Flower embroidered blocks
 

Look what I've been doing! I've done so little with my embroidery machine, though I've owned it for 18 months now. I always wanted to have an embroidery project going while I'm working on piecing something else. I bought the pattern for these a year ago, and finally got motivated to figure out how to get them uploaded to my machine to start stitching.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...psfsr2qnv6.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...psicvsmkbe.jpg

there are 20 blocks in the set. I'll decide what to do with them when I have them done. I've got a lot of the background fabric.

Beautiful! I really like how they are coming together.

Congrats on your success with your machine! Pretty designs!

I love these machines and try to learn a new feature each week. Have you tried to add the built-in stippling feature around the design?

Your flowers look wonderful. You are not alone in taking a year to get comfortable using your embroidery machine. I was the same way. A friend of mine is very good with sewing and crafting in general, when I told her I bought the embroidery machine but was rather intimated by it came over and we played with it for days. With the instruction book in hand we tested and tried various things until we got it down. I have the Viking Designer Topaz 20 - and I bought the up graded 5D Designer Program. My friend moved to Phoenix so bought her own machine - she bought the Brother PE770 and loves it. I was the same way with my Accuquilt GO too. The easiest item to use, but it did take me a bit of time to get a rhythm down to make it efficient and not waste a lot of fabric. Now I am combining the 2 because Accuquilt has so many darling appliqué patterns.

those are very pretty

Thanks everyone. I got 7 more done yesterday. It does keep me motivated, so while babysitting the embroidery machine I got two quilts bound.

I had not thought I'd have so much fun picking colors. The pattern has them done in shades of grey and pink. I've had a few that I've use more than one color where the pattern only used one- so had to pay a bit more attention to the machine to stop at the right point. I think there is a way to set up the machine so it will stop, but think it would take more time to set that up than to just watch myself.

I like the idea of the Irish chain - I was thinking of a different layout similar to what Affairs of the Heart uses, but I think I like the Irish chain better.

I do not plan on using my embroidery machine to do any quilting, since I have my LA for that. Besides, QAYG intimidates me!

Cathy your blocks are beautiful!!!

Those are adorable!

Beautiful work!

I've got 19 blocks done, but the first one I did won't be used (I changed stem colors after doing it). I think I'm only going to need 18 for the main blocks. Now I'm working on the edge trianges, need 10 of them (have 6 done) and then four corners.

I've got most of the strip sets sewn for the double irish chain, so the next step is to subcut them into 2" sections and start assembling rows.

After completing most of the flowers, I realized I'd picked the wrong size. I wanted the largest one and went with the first size, but because the system sorts alphabetically, I got size A, and then AA, B, C, D. Turns out size AA is the largest. I have a 9.5" hoop so can do a 9" finished block in it. the size I went with is an 8" block finished, so not a big difference. It's got enough open space I can trim it down to 7.5 and then it works using a 1.5" finished block in my chains.

It's a good lesson for me, I've been learning a lot of "newbie" stuff with this project.

here is a sneak peak - I plan on doing a small border but have not decided what yet. The colors in the chain aren't showing up well, it isn't quite so stark in person.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...psiuvpq8z0.jpg

Wow, that is gorgeous, Cathy!! Now I want an embroidery machine! :D

thanks!

I've got the border figured out, and I'm using up all the extra pieced sections I'd ended up with. I'm going to add extra borders on the sides to get it a bit wider.

NZquilter - I thought about an embroidery machine for many years, but figured I wasn't all that interested in embroidering for clothing or towels, so it seemed not that useful for me. Then I started seeing what some people were doing with embroidery on quilts and I got much more interested.

Your flowers are beautiful. I have an embroidery machine and am learning how to use it. Who are your favorite designers or companys to go to for patterns. I found Designs by JuJu. They are cute for younger children and are fairly inexpensive.

Yeah Macy, you rock!!!!!! Well done, beautiful flowers!

Jannie, my favorite company is Hatched in Africa. Their designs stitch out beautifully and they're always there to help if needed. Embroidery Library has beautiful designs too but most of them are fairly dense, sometimes even bulletproof :) There are lots of companies, some better than others, some very expensive and some very affordable.

Anael, remember back when I got brave enough and stitched out my very first pattern? I think that was when I was working on the SBS quilt. You helped a lot to give me encouragement to go for it - now I'm having so much fun and not afraid of my my machine at all.

I'm already working on my second set of blocks (different design) as I had bought that pattern at them same time as this one. I already know what my "next" emboridery project will be, but want to not buy for "stock" so will buy it when I'm done with the current set.

Your flowers are beautiful.

My embroidery machine is in the upstairs bedroom, my sewing room is in the basement. I always forget something and have to run up and down the stairs. Would be nice to have all my machines in one room.

Your quilt is beautiful and I love the flower embroideries. Would you please post where you got them?

It is an Anita Goodesign pattern called Heather Bouquet

but I used different colors and even divided some of the designs (I put two colors where they only had one).

Thank you Cathy for getting back and posting the source. I'm going hunting. You've inspired me to maybe nudge myself out of my comfort zone.

Lol Barb! I really had to force myself out of my comfort zone the first time I put the hoop on my machine. Before that I'd look at it and kind of get a little scared. But now I'm starting to feel real affection for the machine and am looking forward to starting my next block set.

I love your quilt so far.
the Irish Chain is one of my favorite layouts.
so versatile.

and your choice of flower patterns is also excellent!

many, many :thumbup:

that layout is terrific... love the black chains

Some of my favorite designs are from Kreative Kiwi, very affordable and has many free designs if you belong to her group.

Very pretty, great job

Oooo, pretty. I'd love to be able to do that.


I do not need another hobby. I do not need another hobby.

Watson

Macramé hangers - early this year I cleaned out my closet and tossed out/sent to goodwill the last of my macramé stuff. I loved making plant hangers, but I no longer have any plants in the house.

I hope to get back into cross stitch, I use to do that a lot back in my younger days. At least with cross stitch, I rarely had more than one project going at a time. With quilting, I rarely have only one project going at a time lol!

Anita Goodesign generally has events with two days of embroidery. Look for one in your area!!!

Macy - Those are great!!!!!

What is your little Juki?

That's beautiful. I almost always have my embroidery machine stitching while I'm working on something else in the Mom Cave.