Sew Exciting! The Design Placement app has arrived!

Finally!  I had to wait almost 2 weeks to get the Sew Notice app update from Pfaff for my Android.  Apparently, it was a Google hang up.  This post will be helpful if you watch the Facebook Live event, and you can find the link here.  You can find more information for the Pfaff app here.  I have organzined my phone with a folder for the three apps so I can find them easily. 

Currently, the app is only for the Creative Icon embroidery machine but who knows what the future holds?  Here is a screenshot of the main screen of the app.

The original app is used to monitor your embroidery stitching and is a wonderful tool, especially if you have other things to do around the house.  **My disclaimer- I normally do not stray far, it is my typical luck to have a major mess up if I do.

Here are screenshots of the Sew Monitor portion of the app.

The app for the Husqvarna Viking is called the My Sew Monitor app.  It is avialable for the Designer Brialliance 80, Epic and Epic 2 machines.  It looks similar but different across both machines and across both platforms, Android and iphone.

The new screen of the app looks like this on an android phone.

I did find some screen shots of the My SewMonitor app for the iphone.  I hope this helps some of you.

With this latest update, you are now able to take a picture of your hoop and send it to your machine and it becomes the  background for your embroidery design.  How cool is that?!

For this lesson, I decided to dig out from my stash, a set of denim pennants that I had purchased on clearance at Michaels ages ago. My husband's great niece is named 'Birdie' and while digging for fabric I found a collection with little birds on them.  Perfect!

I thought a perfect gift would be a baby quilt and the bunting.  The bunting/pennant is almost done. Check it out.

When I marked the pennant , I used the topstitching as a starting point.  The markings only apply to this pennant and for this blog post.  I just wanted you to see how I marked it so the letters would be even accross the banner.

When I float my projects in the hoop, I like to line up the vertical and horizontal markings on the hoop.  I purchased a Hoop Mat from Designs in Machine Embroidery to help me align the markings.

The next step was to load the Applique Creator design onto the screen of my machine.  Before I show you this step, I had mentined a few projects that I had made using this function.  Did I say yet how I love this function?!!

Here is the pillowcase for my grandson.  I made this to help him recognize his own name when he was about two years old.

Here is a USA banner that I made last summer.  The banner shape file is found on the MySewnet blog on my machine in several sizes.  I added the lettering and stars from my machine.

Lastly, I taught this wallhanging as a class and mixed a few techniques from my machine.  You know, I love Halloween!  You can see here, I used the the other options from the Auto outline for this design.

Follow the steps to creating appliqué lettering on your machine on the FB live event.  If you need further help, the information is in the full size manual starting on page 161.  Remember the first step is to set your hoop size.  This sets the general size for your shape.

Then follow the directions from the manual.

     

Once you have the design set up, then you can load your background.  I decided to add two hearts to the pennant - one on each side. I sized it and changed the colors of each step, just like in the video.  Please note that I changed the colors for each layer of appliqué, so it would be easie rto see on the screen.

I then took a picture of my hoop and sent it to my machine.  Cool beans, huh?

                       

The next step was to go to Embroidery Stitch Out and check with Perfect Positioning the center of my design.  Being able to see the marks on my background fabric is a HUGE help.

The first stitch out is the placement stitch.  I changed this color to yellow to avoid any confusion. This heart actually looks like it is off center but it is centered, I promise.

I placed my appliqué fabric onto the placement stitch.  My piece was about 4" x 4.5" and backed with Heat n Bond Lite.  I removed the backing paper and stitched color #2 -the tack down stitch.

The tack down stitch is a very small zigzag designed to avoid the fabric tearing away if you cut too close.

Color #3 is the satin stitch outline,  It is definitely wide enough to cover the raw edges of your fabric appliqué.

Here is a close-up of the "E" and heart design that I did.  I hope you will give this a try.  It really is that easy.  If you have any questions, please let me know.

Coming soon, additional applications for the Design Placement app and the other apps available.

Large HST Blocks- Week 2 Watermelon version

What a difference the fabric makes.  No truer words were said with this Ultimate Picnic from Fort Worth Fabric Studio.  By the second time around I am getting the hang of the blocks for this week.

Here is my Design Board for the Watermelon version.

The completed blocks in two different arrangements.  Which one do you prefer?

Well, they just posted Weeks 3 and 4 and yep, it is going to take me the entire two weeks to finish both sets.  Well, it is not like I have anywhere to go.

I will be back!

Large HST Blocks - Week 2

This week was a tough one for me to try and select the fabrics to work with and get all of the blocks done for TWO quilts.  Seriously - what was I thinking?!!

I just started working on the watermelon version, so I will have that ready on Monday.  To get you started, here is my design board for Week 2.

I have to tell you I could not envision my color combinations in my head, which is rather rare for me.  So I was sewing this blindly.  Are you ready for the next 5 blocks!

