Quilting Magic with Your Embroidery Machine

Quilting Magic with Your Embroidery Machine
Whether you’re a first time quilter or a seasoned
veteran, this method of block piecing and quilting
creates professional looking results, every time.
The secret is using your embroidery machine. The
blocks are skillfully pieced and the quilt is quilted
with the precision of a long-arm, all in the
hoop. This vibrant Diamond Spectrum Quilt
pattern features several techniques—from piecing
to layering, and on to final quilting. Let me show
you this fast and fun method of quilting with your
machine.
Machine embroidery designs included in the package come in two designs and in four different sizes each. This
gives you versatility in your own quilt design and finished project sizes.
Note from Nancy: The blocks used in this demonstration are 8″ x 8″, the largest size.
Supplies
Stress-Free Machine Embroidery: Diamond Spectrum Quilt
Embroidery Software for printing templates, such as Amazing Designs® Exit Express™
Fusible Mesh Cut-Away Stabilizer
2-1/2″ fabric strip pack (40 strips per pack) These precut packs are commonly called Jelly Rolls.
2-1/4 yard background fabric (We used black.)
Coordinating all-purpose thread, such as Madeira Aerofil
50 Weight Quilting Thread
Make a Block
Use the embroidery software program to print the template for, in this case, the 8″ x 8″ block.
Notice the different sections of the block and the numbers within. These numbers indicate the piecing sequence.
Cut the fabric strips to the following lengths, per block. A project sheet is included with the product for complete
quilt requirements.
-One piece: 2-1/2″ x 12-1/2″
-Two pieces: 2-1/2″ x 11-1/2″
-Two pieces: 2-1/2″ x 8-1/2″
-Two pieces: 2-1/2″x 6″
-Two pieces: 2-1/2″ x 3-1/2″
-One contrast/background square: 9-1/4″ x 9-1/4″
Hoop a Fusible Mesh Cut-Away Stabilizer, fusible side up.
Set up the sewing machine with the embroidery unit and appropriate foot.
Import and select the embroidery design for the block.
Select all-purpose poly or poly/cotton thread; wind the bobbin with the same thread as used in the needle. A
slightly contrasting color works best. (Now this is different! Rayon thread is usually used for embroidery but we’re
piecing quilt blocks!)
Stitch the first thread color directly on the stabilizer.
Pre-select fabric strip arrangements, keeping a mix of colors in light, medium, and dark values.
Start with the center strip, section one. Place the 12-1/2″ fabric strip over that section making sure the fabric
covers the stitching lines and extends equally in all directions.
Fuse the fabric strip to the stabilizer with a mini iron.
Stitch the thread Color 2, which bastes down fabric #1.
Align the 11-1/2″ strips along the diagonal fabric edge matching right sides together. Make certain fabric is
extended equally beyond the outline on the stabilizer at opposite corners.
Embroider thread Color 3 to stitch the section to the block.
Fold the second fabric strip over the stabilizer.
Start pressing from the folded edge, working to the opposite corner to eliminate wrinkles. “Pre-pressing” with your
fingertips is ideal—you can feel any wrinkles.
Press and fuse the fabric strip to the stabilizer.
Embroider thread Color 4 to baste the pressed section to stabilizer.
Trim away excess fabric along the previously stitched basting line.
Align the 8-1/2″ strips along the diagonal fabric edge matching right sides together. Make certain fabric is
extended equally beyond the outline on the stabilizer at opposite corners.
Embroider thread Color 5 to stitch the section to the block.
Fold the second fabric strip over the stabilizer.
Start pressing from the folded edge, working to the opposite corner to eliminate wrinkles. “Pre-pressing” with your
fingertips is ideal—you can feel any wrinkles.
Press and fuse the fabric strip to the stabilizer.
Embroider thread Color 6 to baste the pressed section to stabilizer.
Trim away excess fabric along the previously stitched basting line.
Repeat these steps to complete the remaining sections with the remaining cut strips.
Before stitching Color 19, tape the seam edges with Sewer’s Fix-It Tape. This prevents the embroidery foot
from catching on the fabric folds as your embroider the outer block perimeter.
Place the tape 1/8″–1/4″ away from the stitched basting lines.
Trim the fabric ends approximately 1/2″ from the perimeter stitching lines.
Position the contrast/background square over the pieced block in the hoop.
Align the squares’ edges to extend equally beyond the Color 19 stitching line. Optional: Lightly apply tape to the
corners.
Embroider Color 20, which sews two perfectly diagonal rows of stitches.
Remove the block.
Turn the block over to trim the seam allowances past the Color 19 stitching line to 1/4″.
Cut between the diagonal stitched lines.
Each embroidered block produces a set of two finished Diamond Spectrum blocks.
Design a Quilt Top
Once the blocks are created, arrange this high-contrast block in any of these traditional settings:
Diamond Spectrum (on the cover)
Amish Rainbows and Shadows:
Place blocks with contrast fabric
in the upper left corners for each
block.
Spectrum in Diagonal: Place blocks with contrast fabric in the lower
right corner first, then upper left corner; repeat across the row.
Alternate the block arrangement in the remaining rows.
Rainbow Spectrum on Point: Place four blocks with rainbow pieced
sections meeting.
Machine Embroider to Quilt
Choose a quilting embroidery design. The Diamond Spectrum Quilt Collection includes the featured stippling
pattern, specially sized for each size block.
Print a template using an embroidery software program such as Amazing Designs® Exit Express™.
Note from Nancy: Print embroidery templates on Translucent Foundation Paper for better visibility and alignment
of the designs on your quilt.
Trim excess paper.
Position the template over the quilt and tape in the desired location.
Align the quilting embroidery design, hoop quilt, and quilt. Details covering hooping options and specific steps can
be found in the complete directions.
Remove the paper template, once the hoop and quilt are aligned.
Change thread and bobbin to 50 weight machine quilting thread, if desired.
Embroider.
Add embroidered quilting to all desired areas of the quilt repeating the previous steps.
Finish the quilt with your favorite binding method. You can find my absolute easiest binding tutorial here.
Watch Stress Free Quilting with Machine Embroidery Part Two on Sewing With
Nancy online.
To watch Sewing With Nancy on your iPad, iPod Touch, or iPhone, download the app.
Leave us a comment sharing the most stressful step in the
quilting process to be entered to win a CD of Stress-Free
Machine Embroidery: Diamond Spectrum Quilt.
The random winner of a 6-in-1 Stick ‘n Stitch Guide from
Clover is Ruth Meek. She said: I would love to own this handy
gadget!! I’m getting back into sewing, & this would be
invaluable for perfect seam allowances.
Don’t forget to submit your table runner in my Fall Table Runner Challenge! The deadline to enter is MONDAY,
September 14. Click here to see how to enter. Make sure you are subscribed to my enews mailing list so you
won’t miss a thing. Sign up here.
Bye for now,
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