Supply List

Digitized Quilting

Joanne Winn, Instructor

To accommodate machines with different size hoops the feather corner border designs have been digitized as a six-part multihoop design (225mm x 140mm) and as an eight-part multihoop design (200mm x 140mm).

Fabrics

I used a batik background fabric in the Block One quilt and Quilter’s Sateen by RJR Fabrics for the background in the Block Two quilt.  The quilting does not show up very well using the batik fabric and it shows up beautifully on the sateen.  It would also show up well on any plain fabric.  Sateen stretches more than normal 100% cotton fabric and has a nap that you need to consider when cutting pieces for the quilt.  Instructions for cutting Quilter’s Sateen are included in the lesson.

I recommend that you stitch a test stitchout of the designs in Lessons Two and Three using the same fabric, batting and threads that you are using in your project quilt.  This allows you to see how the design stitches and lets you see if your thread choice is appropriate for your fabric.  You can use scrap pieces from your stash for the test stitchouts if you wish, so I am giving you fabric amounts for both ways.  You do not have to piece the block for the test stitchout.  You will use only the background fabric.

• background fabric
  • with test stitchout squares for both lessons 1 3/4 yards
  • without test stitchout squares 1 1/4 yards
• dark fabric 1/4 yard
• medium fabric 1/4 yard
• medium/dark fabric 1/4 yard
• backing fabric
  • with test stitchout squares 1 3/4 yards
  • without test stitchout squares 1 1/4 yards
• binding
  • Add 1/3 yard to the fabric of your choice for the binding

Other Supplies

Machine needles - Use whatever brand and size that gives you the best quality stitch on your machine.  I like to use an 80/12 sharp or topstitching needle on woven fabrics.

Threads

For piecing, thread  in a neutral color

For quilting, the thread can be the same color or a shade or two darker than the background fabric OR it can be the accent color in your quilt.  There are two thread fibers that I like to use for quilting.

DMC 50 weight cotton thread

This is a 50 wt thread, but if you have ever used it, you will notice that it is a finer 50 weight than, for example, Mettler 50 wt thread.  It also has a silk finish that makes it a good choice for stitch quality and will reduce the amount of lint in the bobbin area of your machine.

Polyester 40 weight thread

Polyester thread became an ugly word during the polyester knit era.  It was fuzzy, poor quality thread and most sewers stopped using it as new products became available. This new age polyester thread is inexpensive, shiny, 40 wt thread that is available in small and large cones in a huge number of colors. Superior’s trilobal polyester threads, Isacord Polyester, Poly X and Maderia Polyneon are all good choices. 

If you do not have these threads available locally, you can order them online at:

• www.atozdesigns.net/
• www.superiorthreads.com/
• www.threadetc.com/isacord.html#top
• http://softexpressions.com/software/threads/DMCEmbr.php

Wash Away thread - I have used Superior Vanish-Extra and Dritz.  Both worked well.  If you are going to use Superior Vanish-Extra, I would buy the cone as it is more economical.  You will probably use more than one spool of the Dritz wash away/basting thread.

Batting   I like to use thin cotton batting for these quilts and especially like some of the "iron to baste" battings like Hobbs Heirloom Fusible and Mountain Mist White Gold.  They are repositionable and fusible on both sides with a steam iron.  You will need a crib size thin cotton or cotton blend batting.

Stabilizers   Wash away or sticky stabilizer.  I prefer wash away, but if you usually use sticky stabilizer, it will work for this technique.  It is not my favorite.  There are 38 (larger hoop) or 42 (smaller hoop) designs to stitch for this project, so you will need 38 or 42 X the length of your hoop.  This Web site has reasonable stabilizer prices:
www.abc-embroidery-designs.com/Embroidery_Stabilizers/

• rotary cutter, mat
• rulers
  • 6" square
  • Large square
  • 24" x 4" long ruler
• walking foot if that is what you normally use for straight line, in the ditch machine quilting.  I use an edge foot.  It is usually one of the feet included with your machine. 
• basic sewing supplies, seam ripper, pins
• wooden iron (if you have one)
• iron and ironing board
• template plastic, optional
• glue stick, optional

Template plastic and glue stick are used to make permanent templates.  Paper templates can be used in place of the plastic templates.

The designs included for this class are provided in most home embroidery machine formats and will include

• large triangle design
• double small triangle design
• center square design
• multihooped corner border feather designs

To accommodate machines with different size hoops, the feather corner border designs have been digitized as a six-part multihoop design (225mm x 140mm hoop) and as an eight-part multihoop design (200mm x 140mm hoop). 

The feather quilting designs were manually digitized using a tool that automatically sequenced the design so there are no jump stitches. 

OUTLINE

Lesson One

• Choosing fabrics
• Fabric preparation
• Thread choices for embroidery quilting
• Making templates
• Rotary cutting instructions
• Piecing the quilt block
• Adding borders
• Pressing and squaring up the quilt top
• Basting your quilt

Lesson Two

• Downloading the designs and PDF color charts
• Stitching out a test design
• Setting the quilt with straight line, in the ditch machine quilting
• Design placement
• Hooping and non-hooping
• Stitching the Feather Quilting designs in the triangles and the center square.
• Trimming the wash away stabilizer and threads
• Disaster Control

Lesson Three

• Download embroidery designs and PDF color charts
• Stitch a test design
• Design placement
• Multihooping designs
• Stitching design 1
• Stitching design 2

Lesson Four

• Stitching design 3 and 3R
• Squaring up the quilt
• Stitching a quilt label
• Stitching the binding

If you have trouble finding your supplies locally, many of our items are available online at Big Horn Quilts.  The notions are on a special page for your convenience.  Big Horn also carries a full line of fabrics and a good variety of dyeing supplies.