Quilters who embroider, please I need some advice.......
When you are embroidering blocks of
designs, say 14 blocks of 6x6, using 4x4
designs, do you cut your blocks to size
before you embroider them?
Or do you embroider them across your
material and then cut out your squares, so
that you can be sure the designs are
centred properly?
I never seem to be able to centre the
material in the hoop perfectly and always
have to move the design 1/8" nearly
every time.
I would hate for my quilt block designs not
to be square so I would appreciate any
advice you could give me on how you achieve
perfection when embroidering your quilt
blocks.
Thanks in advance, hugs n roses, Meganne
44621 Meg, I hope I'm not too late. I always wash my fabric first so that the darker colors don't run onto the lighter and startch the little buggers stiff! That way, you don't get any warping and puckering and when you cut down the square to the finished size you want it sews soooooo easily!
by jrob 15 Jun 2009
I use Heavy spray starch while the fabric is still damp from the dryer. It is just partially dried.
54357 I am new at quilting but a very good tip I got from a lady was to cut perspex the size you want your blocks. Mark the perspex in the middle. Lay the perspex on your emrboidered block and cut. I have doen perspec squares for all sizes
2964 Hi Meg, I always cut the fabric larger
than the design. I agree with most of the
other ladies. I then use my rotary cutter
on the self healing board and trim to
correct size. That way the design is
always centred. Hope your quilt turns out
lovely.
Love and blessings chris
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by pennifold 15 Jun 2009
Hi Heather, thanks - but this is not finished. I just laid the squares out to show how they turned out. I have to put sashing between each letter and then quilt it etc. Love and blessings Chris
8462 Awww you didnt call. Oh well all good advice here :) Hey when you comin' over. Give me a bit of warning so I can go .. Haha you thouhgt cook!!! No go clean up the sewing room :)
11419 you got some good advice........that is what I do. Cut my squares after.........*4u all
21820 I definitely suggest larger then cut smaller.. experience is the best teacher there. Also if you are doing several blocks from the same fabric, I mark the "blocks" off a large width of fabric (with the blocks a bit bigger than required also- allows for the fabric taken up when you embroider). That way you can get more "blocks" from your fabric than if you keep cutting it and hooping individual blocks. I instead move the hoop along and when all of the blocks are stitched, then cut to desired width. I hope that makes some sense. These "pin pillows" I made for my sorority new member gifts were stitched on a continuous amt of fabric then cut and squared off in the end
by wvlou 14 Jun 2009
one more thought.. obvious until you have forgotten... REMEMBER to add your seam allowance!!! (before you cut!) Once again experience is a pretty good teacher!
1050 
12718 I always cut the squares the I going to embroider 12x12 and then Icrease the fabric in half and use the hoop to center the design and then I cut out my squrae out to 6 3/4 " x 6 3/4" squares to allow for the 1/4" sewing
by jazzymag 14 Jun 2009
I have 2 basting stitched squares the sizes of the stitching areas of each of my hoops that I center my design in. When I am ready to cut my square I trim about 1 ½” from the basting stitch line. I have been doing this for 2 years have haven’t had any problems.
12718 Meganne, missed this post but I also cut the blocks bigger then needed, than embroider and cut the right size after embroidery. Lots of succes with you quilt, You go girl.
33234 I always embroider on larger piece of fabric--then I press and cut using rotary cuter and square ruler. This way I can center the way I think it would look best. Like adding names, etc. And that way I can decide later what size I want the squares to be. Thanks! Sounds like we'll be getting some more quilt designs. :)
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7172 WOW! Thank you all so much for your great
advice.
I've never made a quilt before and
I'm starting TWO at the same time.
(High hopes since I mostly sleep 16 hours a
day, lately. LOL!!!)
One is a Christmas lap quilt being done at
Love's Embroidery Group over the next
6 months.
The other is one I've been dreaming of
doing for the last two years, for my 2 y.o.
Granddaughter. I'm actually very
nervous about doing this quilt and so
afraid I will muck it up. I want to
embroider the full set of Sunbonnets,
created by, Heavens, I can't remember
her name!
