Category Archives: Machine Embroidery

Digitising Practice

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.

 

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Patchwork Cards

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.

 

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Filed under Digitizing, Foundation Blocks, Machine Embroidery, Patchwork

Easter Applique Finished

I finished the easter t-shirts.

Both designs are from here. Miss P’s is crooked, but there was no way I was unpicking it and trying again!

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Back to the Drawing Board

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 …

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Foundation Piecing Using Embroidery Machine

I’ve interrupted work on the baby quilt to make the Easter T-Shirts this year we are going to have a crazy patchwork egg. I am going to foundation piece it using my embroidery machine. Above is the design I made using Embird Studio – this is the third version and I suspect their might be more.

Here it is stitched out …

The corners don’t meet properly and the top is a bit pointy – onto version 4.

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Pinwheel Block – Machine Embroidery

A pinwheel block – foundation pieced using an embroidery machine. This one is done in four pieces and then joined together.

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Flying Geese Block – Foundation Pieced with Embroidery Machine

I finished testing my flying geese block – it took three attempts.

I made this block using foundation (or paper) piecing on my embroidery machine. I digitised the design using Embird Studio.

The final design size is 138.4 mm by 139.6 mm.

Read this if you’re interested in using your embroidery machine to foundation piece – it does make for very accurate piecing, but your limited by the size of the embroidery hoop.

 

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Log Cabin Cushion – Machine Embroidered

I made these blocks into a cushion cover. I just added borders until it was big enough -the back has an envelope closure (no zip!)

Next time I must remember to finish the edges of the construction seams – it’s not something you do when quilting (because the raw edges will be inside the quilt sandwich) – and it didn’t occur to me until it was too late to finish some of the border seams.

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Embroidered Tree – Teachers presents

We made the teachers felt Christmas tree ornaments. This is one of the designs I used for my Advent Calendar – the back has the girls’ names and the year.

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Filed under Christmas Decorations, Machine Embroidery

Another Christmas Card

This is my final card. The design is from here.

Just adding the design rather than trying to cover the front with fabric seemed to work better – not as crinkly.

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Filed under Applique, Machine Embroidery