Cutting Directions:

Color A: 

Cut 2X - 9" x 9" squares and 20 2" x 5.5" rectangles

Color B:

Cut 1x - 2" x 2" square

Color C:

Cut 2x 9" x 9" squares

Color F:

Cut 1x 12.5" x 12.5" square

Color G:

Cut 1x 12.5" x 12.5" square

Color: H:

Cut 2X - 7" x 7" squares

Color I:

Cut 2X - 7" x 7" squares

Color K:  

Cut 1x - 2" x 2" square

I dug into my pile of fabric scraps and I was able to use some of my original fabric pieces that I pulled out.  There are 3 blue scraps right next to the yellow and they were big enough to cut for these blocks.

Yvette has done a fabulous job in sewing out these blocks so I have included her video here.

Here are my 5 blocks all layed out.  Not really sure of the arrangement but I wanted to see how they were coming together.

My husband and I decided we both liked the second version but they are two toally different looks. We'll see how they all come together in the end.

Back to work to be able to post for Monday.

HST Pinwheel Block - Week 1 Part II

Welcome back.  I decided to break this first week into two parts to give you enough time  to sew along with me.

The second block is the Half Square Triangle Pinwheel block and my design boards are ready to go.

Bugs in the Garden version

My finished block

Watermelon Picnic version

 My finished block

Cutting Directions:

**Color A or the white tone on tone:  you will use the 1 .25 yards of fabric

You will need to cut 8x 4'"x 4" pieces of color A from the 12 you cut yesterday

and 4x 2" x 5.5" rectangles from the 8 you cut as well.

**Color D are the points of the pinwheel:  

You will need 4x 4'"x 4" pieces of color D.

**Color E is the accent fabric of the star: 10" x 10" square

You will need to cut 2x 4" x 4" squares for the block.

**Color F is the other accent fabric of the star: 10" x 10" square

You will need to cut 2x 4" x 4" squares for the block.

**Color J is the small center block: - cut a 6" square fabric piece

You will need to use one  2" x 2" squares - for the center of the HST Pinwheel block.

Sewing Directions:

This is the same video from yesterday but start at 20:46 for the beginning of the HST Pinwheel block

                                 

The steps are very similar to the HST Star Block 

This finishes Week 1-  Are you having as much fun as I am?  I hope so.  If you are sewing along, please share with me your finished blocks for week 1 and I can post them here.

Week 2 is more involved and I will share with you my design boards on Friday.  See you then!

Welcome to Week 1 of the Fort Worth Ultimate Picnic Mystery Quilt

Today we are working on one of the blocks in the first week.  It is the Half Square Triangle Star Block

Well this is turning out to be rather fun and not so hard after all.  One of the ladies is sharing a You Tube video to cut all of the fabric but I do not cut all of my fabric at once.  For me this is more of a cut and sew process.

Here are the first two blocks.

Here are my finished blocks for the HST Star Block

Don't get confused because I am making TWO quilts, so that is why you are seeing two of every step.  I know... I am crazy.

I did look over the cutting directions and decided that G will be the focal print for the HST Star Block.  Here is my design board for the first block with the bug fabric group.

Here is the design board for the watermelon fabric grouping.

You will need 1 yard and 4 inches for the A fabric choice.  I used white but I am seeing others use a solid darker color for that choice like this example.

Cutting Directions for the HST Star Block

HST= Half Square Truangle

RST = Right Sides Together

**Color A or the white tone on tone:  you will sse the 1 .25 yards of fabric

You will need to cut 12x 4'"x 4" pieces of color A for both of the blocks. (You will only make one HST Star Block and one HST Pinwheel block in this first week.)

Cut 4x 3" x 3" squares and 8x 2" x 5.5" rectangles.

**Color D are the points of the star:  10" x 20" piece of fabric

You will need to cut 8x 4'"x 4" pieces of color D.

**Color G is the accent fabric of the star: 1 FQ for week #1 and #2

You will need to cut 4x 3" x 3" squares for the week.

**Color J is the small center block: - cut a 6" square fabric piece

You will need to cut 2x  2" x 2" squares - one for the HST Star Block and one for the HST Pinwheel block.

The first step is to match the 4" blocks RST (right sides together) and draw a diagonal line. Using a 1/4" seam, stitch down each side of the diagonal line.

Then cut down the marked line to make two half square triangles.

Press the triangles to the DARK side.  They suggest using a Bloc Loc Ruler.  I absolutely love this ruler and it is the only way I can get accurate HST.  You can buy the ruler at Scrap & Sew.  Call the store to see if we have the 6 1/2" ruler.  We can order it for you as well.  

Here is a video in how to use it and a few other rulers.

                    

Once you trim all of your HST to a 3" x 3" block you are reay to assemble your block.  I layed all my pieces first to make sure I had it done correctly.  I used a 1/4 seam and pressed the seams to one side.

Here is a video that demonstrates both of the squares in the first week.  Complete the HST Star Block and set aside.  Tomorrow I will feature the HST Pinwheel block.

Please feel free to share your blocks and I will post them below.

See you tomorrow!