Anyway, I'm sure with all this
information and a lot of help from Nonna57
(Pauline), eventually I will get them done,
hopefully in time for GD's 3rd
Birthday in October and for a gift for MIL
for Christmas.
Thank you all so much, I will try and
respond individually later.
hugs n roses, M
44621 Meg I emb on a larger Usually about an inch or a little more, then sq it after I do the embroidery. U have gotten excellent advice, so whatever works best for u. *4U
53759 I am doing a jean quilt right now out of old pant legs LOL my blocks will be 6x6 when I cut them. but I embroider first then cut if I am doing a RW design though I can usually cut first then stitch just because it is not that dense. attached pic of it. I am waiting till all designs are stitched before I cut
5699 I always cut my blocks an inch bigger, embroider, iron, measure TWICE and then cut
27176 another point to think about is that it may depend upon the size of hoop you are using as well as the size of squares you desire. I basically use a template after embroidery to center and cut/trim to the size I want.
31664 You have gotten the same answer I would have given...In fact I have 120 cotton blocks that are cut 7 x 7 to be trimmed down to a 6 x 6 block AFTER I have stitched all of them!!!I just fold in 1/2 and in 1/2 again to find the center...I'm using a tear away stabilizer for the back.
29374 I have made a few depending on the method
you are going to use when sewing up
1. Always cut larger before you do the
embroidering as it will make it a little
smaller, then cut to the required size.
2. If doing the quilt as you go method add
the backing as well and do the quilting on
as well before cutting it back as this also
makes it smaller.
3. I have several sizes of squares to cut
around which allows you to square it up
perfectly every time before you cut. Good
Luck
2724 Meganne, Guess I do it differently than everyone else. I cut my fleece about 6 1/2 x 6 1/2", and then fold in half and in half again and put a pin in center of fold. then I hoop with pin in center(measuring with 6" measure)from center to each edge. I have done so many that I know what the measures are to be. I have not had a problem with any not being centered. Hope someones ideas fit with your work. Hahaha! Judy... *4All
10660 Thanks for asking this Meganne, interesting to read everyone's answers, and yes, I agree about cutting larger first..
13504 I have done quilting but I never have combined embroidery on my blocks. It sound like you have some great ideas. I may have to give it a try. *4U
1809 I have never made a quilt but now know how to get started so thanks to all of you
7504 When i make a quilt,i cut strips across the with of the fabric wider than the required size,rehoopimg each block than cut them out when all blocks compleated. You waste less fabric this way it looks like a photo frames when you cut out the blocks. The left overs i cut into one and half inch strips and but them in my one day box to make a log cabin quilt.
5347 Meg, you certainly have got lots of good advice and I agree with the other answers. Use a larger piece of fabric to start with and trim down to size after stitching out and pressing. Good luck. Hope to see a project soon. *4U
21946 I learned in a class exactly what the
others said. Embroider first then cut,
because the embroidery will pull the fabric
enough to change the dimensions.
This also applies when making
children's garments. Trace the
pattern onto the fabric, to help center the
embroidery. Embroider, then use the
pattern to cut the fabric. You will notice
up to a 1/2 inch difference because of the
pull.
5125 Meg, you have some good advice here - thanks for asking the question. *4U
89874 I always, always, always, cut my fabric larger than my design, embroider my design, then use my 6" square (usually) and my rotary cutter to square it up. Works perfect every time.
9202 I always embroider blocks on a large piece
of fabric- then I press it carefully from
the left side on a fluffy towel, then I use
a plastic template I made from old
calendars with the needed block size
including seam allowance. This template is
marked with a waterproof pen, including a
big center cross. I put this on the right
side of the embroidered item to center the
design and mark the edges with a special
pen, which disappears after a while.
Finally I use the rotary cutter to cut off
the surplus of fabric. Precuttig never
works because of the distortion while
embroidering. The working needle and the
thread added causes the fabric to stretch
slightly. Stabilizer does not help to avoid
this.
CU
Eva
18966 I make mine on a larger piece, then square them with rotary cutter. That way I can get my design in the center. Also the hoop can grip a larger piece better and i use a piece of that rubber shelf liner around my hoop. best of luck, becky
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1836
jrob how do you starch your fabric?