Victorian Quilting-Combining Machine Embroidery with Quilting
The invention of the home embroidery machine definitely opened a new door for many home makers and hobbyists who could now afford to create their imagination via the embroideries. Home digitizers have definitely brought the field of machine embroidery to new levels where even the commercial market now feels that it must keep up. Creating quilt blocks on the home embroidery machine has been around for quite a while. When I first started ME, that is the first thing that I accomplished, making quilt blocks for quilts. However, the high stitch count kept me away from creating many quilts unless they were redwork/bluework or one color only.
This was until I created the Victorian Patchwork which 
accomplished the look of vintage crazy quilts or patchwork quilts using the applique method. Victorian Quilts I collection which I hope to release at the Round Bobbin Show in St. Charles, MO later this month has an even more unique method of creating quilts via the embroidery machine. Making a quilt top is not the hardest of jobs, especially when a machine is doing all the work. It is the finalizing of the quilt in the quilting that makes the quilt and not many machine embroidery friends are into freehand quilting. This led me to create a collection which not only recreates heirloom type applique quilts but also introduces the idea of using the embroidery machine for quilting.
My first attempt was to try out the Carolina Lily pattern. The first collection has three parts: Carolina Lily, Rose of Sharon and Tulip blocks. Using reproduction fabrics from my stash I managed to create this 14″x25″ wall hanging in one day complete with the quilting. The only thing that the embroidery machine did not do was to piece the blocks together and to put on the binding. Piecing blocks of a quilt does require one to use precise measurements and I was pleased that my first test attempt was not too much off the mark. Now I look forward to finishing the collection and then hopefully be able to make a full size quilt for myself!
Beautiful wall hanging. I look forward to the collection. Lisa
I really like the wall hanging and am interested in the applique method. I recently purchased a BabyLock Ellure embroidery machine and Palette ver 7 software. Unfortunately, my local dealer has no classes scheduled in the next few months, so I’m on my own to learn Palette. I found some instruction on using the applique wizard but, unless I’m wrong, one has to create the pieces using the shape tools. I’ve been trying to use my own linework and haven’t figured out a manual way of accomplishing what applique wizard does. Specifically, I’m wanting to create multi-piece appliques in one design. Is that possible to do in Palette? If so, can you identify the steps in that process? Thanks for whatever help you can provide.
Thank you Lisa and Diane for your comment, I truly appreciate it. Diane, there are many different ways to do machine embroidery applique. I have several sets as well as instructions in the embroidery tutorial section on my website that show how to do it. Multi pieced appliques within one design are certainly possible and I have several free samples that use this technique in the applique collections on my website. The process differs with everyone but there are many that share the same method of three steps: applique position, applique tackdown and the actual applique. Hope this helps. HUGS, Sadia
Hi Sadia, love your quilting in the hoop, I think i will try a Christmas quilting in the hoop and follow your sample, GOD Bless you and your family.