I took a class in machine quilting using my embroidery head; this is the runner we made. There are 10 repeats of the motif, all more or less well aligned...
We started by centering a design 4" from one long border, and half way on the long axis, and stitching it out; then worked towards the edges. When one side was done, we did the other in the same manner. What I learned:
- Mark the line that everything will align to with chalk pencil.
- Use template paper made for stitching out a design, or stitch it out on organza to help align the design as you go along. Make sure to mark both axis.
- Put the template on first, then hoop the project; put it on the machine and use the centering function to put the center in the right place. Then check starting/ending points (on the Bernina, proceed to the stitch out sheet then hit the button that looks like a broken thread; the search button will let you enter the stitch number.
- Make sure to remove the template before you start stitching! Go to the first stitch, then bring the bobbin thread up to the top and hold on for a few stitches. Stop the embroidery at this point and cut the threads.
- If you don't have enough border to stitch everything out, hoop with the water soluble paper with the one sticky side and stick your project to it after slashing with a pin and peeling off the paper; trim it later and wash to remove.
- Looks like if there is a problem, you should NOT remove the hoop! You can pick out the problem with a seam ripper and then use the same function as used to navigate to first and last points to get close to where you need to restitch.
- Embroidery tension is low, approximately 3 (of 10); the lower the tension, the further towards the back of the work the thread "knot" will be. If I'm using a quilt sandwich, I don't need stabilizer, and I should experiment with regular sewing tension (like 5).
The instructor, Allegra, was fabulous. She mentioned two things I need to look into. Dime makes a magnetic hoop that's supposed to be easier than managing thumb screws... And she uses Bernina's free design software to print out her design templates.
You can see where I joined motifs, on the left side of this flower... You really have to look for the joins!
