Quilted Block on a Multi-Needle embroidery machine

How, I wondered, would a quilted block, designed for a single-needle embroidery machine, be stitched out on a multi-needle machine? So, off I went to my studio to find the answer by experimenting with my “Petunia Quilted Block.” It was great fun and I learned a lot. I decided to stitch out a few more Petunia Quilted Blocks and changed thread colors to create an eye catching center block. I added a filler block from my Quilted Blocks 2 design. I then assembled the 9 quilted blocks using the “Joining Strip” method. Since I was doing this over the 4th of July weekend, I chose Red and Blue thread with White fabric. Each block trims to 8”x 8”, so 9 can be joined to make a great little 24” x 24” Table Topper or Small Wall Hanging. With the pre-loaded threads, it was great fun to see how quickly all 9 blocks stitched out on the PR1000e(Opens in a new tab)
!

Understanding the basics of Quilting In-the-Hoop Designs

The stabilizer will be an embroidery batting. This batting is specifically designed to handle the multiple needle punches of the embroidery machine without distortion. There is no additional stabilizer needed for this ‘Quilting in the Hoop’ design. For any ‘Quilting in the Hoop’ design, you will need 2 pieces of fabric. One will be on top of the embroidery batting and the other will become the “backing fabric” on the bottom of the stabilizer. The top fabric will be attached to the embroidery batting via a basting stitch. After the basting stitch is complete, it is time to remove the hoop from the embroidery machine, turn the hoop upside down and place the “backing fabric” on top of the embroidery batting layer.

What needs to be modified?

The answer is that two changes are needed prior to stitching out on a multi-needle machine, as listed below. On the following pages, I used my “Petunia Quilted Block” as an example, to show how to make these modifications on the PR1000e(Opens in a new tab)
, although the process would be similar on the PR650e and the PR1050X as well. 1. Add the basting stitch to the beginning of the Stitch Order and make it the same color thread as the first color of the Quilted Petunia Design. 2. One manual stop will be inserted to stop the machine so you can place the backing fabric on the back side of the hoop on top of the embroidery stabilizer.

How to make changes on the Brother PR1000e Multi Needle Machine(Opens in a new tab)

Below are screen shots from Brother PR1000e depicting the steps and actions needed to modify the quilted block design for the multi-needle machine. Once these steps are completed, and the design saved, it can be stitched out as many times as desired.

1. Click on Set Button

2. Click on End Edit Button

3. Select the Basting icon/button so it is highlighted; Click on Edit button.

4. Click on the icon in the last row/first position which displays a thread spool and a chart of colors.

5. Make sure the first two threads are the same color and insert the Hand icon on color 2

6. Navigate back to stitch out the design. Change thread spools as needed.

Preparing the Hoop with Fabric

Below are screen shots from Brother PR1000 depicting the steps for the embroidery batting, top fabric and bottom fabric.

1. Hoop embroidery batting. Make sure it is tight and flat.

2. Place fabric on top of hoop and embroidery stabilizer.

3. The first thread color will baste the fabric to the embroidery stabilizer. The 10 needle will stop after the Basting Stitch.

4. Remove the hoop from the embroidery unit and turn over. Place backing fabric on top of stabilizer.

5. Turn the hoop back over to the front side and pin in each of the 4 corners to secure the backing fabric.

The “Petunia Quilted Block(Opens in a new tab)
” is one of the Bonus Blocks from of the July BOM – Patriotic Petunia appliqué embroidery and the “Filler Block” is one of 42 from the Quilted Blocks 2(Opens in a new tab)
pattern. Both are available from Anna’s Awesome Appliqué Designs(Opens in a new tab)
.