I embroider the blocks before joining.

Laura59, if you've made quilts with embroidered blocks, what stabilizer do you use?

I used a tearaway. I don't make the quilts. I digitize designs, then test stitch them. The sew-outs, I give to one of the ladies in our car club. She takes them to the senior center and they use them to make quilts for charity. I asked her if the stabilizer I use is okay and she said that there is no problem. Wish I had the time to make a quilt using each set of designs I have done. Just finished stitching up a couple of sets of airplanes and ships. She said they need more things for boys and men.

The blocks are embroidered before you join them to other blocks.

I am also reading up on Quilt as You Go. This way I can embroider and quilt my blocks on the embroidery machine then join them with sashing. I haven't tried this yet but hope to soon.

When using a tearaway stabilizer for quilted blocks, won't the embroidery get wrinkled and wonky-looking after washing? Has anyone used other stabilizers that help keep the embroidery flat and neat? Maybe a lightweight leave-in one?

You sound as if you are new to machine embroidery. For your peace of mind, embroider your design (block)
onto something else such as a pillowcase pair. Use a wash-away stabilizer on one and a tear-away on the other. Then wash both. Compare results.

I would also leave my block about 4 inches larger than needed when I embroider. The embroider will frequently shrink the block.

Viking has alot of information on it's site about stabilizers and such and also emblibrary.com also has videos, projects, ect to help you learn. I have a Viking Ruby that I'm still learning on.

Re: stabilizers....Thanks for the replies/suggestions. I'm a novice and just wanted to tap into the knowledge provided on this board. My dealer told me to use tear away yet the emblibrary site says cutaway....so I turned to you guys. I'll experiment on a few blocks and see what tests out better.

Florani has a nice iron on stabilizer that keeps the fabric from streching when you hoop it. Tear away when the design is none. Keeps it from Puckering.

I have the Janome,Had it about a year and a half, have yet to try any embroidery, and that is what I really wanted it for! I just sort of feel at a lose to do anything. Need to know about stabilizers, threads, hooping, all of it!!And Karen, if there is anyone who can and will find all the answers, it would be you!! So a thread about this would be great.

I have the Janome 350E. Had it for 1 1/2 years before started using it. Only done about 6 doll faces for charity dolls last year when it seized up on me and had to go to the shop. Haven't touched it since. Have what they call the Jr Digitiazer but don't know how to use it. Shop I bought the Janome from went out of business and can't find anyone to show me how to use the software. Keep thinking when I have time, will just sit down and teach myself. But never any time.

I have a Singer Quantum XL5000 and the Singer Futura. I use PES format on both of mine. I also use Embird for getting my designs from the web. Like both of my machines.
Snownannie

Karen, I am so glad you started this thread. I've been thinking of starting one to discuss best methods of combining embroidery machines and quilting, but here we are!
Two Christmases ago my husband bought me a Babylock Sofia 2 which is both a sewing machine and embroidery machine with a 4x4 hoop. I was looking for a sewing machine that had more stitches and he talked me into it. I wondered what on earth I would do with an embroidery machine. Ha! Less than a year later, I bought a second one - a Brother PE-770 with a 5x7 hoop.
Looking forward to the posts on this thread.

I have a LOT of designs that are not catalogued. They are just downloaded to a file - about a 1000 of them. Will Embird automatically sort them into like subjects, i.e., butterflies, horses, etc. and label the files?

My SSPlatinum software says that singer should use .xxx extension hope this helps

Oh my two top loves embroidery and hummingbirds. Would love to see your quilt!!

I agree My first thought would be the dissovable. I have had issues with cheaper sticky ones playing havock on my needles.

I currently have the Janome MC9500, started and still have the Brother PE150 with 4X4 design area. It was so fun that I started a home based embroidery business with a used six needle Toyota but do to hubbies relocation I have sold the commercial machine and started back to just using it for personal things.
I have the pantograms forte software as well as the SSPlatinum
LOVE< LOVE LOVE this thread
and the pictures that are posted are just awesome!!!!!

Clem55 when I was learning I fould that the thinner the material the thicker the stabilizer (except for towels that is a whole new chapter) If you watch videos by Nancy of Nancy;s notions u will pick up alot. I will try to post address for u tube videos also

LOL I did this one year as a gift for "over the hill" It was a blast ( I only embroidered enough designs so it could be seen, not all the way thru the roll)

Quilting Krazy you have an awesome job!!!!

I see that Nancy's Notions has a book titled "Stabilizers—The Foundation Guidebook" on sale for $7.99. This might be something worth investing in.

