Quilting by Embroidery Machine and Piecing in the Hoop

OK - what would a quilter want with an embroidery machine like a Pfaff Creative 5.0. Brother Quattro, or an Ellismo?

Well, the answer is...you can quilt quickly and accurately in the embroidery hoop!

This was surprising news to me (who just started quilting in Nov. 2010) - I had absolutely not one idea that this could be done, but after having purchased and used Larisa Bland's "Piece in the Hoop" book, I completed this great little 12x12 table topper/hot pad in just one morning!

Larisa also has many beautiful, easy, yet complicated-looking Quilt Blocks in the Hoop

My version is filled with Insulbright so I can use it for hot pots on the table.

The version in Larisa's book is a cute pillow, which I love, but I have roosters in my dining room :-)

If this has piqued your interest, I have a photo tour for you of my morning of piecing in the hoop:

As Larisa advises, you will need a few new tools for piecing and applique in the hoop.  I got a Clover mini iron and used a mug rug to provide protection for my machine from the heat.  She also has a clever pressing pad project on pg. 37 you can make just for this.  In the meantime, I think a potholder would do, too.  Be careful not to sew it into your project like I did!  ;-)  I have a fusible, tear-away stabilizer in the hoop to have something to sew the small 1" log cabin blocks onto.

The log cabin center came together so easily and it was FUN!  The information for the embroidery machine to create the correct sewing lines is on a CD in the back of the book.  I just transferred the CD files to a flash drive (you could do this to a card reader or floppy, too) and selected it once I was in the embroidery sewing mode.  

Have you ever thought of new machines as "sewing computers" before?  I believe that is a good term for a modern, home-embroidery machine.

As Larisa demonstrates in her step-by-step instruction book (all in color and numbered really clearly with LARGE numbers ;-), she has me cut away the excess stabilizer (the off-white stuff in the upper right hand corner that is like the paper for paper piecing, but it's a fusible, lightweight material).  Cool thing is, Larisa has digitized her software design for the block to include a 1/4" seam line around the entire outside edges of the block on back, so you know exactly where to cut!  Fool-proofing is very good, Larisa - thank you!  I need that kind of stuff, being new to quilting as I am!

Speaking of being new to quilting, over on Sew WE Quilt @ Stash Manicure  where they'll be giving away quilting supplies of high quality to NEWBIES!!!  Some of the companies involved in the give-away are...

Is that EXCITING, or is that EXCITING!?!?!?!?

Can't wait for that to start!!!

The applique in the hoop over the existing block was a LOT OF FUN to do!!!  This was my first time using applique and I'm in 'love'!

If you are liking this quilting and applique in the hoop idea, did you know a "secret"?

Brother is offer FOUR YEARS 0% INTEREST for any machine $1,000 and over.

Just contact your local dealer - it's only until July 10th, 2011!

Local Bismarck, ND dealer:  http://www.jrsewfun.com

Here's my Brother Innovis 4000D 

"D" stands for Disney

I took my finished applique out of the hoop and added borders.

After pressing and ironing, things are looking up!

(I like to use a press cloth and press the back side over the threads for the applique just like Nancy Zieman advises (she's got tips written right into the book)).

Next, I cut out a 13x13 square of 100% cotton batting from Hobb's.

I took my pieced and appliqued top outside in the fresh air, turned it wrong side up and

sprayed it lightly with Sullivan's Original Quilt Basting Spray.

Now I switch to my Pfaff Quilt Expression 4.0 to use the built-in "walking foot" or IDT as it's called.  This makes stitching in the ditch an absolute breeze.

Next, I decided to add Insul-Bright and cut myself a 12x12 square, then...

stuffed it right into the opening I had left myself after adding a back and....

ta-dah!

(Sorry about the photo quality)

Great for the dining room table!

It'll get lots of use - and sew cute!!

Thanks for the great book, tutorials and patterns, Larisa!!!

Larisa's blog

If you happen to stop by my blog, please give me a shout :-)

Toot-torial Tuesday at RocknQuilts #3; 28-30 June, 2011

Are you ready for more creative fun on the third weekly Toot-torial Tuesday? I know I am!  Have you got a project you would like to share?  We welcome all creative projects from sewing, quilting, purse-making, cooking, baking, re-purposing, card making, scrapbooking to drawing, painting and photography - it's all about YOU and what you enjoy doing!  Please join the blog hop by clicking on the link below, copy & paste your direct link, give it a name, and that's all there is to it!  Your older tutorials are welcome, too, because they'll be 'new' to us!

