
Stress-Free Quilting Showcase Tote
Create this showcase tote using your embroidery machine or with your traditional sewing machine. That’s right, you can piece perfectly and quilt with your embroidery machine. This new Stress-Free Quilting Showcase Tote bundle from Amazing Designs includes pieced blocks and a computer-guided embroidery machine quilted design, in addition to the fun bag pattern, bonus table topper pattern, and optional foundation paper-piecing templates. Talk about bang for your buck!
.The blocks, Snowball and Square-in-a-Square, are combined to show off your favorite collectible pins, buttons, photos printed on fabric, embroideries, appliqués, fabric prints, and more with this attention-grabbing tote. You’ll be able to fussy-cut fabrics or even feature a special photograph with this design.
The Snowball and Square-in-a-Square blocks are skillfully pieced either by the embroidery machine or by paper piecing with a sewing machine. Finished quilt blocks measure 2-3/4″ x 2-3/4″.
Accurately Piece Quilt Blocks with Machine Embroidery
Here’s a brief look at the fabrics and steps you’ll need to create each block in the hoop:
Square-in-a-Square Block:
- Required fabric pieces:
- Hoop a single layer of Cut-Away No-Show Fusible Mesh Stabilizer.
- Stitch thread Color 1, the numbered stitching sequence of the block design, directly onto the stabilizer.
- Place Section 1 fabric square over the Section 1 stitched on the stabilizer base, right side up. Fabric must cover the stitched lines.
- Fuse in place with a mini-iron.
- Stitch thread Color 2 to baste down fabric Section 1.

- Trim away excess fabric along previously stitched basting line.
- Align Section 2 fabric triangle edges, right sides together. Make certain fabric extends equally beyond the outline on the stabilizer at opposite ends.
- Embroider thread Color 3 to stitch this section of the block.
- Fold the fabric section over the stabilizer.
- Start pressing along the folded edge with a mini-iron, working to the outer edge to eliminate any wrinkles.
- Embroider with thread Color 4 to baste pressed section in place.
- Trim excess fabric past basting line.
Snowball Block:
- Simply follow the detailed directions included in the package to apply each fabric section in consecutive order, similar to the construction of the Square-in-a-Square block.
- This is the finished and trimmed block.
Foundation Paper Piecing Templates
You can also use this design bundle to print foundation paper piecing templates. Use them as you would any other foundation pieced pattern. Detailed instructions are included in this bundle. Here’s an overview:
- Print off as many blocks as you need, using the embroidery software program.
- Place Section 1 fabric square over the Section 1 printed on the foundation paper, wrong side of fabric to wrong side of paper foundation. The fabric must extend past the printed lines.
- Pin.
- Place Section 2 fabric triangle aligned with the corresponding edge of pinned fabric square, right sides together.
- Pin.

- Stitch right on the Section 2 printed line.
- Trim threads.
- Remove pin and press fabric triangle over Section 2 of the paper foundation using a mini iron, Little Wooden Iron, or Hera Marker.
- Mark for Section 2 trimming line by placing a gridded quilting ruler on the foundation paper, aligning the ruler’s 1/4″ line on the stitching line.
- Using the curved edge of the Hera marker, emboss a foldline along the ruler’s edge.
- Remove the ruler and fold back the paper onto itself.
Sew and Quilt the Projects
This extensive design bundle includes two project patterns: a tote and a table topper.
- Prepare the required number of blocks for the design you choose.
- Assemble them per the directions.
Use the Embroidery Machine to Quilt

- Add the first quilting lines by using a Walking Foot to stitch “in the ditch.”

- Use the floral quilting design included to plan the computer (embroidery machine) guided quilting.
- Print a template using an embroidery software program, such as Amzaing Designs® Edit Xpress.
- Position paper on fabric at desired location.
- Repeat quilting in all desired locations.

Free Collectible Pin
Receive a FREE Nancy’s Notions Sewing Weekend collector pin by registering for any ticketed event (excluding lunch). Visit SewingWeekend.com to view event details and register by April 29, 2016 to receive your free collector pin!
Watch Stress-Free Quilting with Machine Embroidery on Sewing With Nancy online.
To watch Sewing With Nancy on your iPad, iPod Touch, or iPhone, download the app.
Bye for now,
Maria Hart
A great tutorial to your collection of Stress Free Quilting with Machine Embroidery. The tote is a lovely shape and design and you can never have too many totes (as Nancy Z says).