I have a Pfaff Creative 4.0 which I've had for about 6 months. I am loving it and my dealer is awesome with the classes/lessons each month.

I have a Janome 9700 w/4X4 & 5X7 hoops. I use it mostly for Items for DGK's. Been putting designs on T-Shirts & bags. I like making playfood for g-daughter. Have not made a quilt with embroidery yet but plan on making one soon. A chat about embroidery would be wonderful.

Linda

What emb designs did you use on your quilts? You did a wonderful job.

I have a Janome 10000 & 11000

Here are a few things I've done with my embroidery machines.

The first project I did when I got my Baby Lock Sofia 2 was a cat quilt for my aunt. I used the QAYG Fun and Done squares. Not really happy with the way it came out, but she loved it.

As I got more comfortable, I started incorporating embroidery into doll quilts. The next set of photos is from one using batiks and dragonfly motifs.

Most recently, using my Brother PE-770, I made a quilted Bowling Grannie tote for a secret pal swap.

One more ... I don't remember where I found the design, but here is a FSL Hanky Angel. I've made them as condolence gifts for friends, both "real time" and virtual ones here on the QB. I liked the design because I can change the hair color and skin tone to match the person. I got some hanky linen at Joann and serged the edges, sometimes adding an initial or little flower. The one pictured below is for a friend from the Philippines who lost her mother. I tucked it into a bouquet of orchids.

I own a Janome 5,000 for many years I am trying to purchase a used Janome 11,000 SE model.I would appreciate information on a either a private sale or a dealer who had a trade in.
Thank you
Happy Sewing
Linda

I love the PE-770. It's so easy to use and I haven't had a single problem with it. I purchased it on eBay after seeing that the shop selling it wasn't far away. It was a terrific buy and came with lots of thread and extra hoops.

Here's another resource on-line:
http://www.florianisoftware.com/products/*/*/9807

Select:
Floriani Stablilizer Workbook
Floriani Stablilzer Selection Guide

Everyone needs another machine! I never thought I wanted the first one, but ...
I recommend Mr. Vac and Mrs. Sew. They are terrific and sometimes you can get an open box bargain. The owner explained that they usually have them right after holidays ... the husband makes a purchase without talking to the wife!

I think it is the pch format for the singer futura

Karen

I have two Bernina 830's, a 730 and 200 and just love them. I also have different software, digitize and love it. I am addicted to embroidery designs.
Doing and loving embroidery one have to do some cot quilts from time to time and that got me hookednupmon quilting. NOT the traditional quilts, but whole cloth quilts. I was so fortunate to get a long arm quilting machine, Pfaff 18.8 from my dear hubbynfor our anniversary in February, sonI am completely hooked up! This is all so new to ke but I love it.
Just wanted to say that I can help you to convert your designs to different formats. I started with embroidery in 2001 and with quilting -on a quilting frame - in 2012

Highly recommend!!!!!!!!!!
 

Hi everyone,

Recently I purchased some variegated embroidery
thread from Amazon.com and I am so impressed
with the first two (out of 50) spools that I KNOW
I will be ordering from them again.

The two different spools I used had great colors
and they ran very smooth in my machine. If I hadn't
known better I would have thought it was Floraiani
thread I was using (that is how good it worked).

HERE is the link if you should happen be interested
is checking it out, or purchasing some.

I will post pictures of the FSL designs I just finished
when they are dry, as they are still soaking in water.

Is this thread from Amazon rayon or polyester?

[h=2]Product Description
[/h] 50 Large spools 1100 yards each Polyester Variegated Embroidery Machine Thread

Wow, this is a fabulous price. Thank you for passing along the tip.

I started out with a BabyLock, changed to Brother and had 3 of those in a row before I bought an SWF 1501, with 15 needles. It is soooo nice not to change thread constantly. It was the best purchase I ever made.

Christine-
http://quiltdasher.blogspot.com/

Well here are the FSL designs I made using the variegated
thread from Amazon.

The "kitty" bookmark is in a tri-color of lt. pink, med. pink
and dark purple (almost looks black).

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This design is the "Year of Angels" design. These are done
in a bi-color of pale pink and pale green.
Sadly I am not going to have enough to do all 12 angels, so I
will do what I can.
I contacted the seller (C&C Sales NY Inc) to ask about purchasing
just that one spool color, got a FAST reply saying they did not
sale the spools individually but they would be in the warehouse
this week and look to see if there might be a spool of that laying
around that they will send to me.
If not I guess I am either stuck with mismatched angels or forced
to buying another set to get more of the color I need.


[ATTACH=CONFIG]322595[/ATTACH]

Close up of colors since they are so light.


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