Paper Piecing in the Hoop

[Liberata T.]

OK, I just must have too much time on my hands. :roll: Now that I have to wait for the Feb. BOM to digitize the applique, I watched the Carol Doak show and realized that I had just purchased her Mariner's Compass book to teach myself paper piecing. It came with a CD of the blocks. So I printed out one, took a look at it and I just couldn't help myself. :idea:

Yes, it can be done ... not the joining of the A and B segments unless someone has a good idea on how this might be accomplished.

But I am asking myself why do this :?: It requires stablizer as the foundation paper, it still requires pressing and trimming, it is still an exercise in spatial geometry. I really don't want to add any decorative stitching but that could also be done. I'll post a photo later. I can't find my camera at the moment.

[Liberata T.]

:shock:

[Eileen K.]

:roll: :roll: :roll: :shock: :shock: :shock:

[Debbie L.]

I haven't tried paper piecing in the hoop yet, but am anxious to try. Debbie

[Betty D.]

I love to PP, but in the hoop? I'm anxiously waiting to hear more!!!

[Margo C.]

Hmmmmm. I don't have an embroidery machine now, but I think this might come under the heading that "Just because something can be done, doesn't necessarily mean that it should be done"

[Liberata T.]

Margo, where is your sense of adventure? LOL

I've posted photos in My Profile of the star under construction and the completed star. The fiddly bit still exists ... the center of the star because all the segments are done the old fashion way. It doesn't help when the operator (moi) makes an error while trimming the blocks and ignoring her own caveat NOT to attempt to sew the final seam along the injured edge. :x

Pros:
1. I got 4 segments of the star in one Bernina jumbo hoop. Once I sequenced the sew out to reduce the number of times I removed the hoop from the module to press & trim, it went super fast.
2. It is very accurate because there is absolutely no distortion. Once the segments are digitized, it is a matter of duplicate and mirror.
Cons:
1. Still have to join segments the old fashion way
2. Requires a thin foundation fabric as well as stablizer
3. Thread build up: placement line, stitchdown & registration positioning of each succeeding piece.

Things I need to work on:
1. More efficient digitizing to reduce jumps without too much double run
2. Determine if there is a stablizer to act as foundation as well as stablizer. Maybe one that doesn't have to be removed at all :idea:
3. Find a method for accurated joining to have perfect star centers
4. Go lighter on the glue down
5. Find better lighting and better eyeglasses for trimming blocks accurately ops:

Why do I need to do this? DH loves the geometry of the stars and compasses. He wants a quilt with the 50 stars and 24 countries :roll:

[Liberata T.]

PS. I am willing to share the results of this effort but I am concerned that it would be a copyright violation to send or post the .art50 file of Carol's Alabama Star

Libbi

[Liberata T.]

Libbi,
Oh, you are soooo smart. I have a new 730 e an would like to try. Some time this winter thoe....so much to do. Do you think it can be done with the 730e?
I think the larger hoop makes a difference. I did see it done in the 830. quite a difference...Norina

[Liberata T.]

Have you tried the Ricky Timms Stable Stuff as a stabiliser as it stays in the quilt nicely?

(Don't forget you can put your photos in this post so we know what you're taking about rather than clogging up your profile ones :wink: )

[Liberata T.]

Amanda, can you get Ricky's stable stuff in the UK? I'd have to ship it from the USA to Switzerland which is a real chore & expensive.
But I have friends who travel to the UK frequently. What is on offer here is manufacture by "Vlieseline"
I thought that to include photos in the post one needed to post the URL etc. I don't have a website, blog, etc outside of what I do in TQS. Is there another way?

[Liberata T.]

Okay, so basically you are string piecing in a hoop? took me a minute of looking to figure out what you were talking about. Don't have a embroidery machine,but sounds like an excellent idea.

[Liberata T.]

Pre host the pictures in Photobucket. forum/index

Also Ali's Asding does Stable Stuff over here. It only comes in the A4 sheets though. Are they big enough?? http://www.asding.com/index.php?main...8bfk1lkdgbupm3

I've just had a look in your profile! You are a little minx, I wouldn't even know where to start!! They'll be inviting you on the show as a guest next :wink:

[Susan B.]

Hmmmmm. I don't have an embroidery machine now, but I think this might come under the heading that "Just because something can be done, doesn't necessarily mean that it should be done"

I think it should be done because it CaN be done...push that software to it's limits to see what we can do with it. Once the design is completed the stitching is very fast & can be done over & over. I'm thinking little bitty precise stars, or birds, or anything paper-pieced.

And yes, this can be done on a 730, or any embroidery machine, if you have the design (that's where the software comes in).

So maybe Libbi has developed the idea for a design pack?

I'm trying not to get side-tracked from digitizing the 2010 BOM, but it seems to me that Joanne Winn's dresden plate finish may hold a key somehow to putting the sections of the star together.

If one section was attached in the hoop, then the joining seam could be digitized, but you'd still have to line up the sections somehow...thumb tacks, glue & basting with washaway thread.

I got out the Glue Baste It & finally tried it. WOW, my electric bill will go down a bit. I didn't realize we don't have to iron it, like Elmer's.

[Susan B.]

Could a washaway fabric (stabilizer) similar to Aquamesh be used?