Category Archives: Machine Embroidery

And so it Begins …

Altar Steps Block

Altar Steps Block

So I have finally started the sampler quilt. The above is an Altar Steps block, which consists of four smaller blocks (see here). There will be five of these blocks in the quilt.

I’ve discovered it is quicker to cut all of the fabric for one smaller block before beginning the block. If in doubt the piece of fabric is going to be too small!

The final quilt consists of five of each of my sampler blocks (there are 12) and an extra 3 blocks ( I haven’t decided on the extras I suspect it will be the easier to make blocks!), so that makes a total of 63 blocks (5 × 12 + 3). Only 62 blocks to go …

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Filed under Digitizing, Foundation Blocks, Machine Embroidery, Patchwork

Bear’s Paw Block Finished

Bear's Paw Block Finished

Bear’s Paw Block Finished

I stitched this out yesterday and it worked the first time so rare!

This is the last block I wanted to digitise for my sampler quilt. Now it is simply a matter of getting on with it.

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Filed under Digitizing, Foundation Blocks, Machine Embroidery, Patchwork

Bear’s Paws Block Being Digitised as a Foundation Block

Today is the last day of school holidays. I like school holidays – not having to be anywhere by a particular time, much more relaxed mornings, but it is a bit more difficult to get any jobs done that require concentration.

I want to digitise one more block for my foundation block quilt. I’ve spent a bit of time considering different traditional blocks – Arkansas Star, Attic Windows, Birds in the Air, Fox and Geese, Jacob’s Ladder – and rejecting them as too hard or requiring too many stitch outs.

In the end I decided on Bear’s Paw, which requires two stitch outs.

Bear's Paw Block

Bear’s Paw Block

The above image is four bear’s paw blocks – with some extra bits in the middle.

My block is more like this …

Bear's Paw -  One Block

Although it is all straight lines and you would think easy to digitise, I did need to think about how to split it and then what dimensions to use to get this block to be the same size as my other blocks – I knew that maths degree would come in handy some time!

I split into two sections …

Bear's Paw Split

Bear’s Paw Split

And then used Embird Studio to digitise each stitch out (I did this separately).

BearPaw_01 BearPaw_02

And then joined them using the merge feature in Embird Manager. Once I had the numbers sorted, it was all relatively easy. Now I just need to test it out!

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Filed under Digitizing, Foundation Blocks, Machine Embroidery, Patchwork

Digitised Bachelor’s Puzzle Quilt Block

SewWitty's Bachelor's Puzzle

SewWitty’s Bachelor’s Puzzle

This is 1/4 of my Bachelor’s Puzzle block.  I did this in two pieces and then joined them, which means the finished block will have 8 pieces – I might be getting a bit carried away.

I have one more block to go to make 12, but I haven’t got one in mind yet.

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Pinwheel Quilt Block Digitised

SewWitty's Pinwheel block

SewWitty’s Pinwheel block

What it looks like when there is four of them.

What it looks like when there is four of them.

This is my latest digitised block, a Pinwheel. I used paint to show you what it would like if there was four of them.

I need two more blocks to make 12 – I’m considering a Bachelor’s Puzzle, Water Wheel and New York Star – although I might think of another block before the end.

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Alter Steps Quilt Block

 

Altar Steps

Altar Steps

My digitising adventures continue. This one came together quite quickly. Although I need to find a way of reversing stitching direction. When I change the starting point to the end point all of the other points vanish. Any ideas?

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Log Cabin Block Foundation Pieced

SewWitty's Log Cabin Block

SewWitty’s Log Cabin Block

This is my foundation pieced log cabin block. This one came together easily, I only needed to make one change.

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This and That

Pineapple Quilt Block in Progress

Pineapple Quilt Block in Progress

The Pineapple quilt block has proven to be quite difficult, but I think I have a plan of action sorted. The above is a work in progress.

My Heavy Metal knitting needles arrived today – very keen to get started on the next pair of socks. I ordered the needles in late December and I knew they would be shipped late January, so I’m impressed they have arrived so soon.

I found more Misti Alpaca yarn – this one (in Confetti) – at my local store. I also have this one, my stash is becoming a but unmanageable.

I’ve joined this course and watched the introduction and now I need to get ready to knit the practice swatches. I need more hours in the day.

I’m tempted to buy The Principles of Knitting as a Kindle book – lighter (have you seen the size of this thing) and an instant download.

 

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Filed under Digitizing, Knitting, Machine Embroidery, Yarn Stash

Courthouse Steps Mark 2

Second Version of Courthouse Steps

Second Version of Courthouse Steps

I think this is better than the last one – it came together quickly, which is handy in the school holidays!

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Courthouse Steps Quilt Block

Courthouse Steps Version 1

Courthouse Steps Version 1

This is the first attempt at the Courthouse Steps block. One of the seams isn’t quite right and I think I can fit another step in on the flowery steps.

It came together easily, so easily I might try a Pineapple Quilt Block next (like one of the ones below) …

Pineapple Quilt Block from quilting.about.com

Pineapple Quilt Block from quilting.about.com

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