Skyangel

I am working on quilting a lap-sized quilt with an embroidery machine. I work at a Bernina dealer part time and am using the store's demo B880 and jumbo hoop (10" x 16"). I have the B570 with embroidery but it cannot use the jumbo hoop. I picked out two designs that complement my quilt and enlarged them to ~10". I found that the more open the design the better. After layering my quilt, I hooped each block (all 3 layers, no stabilizer needed). The rest of the quilt I rolled up and clipped with the jumbo size clover clips at the edges (about 4) so it does not unroll and drag. I used a new size 14 embroidery needle. I alternated the 2 designs and two different colors. I have finished the 12 blocks and am currently working on the border. I had to sew a strip along the outside edge so there is enough to tighten in the hoop. For the border, I picked two more designs from the collection I am using (OESD Doodle Line Quilting) and am using the mega hoop (6" x 16") along the sides and the oval hoop (6" x 10") for the corners. Now you can stitch in the ditch around each block, I choose to use a decorative stitch down the middle of my 2" sashing. I am really pleased with how it is coming out.

I did take a class on quilting with your embroidery hoop. In that class, we brought a project to work on and I did a table runner made with 3, 12" blocks. It was done on my machine in the oval hoop. I used a design that was a curved feather and used 2 in each block (two hoopings per block). They were enlarged as big as would fit in the hoop and mirror imaged so that they curved toward each other like this: ( ). I gave that table runner to my Mom and still like it when I see it.

Tom W

I have a Brother Duetta, which is functionally the same as the BL Ellegante, and I've used it to quilt many, many quilts up to 110" square with no issues at all once I learned to make sure the surface I was working on was big enough to support the entire quilt with no pulling in any direction (I use big spring clamps to ensure that nothing accidentally slips over an edge), then puddle the quilt around the machine to make sure the arm can freely move and complete the design. I test my placement and arm movement before starting to stitch out the design.

Feather3

I did machine embroidery on a queen size Lone Star using my Bernina 830LE. I ME the large squares, triangles & borders using the jumbo hoop. Designs were all feathers & plumes from a collection. I used my ironing board, parked to the left of my machine & raised up, to help support the quilt. I rolled or puddled it under the harp of the machine & made sure none of it was dragging. I sandwiched & pinned the quilt first. Then I started in the center doing SID, then ME as I worked outward. On the outside boarder I had to sew on a strip of fabric so it'd fit in the hoop. I marked the entire quilt top for each design, marking the center of each design, so I knew were to place it in the hoop. Takes a bit of time, but the outcome is nice. Also no stabilizer is required. If you thread your machine for regular sewing, instead of embroidery, the back looks the same as the front.

I suggest doing a test square (all 3 layers sandwiched) first to see how your machine will do & then go from there. You may need to use a larger needle or change tensions, etc.

KwiltyKahy

You do not need stabilizer for quilting with your embroidery machine.

sept97

I always use my embroidery machine to quilt a quilt. It's not edge to edge but I'll choose a design that fits the square then I normally do a stitch in the ditch or I'll choose an embroidery design to fit on another pieced part of the quilt. It's your quilt and you can do what you like.

Judi in Ohio

I found that putting my embroidery machine on the dining room table helped support the weight of a large quilt. I also had a smaller table off to the side that I used when I had more fabric top or bottom that needed a little extra support.

juliea9967

I love to do embroidery machine quilting on my baby quilts. I use single designs in different squares sometimes, and I love using Edge to Edge Quilting on Your Embroidery Machine designs by Amelie Scott Designs. They are not hard to do and they turn out beautiful. I hoop the quilt sandwich without stabilizer and bind it after the embroidery is complete. I can only find one picture that shows the quilting. I should have taken more.

Nanny's dollface

I have hooped a lap size quilt and embroidered an open flower quilt design on each designated square . Was it easy - somewhat just need to find the sweet spot of the hoop. You can do it with patience.

MaggieLou

I've done it several times but don't have pictures of the finished quilts. It's not hard but it is time consuming. I wouldn't do anything larger than a lap quilt due to the weight and drag of the quilt. Mine turned out fine and I got many compliments on the quilting. I would baste around the whole quilt then QUID around the blocks. Centering the quilting was the hardest part for me.

Reba'squilts

I have used my Epic for the last two quilts that I finished earlier this year. I loved the way it turned out. Both quilts were large lap sized. My table is pretty big so the weight did not seem to bother the embroidery unit. I use clamps and pins to secure the area that I hooped. I embroidered some of the blocks and did FMQ to fill in. Am planning on trying all sorts of patterns on my next quilts! Love it! I quilted through the entire sandwich. The embroidery that I did was just one color. I don't think it would look too good if using many colors. The back would look messy.