Featured this week is a very quick serger tutorial (also applicable to sewing machine or hand-stitching) to make a pair of potholders for your kitchen or for your friends and relatives!  All you need are five 8" squares of fabric and one 7" square of Insulbrite to protect against burns from hot pots, casseroles or cookie sheets.  These are also great done in 3" squares and a 2" piece of felt in the center as wine glass holders!!  A third option would be to create one to use as a trivet to protect your table from hot pots.  This is a perfect way to use up small amounts of fabric, because you can choose to use one to five different types of fabric!

PS  Check out my Projects for Family page for more fun tutorials!

Here's the scoop on this potholder tute:

Five 8" squares

Fold four of the squares into triangles and press

Lay the triangles down across a square (piece five), which is facing right-side-up

Piece one will tuck under piece two and piece four will tuck under piece three.

Piece five is a square with right side facing up - triangles one through four will lay down upon this square

Lay triangle one down on top of the square with the raw edges on the outside and the folded edge lying crosswise across the square, then lay triangle two down with raw edges on the outside (as before) and 

tuck triangle one under triangle two 

Lay triangle 3 down the opposite of triangle one (raw edges out with center fold running down the center of the square)

It's easier to "see" how the triangles should lay across the bottom square with different fabrics.

Here above, you see triangles one through three

...then triangle four has been tucked under triangle three.

Serge or sew around the entire outside edge of the potholder (a 3" length of rick rack could be placed in one corner if you would like a handle), then turn right-side-out and insert the Insulbrite into the folds.  You can tack down the center if you wish or sew a decorative flat button in the center.

When five different fabrics are used, then it's easier to see how the triangles should lay down across the square on the bottom

You can tack down the center if you wish...

Four pink triangles over black & white fabric on the left

Four black and white triangles over pink fabric on the right

The options are endless!

Happy sewing :-)

Who will you be making these for?

Hope you saw my AccuStars and Stripes Pillow tutorial at Sew WE Quilt @ Stash Manicure

GIVE-AWAY on JULY FOURTH

Be sure to hop over to Stash Manicure to participate!

***

Share in the fun!  Please join our blog hop here:

Unbelievable destruction during Minot Flood 2011 photos

Very moving Youtube slideshow with music : Photos of Flood 2011 in Minot, ND

Flickr Photos


Mighty Mouse (River) you may take my house
But you will never take the home from my heart
We Love our Home!!

God bless Minot

Someone rigged up flags across a bridge that's still above water

Take what you want

I got it all in my heart

Quilt Auction postponed due to flooding

The annual quilt auction in my home church at Lake Metigoshe, North Dakota has been postponed due to area flooding.  Mother managed to obtain photos of the beautiful quilts that will be available for auction now on July 23rd, 2011.  The auction had originally been planned for today.

Quilt Auction Postponed

Have a blessed day!

@

Josh Duhamel's plea for help for his hometown!

Minot, North Dakota native Josh Duhamel

husband of Fergie, Black-Eyed Peas

Josh Duhamel's (of the 'Transformer's' movie triology) Plea for help for his hometown of Minot, North Dakota during his ET interview which took place in Moscow, Russia yesterday.

Today the water in downtown Minot is just under the traffic lights next to the public library and is expected to rise another six feet.

The water levels were coming up at the rate of half a foot per hour today.

Praise God!  Fifteen minutes ago, Senator Kent Konrad says North Dakota has been approved for FEMA assistance!  Thank you for your continued prayers for the over 12,000 residents who have been evacuated.

http://www.minotflood.info/

Minot, North Dakota native Josh Duhamel

husband of Fergie, Black-eyed Peas

Josh Duhamel's (of the 'Transformer's' movie triology) Plea for help for his hometown of Minot, North Dakota during his ET interview which took place in Moscow, Russia yesterday.

Today the water in downtown Minot is just under the traffic lights next to the public library and is expected to rise another six feet.

The water levels were coming up at the rate of half a foot per hour today.

Praise God!  Fifteen minutes ago, Senator Kent Konrad says North Dakota has been approved for FEMA assistance!  Thank you for your continued prayers for the over 12,000 residents who have been evacuated.

http://www.minotflood.info/

Pattern design being published!

Even during such a sad time here in Central North Dakota, a bright spot happened! Accuquilt.com will has accepted my AccuStars and Stripes pillow pattern and is projected to appear on their website on Monday, June 27th! This made my day :-)

Here's my post from Stash Manicure, from which my pattern got 'noticed'!

God bless the USA!

********

Please consider donating to the Minot Red Cross

and the Bismarck Red Cross

for flood assistance.

Minot, ND 

2,500 homes are being flooded today

over 12,000 people are displaced

nine feet over flood stage today and rising

this flood on the Souris River breaks an 1881 record

Bismarck, North Dakota

Missouri River floods 657 homes

The governor of North Dakota has asked FEMA to reconsider their earlier decision not to help.

A Presidential Disaster Declaration has been declared as of June 23rd, 2011.

Thank you for your prayers.

God bless!