“Don’t judge a book by its cover.”
We have all heard this line, but how are you supposed to know what is on the inside without some description or visual pictures?
This is exactly what happened when I saw the new Christmas Blocks & Borders from Anita Goodesign. Once I opened the package I was ecstatic! Watch their video on the Christmas Blocks & Borders and you will know what I am talking about!
This extra special Premium Collection has 10 different Christmas themes that all stitch out in an embroidery hoop. Each theme has 30 different designs that can be mixed and matched to create any layout, size or shape of finished table runner, wall hanging or quilt! And each block comes in five different sizes.
Aren’t these pictures of the designs so much more visible? They really show off what this collection is all about.
Take a minute to watch our video on how to make a quilt block in an embroidery hoop. The block show in our video was from a recent Anita Goodesign workshop where students brought their embroidery machines to learn this technique hands on. Check our class calendar for monthly scheduled Anita Goodesign hands-on workshops to learn a different embroidery technique every month. And if you know someone who wants to purchase an embroidery machine, have them attend this same workshop and use one our embroidery machines to see how much they would really like to have all the fun you are having.
When you create quilt blocks with an embroidery machine every block comes out the same size no matter when or how you stitch them! You can sew 10 blocks today and 10 blocks next year and they will be exactly the same size. They is no need to check seam allowances or squaring up blocks – they are always perfect.
The Christmas Blocks & Borders collection is available on our website for purchase. Here are a few other quilting collections that are just as awesome.
Embroidering Quilt Blocks in the Hoop
With the Anita Goodesign technique you only need one piece of no show mesh stabilizer, a square of batting, the fabric for the quilt block and thread for any extra embroidery designs that will be added.
Start by hooping the single layer of no show mesh stabilizer. The first line stitches the placement for the batting. Lay the batting over the sewn line. Let the second line of stitching tack the batting in place. Remove the hoop and trim the batting to the sewn line with applique scissors. A “placement” stitch is always stitched to know where the next piece of fabric is to be placed. For piecing, lay the fabric right side down and then machine will sew the folding line. Flip the fabric right side up and let the machine sew the tacking stitch to hold the fabric in place.
This technique is similar to paper piecing. Everything turns out perfect. Perfect points. Perfect finished size. And no headaches!
Thank you Anita Goodesign for making piecing in an embroidery hoop so easy!
