No Quilting Experience Needed! Here’s the Easy Solution

LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman EmbroideryB

No Quilting Experience Needed! Here’s the Easy Solution

LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman EmbroideryB
If you love the look of perfectly pieced blocks and precision machine quilting, put your embroidery machine to work for both tasks! We call it  Stress-Free Quilting. 
No quilting experience required! First, create accurate and consistent quilt blocks with the piecing-in-the-hoop technique. Usually we think of embroideries as decorative designs, but with Stress-Free Quilting, the embroidery designs stitch out precision seams for piecing, all in the hoop. Then learn how to layer your quilting project and add quilting designs that look like free-motion designs. Both piecing and free-motion quilt designs in several sizes are included in the new embroidery package, Stress-Free Quilting and Machine Embroidery, the Lover’s Knot Collection

NancysNotions NancyZieman LoveKnot

Collection includes five designs in four sizes each:

  • 20 designs: 5 (4″ x 4″), 5 (5″x 5″), 5 (6″ x 6″), 5 (8″ x 8″)

LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery1
LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery2

Supplies

Make Blocks

Alternating the Snowball Block and the Square-in-a-Square block creates this Love Knot Quilt. Let’s make the blocks one style at a time.
  • Gather the required fabrics as listed in the Love Knot Quilt instructions.
  • Sort the 5″ charm pack and the 2-1/2″ pre-cut strips into light, medium, and dark values.
LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery3.LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery4
  • Cut each darker value 5″ charm square in half diagonally.
LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery5
  • Choose four assorted triangles per block.
LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery6
  • Layer four medium value squares.
  • Cut the medium value 5″ charms diagonally, twice.
LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery7a
.LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery7b
Square-in-a-Square Block:
  • Gather the required fabrics for one block:
– One light charm square
– Four assorted medium value quarter triangles
– Four assorted light value 2-1/2″ precut strips
– Four assorted dark value 2-1/2″ precut strips
LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery7c
  • Hoop a Fusible Mesh Cut-Away Stabilizer, fusible side up.
  • Set up the sewing machine with the embroidery unit and appropriate foot.
  • Import and select the embroidery design for the block.
  • Select all-purpose poly or poly/cotton thread; wind the bobbin with the same thread as used in the needle. A slightly contrasting color works best. (Now this is different! Rayon thread is usually used for embroidery but we’re piecing quilt blocks!)
  • Stitch the first thread color directly on the stabilizer.

LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery8b

  • Start with the center square, section one. Place the 5″ charm over that section making sure the fabric covers the stitching lines.
  • Fuse the fabric strip to the stabilizer with a mini iron.

LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery10

  • Stitch the thread Color 2, which bastes down fabric #1.

LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery12

  • Using a sharp scissors, trim excess fabric; 1/8″–1/4″ past the stitched line.

LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery13

  • Working with section two and matching right sides, lay one end of a 2-1/2″ strip on top of the center square. Fabric should extend beyond the square, slightly.LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery14
  • Embroider thread Color 3 to stitch the section to the block.
LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery15
  • Fold the second fabric strip over the stabilizer.
  • Start pressing from the folded edge, working to the opposite corner to eliminate wrinkles. “Prepressing” with your fingertips is ideal—you can feel any wrinkles.
  • Press and fuse the fabric strip to the stabilizer.
LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery16
  • Embroider thread Color 4 to baste the pressed section to stabilizer.
LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery17
  • Trim away excess fabric along the previously stitched basting line.

LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery18

  • Repeat these steps to complete the remaining sections.
LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery19
  • Before stitching the last thread color, tape the seam edges with Sewer’s Fix-It Tape. This prevents the embroidery foot from catching on the fabric folds as you embroider the outer block perimeter.
  • Place the tape 1/8″–1/4″ away from the stitched basting lines.
LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery70
  • Stitch the final thread color.
LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery71
  • Trim block approximately 1/4″ outside stitching lines.
LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery73
  • Create 28 of the Square-in-a-Square blocks.
Snowball Block:
  • Gather the required fabrics as listed in the Love Knot Quilt instructions.
  • Choose four assorted triangles per block.
LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery6
  • Gather the required fabrics for one block:
– One light charm square
– Four assorted medium or dark value quarter triangles
  • Hoop a Fusible Mesh Cut-Away Stabilizer, fusible side up.
  • Set up the sewing machine with the embroidery unit and appropriate foot.
  • Import and select the embroidery design for the block.
  • Select all-purpose poly or poly/cotton thread; wind the bobbin with the same thread as used in the needle. A slightly contrasting color works best. (Now this is different! Rayon thread is usually used for embroidery but we’re piecing quilt blocks!)
  • Stitch the first thread color directly on the stabilizer.

LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery74

  • Start with the center square, section one. Place the light fabric over that section making sure the fabric covers the stitching lines.
  • Fuse the fabric strip to the stabilizer with a mini iron.

LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery76

  • Stitch the thread Color 2, which bastes down fabric #1.
LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery77
  • Using a sharp scissors, trim excess fabric; 1/8″–1/4″ past the stitched line.
LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery78
  • Working with section two and matching right sides, lay one end of a 2-1/2″ strip on top of the center square. Fabric should extend beyond the square, slightly.
LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery79
  • Embroider thread Color 3 to stitch the section to the block.
LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery80
  • Fold the second fabric strip over the stabilizer.
  • Start pressing from the folded edge, working to the opposite corner to eliminate wrinkles. “Prepressing” with your fingertips is ideal—you can feel any wrinkles.
  • Press and fuse the fabric strip to the stabilizer.
LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery81
  • Embroider thread Color 4 to baste the pressed section to stabilizer.
LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery82
  • Trim away excess fabric along the previously stitched basting line.

LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery83

  • Repeat these steps to complete the remaining sections.
  • Before stitching the last thread color, tape the seam edges with Sewer’s Fix-It Tape. This prevents the embroidery foot from catching on the fabric folds as your embroider the outer block perimeter.
  • Place the tape 1/8″–1/4″ away from the stitched basting lines.
LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery84
  • Stitch the final thread color.
  • Trim the fabric ends approximately 1/4″ from the perimeter stitching lines.
LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery85
  • Create 28 of the Snowball blocks.

Arrange the Quilt Top

  • If necessary, trim all blocks to uniform size.
LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery86.LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery87
  • The quilt uses 56 total blocks; a 7″ x 8″ grid.
  • Join pairs of blocks—one of each, using a 1/4″ seam allowance. Press.
  • Join eight blocks to create a column. Make seven columns. Press.
  • Join columns, making sure the blocks alternate when joined. Press.

Machine Embroider to Quilt

  • Choose a quilting embroidery design. The Love Knot Quilt Collection includes the three different designs to mix and match with this quilt. Each design is specially sized for each size block.
  • Print a template using an embroidery software program such as Amazing Designs® Edit Express(included on the CD Love Knot Quilt Collection).
Note from Nancy: Print embroidery templates on Translucent Foundation Paper for better visibility and alignment of the designs on your quilt.
  • Trim excess paper.
  • Position the template over the quilt and tape in the desired location.
LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery96
  • Align the quilting embroidery design, hoop quilt, and quilt. Details covering hooping options and specific steps can be found in the complete directions.
  • Position a placement sticker to center the design.
LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery99
  • Remove the paper template after the hoop and quilt are aligned.
  • Change thread and bobbin to 50 weight machine quilting thread, if desired.
  • Embroider.
LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery97

  • Repeat these steps for each desired embroidered quilting motif.
  • Add embroidered quilting to all desired areas of the quilt repeating the previous steps.

Finish the Quilt

  • Cut remaining 2-1/2″ strip ends at a 45° angle.
  • Join strips end-to-end with a 1/4″ seam allowance.
  • Press seam allowances open.
LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery104
LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman Embroidery105
Ta-Dah—Computer-guided accuracy with this in-the-hoop quilting project.
LoveKnotQuilt NancyZieman EmbroideryA

Watch Stress Free Quilting with Machine Embroidery Part Two on Sewing With Nancy online.

To watch Sewing With Nancy on your iPad, iPod Touch, or iPhone, download the app.

Stress Free Quilting with Machine Embroidery by Nancy Zieman

Nancy Zieman's Giveaway Winner

There are two random winners of a copy of M7252, from The McCall Pattern Company.

M7252 Pullover Pattern by Nancy Zieman

The winner from the blog on October 6 is Karen Payton. She said: I noticed a lot of knit fabric at my local fabric store and wondered what I could make. This would be perfect. Looks so quick and easy.

The winner from the blog on October 13 is Melanie. She said: I have a lovely Autumn “brown” knit piece and a “marine” blue fleece…decisions, decisions, which one should I create first?!!!

 

Bye for now,

Nancy Zieman The Blog

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14 Comments

  • Bev M
    October 20, 2015

    Wow. I usually prefer sewing garments, but this quilt in the hoop method might make me a quilter.

  • Candice
    October 20, 2015

    I love all your tips and instructions! Thanks for the inspiration.

  • Esther Hobson
    October 20, 2015

    I love the idea, but since I don’t have an embroidery
    machine…. But I have done the same thing with by regular
    sewing machine and used the decorative stitches.

  • Bonnie
    October 20, 2015

    I have never tried this technique, but it looks interesting. Plus it is an additional way to use my embroidery machine. Thanks for sharing these wonderful tips.

  • Gail
    October 20, 2015

    Thank you for the wonderful tutorial on machine embroidery quilting. You always make stitching fascinating.

  • Marilyn D
    October 20, 2015

    I am a quilter and what I like about this method is you will always have perfect points. I will have to give it a try some day.

  • Barb G.
    October 20, 2015

    One thing that I have not tried, I’m game to try most anything when it comes to different ideas especially quilting in the hoop, my shoulder won’t take much more
    of the regular quilting.

  • Dawn
    October 20, 2015

    would love to try in the hoop machine quilting
    thanks for all the info

  • Norma Goodson
    October 21, 2015

    I don’t understand how to finish the back – you show putting the blocks together and when putting the binding on it shows a backing but i have not seen how this is done.

  • Barb Steinmetz
    October 21, 2015

    Very informative! Will use the technique in my quilts. I do have a couple of questions. You showed a brown & tan table runner with a floral design set and a baby quilt with a leaf design set. Would you be able to tell me which designs were used? I’ve looked on Nancy’s Notions and don’t see either of those.
    Thanks for the inspiration!
    Barb

  • Peggy V
    October 23, 2015

    Stress free quilting is for me for sure!!!

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