black out line is quite off.
I reduced the density and increased the pull compensation in this one …
Density 5, pull compensation 0.3
The changes haven’t really made much difference. In my third (and final for a while) attempt I changed the angle of the fill from 90° to 80° and used the Create Outline from Fill tool.
Density 5, pull compensation 0.3, fill angle 80
The registration is still off (the outline is not exactly outlining the shapes). Things are improving, but I am not a fan of the densely stitched design, so I shall move on and come back to this later.
Filed under Digitizing, Machine Embroidery
I’m quite keen to create my own machine embroidery designs – more because I can’t find what I want. In November last year I bought Embird Studio and although I have mastered straight line designs (like this), I haven’t ventured into more complicated territory or taken advantage of the software’s feature.
I decided it was time to learn. I read the tutorials that came with Studio and that was quite a help, but I still felt a bit lost – it seemed that I would do something and it would work, but when I tried it again it wouldn’t work. I needed more instruction. In the end I bought Carolyn Keber’s ebook. I baulked at this at first – it is 770 pages long and quite expensive, but it is exhaustingly comprehensive and it is obvious that Ms Keber expended a lot of time putting it together.
The image above is my attempt at one of the early exercises (I haven’t finished yet). This is what it is meant to look like …
I’ve only read 60 pages, but I have already learnt quite a bit (like how to alter the direction of the fill) and I feel quite positive about the whole process.
Filed under Digitizing, Machine Embroidery, Software
Patchwork cards pieced using an embroidery machine
My stock pile of cards was depleted. I quite like to have a few stashed away – they are time consuming and I might not have enough time when I need one. These five took about an hour. I piece them using my embroidery machine – the design files can be found here (free for individual use, but don’t sell my designs). One of them is blackwork embroidery that I adapted from a 17th century embroidery book.
Filed under Digitizing, Foundation Blocks, Machine Embroidery, Patchwork
This egg turned out to be very squat.
I’ve gone back to basics: drawn my design on a piece of graph paper (the right size) and then digitised it.
This new design is slightly too big for one hooping – hopefully this will mean the pieces won’t be so fiddly.
Both girls have decided they don’t want my egg design for their easter t-shirts, so I’ve let them look through my design collection.
Miss P picked this one …
And Miss A this one …
Filed under Applique, Digitizing, Foundation Blocks, Machine Embroidery
