Irish Chain with embroidery
 

I'm starting an Irish Chain for my GS and would like to hand embroider on the solid squares. Should I embroider, then cut to size or cut the size I need, then embroider on them. I am not too sure how much embroidering on the square would shrink or distort the block. I don't plan on a very dense design, mostly just outline of simple items.
Thanks in advance,
Deb

Just for ease of working, I would do the embroidery on squares. As you mention, cut them a bit bigger to start.

I would embroider a larger piece, then cut to size... just like squaring up any quilt block before attaching it to others.

I would suggest that you embroidery on each blank square first and you should cut your embroidery square a little bigger and cut to size you need when you are done with embroidery. Sometimes doing embroidery takes up some space and makes your fabric square smaller. Hope this idea helps.

Embroider on a larger piece, then cut to size. That way you can make sure that it is properly centred, and don't have to worry about shrinking from the stitching.

Seems like a bigger size would also give you space for a hoop if you use one...

I would definitely embroider the squares first, then cut down to the size you need. Even with simple outline stitches, the fabric will shrink a bit and you don't want to ruin all your hard work.

I have actually done it both ways. Once I made an ocean wave and decided to stitch sea shells in the open spaces and another time I made squares and put them in a quilt. The only difference I found was that the quilt top that was made was a do at home only. At least if you do the squares first, it's portable. I also was able to back the embroidery in the squares. But I did make them larger than needed so I could hoop them.

Embroidery and then cut

I agree with all of the above comments.
I too have done it both ways but cutting squares larger is the better option to have better results and is easier to work with.