Adding Embroidery to Existing Quilt Patterns

Did you know that you can add embroideries designs to almost any pattern that you can find these days? All it takes is a little bit of planning and making a sample block first. Almost any block can be adjusted in such a fashion that will allow you to put an embroidery within its design.

Here is what you need to do:

Make a sample drawing of the block that you want to make. Make it to scale so that you know your exact measurements as you go along. Your seam allowance will be added after you are finished drafting.

Once you have completed your draft, mark out the area that you want to place your embroidery. If you are placing a small embroidery design, under 4 inches, you are not limited to using the center of the block.You might be able to use the 4 corners and then add a separate border once you have completed construction to separate the designs from the other blocks, unless of course, you want 4 of them together when you are done.Try different placements. You can do opposite corners, all 4 corners or just the top or just the bottom. Remember to take your over all design into consideration when planning.

If you are using a larger embroidery designs and must use the center of your block, make sure that you adjust for a border around your design. You would not normally put your design directly at your seam allowance. Try different placements here also. You can place your design straight or on point. With all designs, they can be set either on point or straight, again giving you more options to work with.

Once you have decided what you are going to do, use the pattern that you have drafted to make your templates from. No matter where you have decided to place your embroidery designs, you will need to create your new templates to ensure that your design goes together properly.

After you have cut your templates, actually sew together a sample block either with or without the actual designs. You do not want to risk mis-cutting anything so I always create without the actual design. I use a blank square with the outline of the design pencilled on the material.

It might seem as though there are a lot of steps to go thru just to change out a block or two.The extra effort that you put forth right now will ensure that the design that you are creating will indeed be telling a story of some kind. Take your time and ensure that you have accurate templates with your seam allowance added.Do not cut out an entire quilt without having tested a block first. This will save you much aggravation and much miss-cut fabric.Scraps are great but only when they come from a block that is completed!

Hugs and Blessings

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