Replies

1. 
   ehBeth | Dec 31, 2005 02:01am | #1

   Very nice.

   Thank you for sharing the photos.

2. 
   lovemycottons | Dec 31, 2005 03:43am | #2

   You created a lovely wall hanging to celebrate Christmas and your Church is very fortunate to receive such a fine gift. I enjoyed looking at your pictures. Thank you.

3. 
   mimi | Dec 31, 2005 04:15am | #3

   Beautiful work!

   mimi

4. 
   Sewdreamy | Dec 31, 2005 06:29am | #4

   Thanks, I very much appreciae your nice comments.  I forgot to say it was 3' wide and somewhere around 5' long.

5. 
   Jean | Dec 31, 2005 07:14pm | #5

   Awesome!!  I love it!!

6. 
   JanF | Jul 22, 2006 10:55am | #6

   Hi - just to say I have just looked at the photos you posted of your Nativity Quilt, and think it looks fantastic! I know I'm late - as Christmas will be coming up again soon and I have only just found out how to access your photos - but - I'm interested in finding out what Bernina machine you have and how did you scan into it?

   I have a Bernina 1630 and would like to do the same thing, but am not sure what I need to scan into my machine - or if I would just have to do it in stages. My machine has Designer software, but I've never really used it to its full potential as I've got a scanner at school that scans into a machine(using a card system) and as it is always set up to use, and I had to get to grips with it for teaching, Ive greatly underused my home emboidery set up.

   I am actually more of a fan of free embroidery, but occassionally I would like to do some set stuff to save time and to get an accurate repeating pattern!

   Thanks Jan

1. 
   Sewdreamy | Jul 22, 2006 08:01pm | #7

   Jan, Thanks for your comments on my quilt--I always appreciate that anytime.  I use a "sneaker net" between my home computer and my machine, which is a Bernina 200E. 

   I scan my drawings (or other pictures) into the Bernina designer software on my desktop using my clunky old scanner.  I have tried a variety of ways to use the drawings with the software, but generally, I find it works better to use the picture as an underlayment to redraw the design using the very good drawing tools in the software.  I haven't had as much success using the tool that converts it directly from the picture to the design.  It seems to not look as good and you have less control of the way the picture is embroidered.  Drawing it is not hard really, just needs a good accurate mouse (I had to go buy a better mouse, because this seems to make a lot of difference) and clicking lmore points along the lines than you might think are needed as you follow them.  Does this make sense?  I found the books that came with my software to be very good manuals that helped me learn how to do this, but for a couple of months after starting this I kept finding tools in the software I didn't know existed, like the textures in the fills, and the holes in the fills that you could put in, or that you could tell it to put an underlayment of stitching before it started the design.  Once I got the hang of it, I got over my initial frustrations (which you will have, believe me, but hang in there) and found that it's easy and fun.  Also, I'm getting a lot faster.  I recently created some quilting patterns to incorporate in  a new quilt.  When I did this, I "discovered" the neat "mirror merge" and "wreath" tools in the software.  Wow.

   Anyway, after I scan it and redraw it, I save it and transfer it to a cd or card (I use both, but cds are cheap and you can keep this as a library of designs).  And then take it to the machine and read it there.  I too like free and commercial embroidery, but I found it meets my needs less and less as I continue to expand into making wall art quilts incorporating embroidery.   It's great when I'm making presents and embelishing my clothes, though. 

   I had about 15 or so separate scan/designs for my Christmas quilt.  Each face for both people and animals was a separate scan/design, for instance.  Sometimes you have to take large designs apart in logical pieces and embroider the pieces on something like bridal veiling which doesn't show and then applique them onto the project to make a large picture.  This works well because you have a chance to throw a piece out if it doesn't work or gets spoiled somehow before it goes onto your project.

   Wish I could show you.  Good luck! 

1. 
   mygaley | Jul 22, 2006 10:55pm | #8

   I am impressed with the faces on the people.  You have captured a softness that is sometimes missing on computerized embroidery.  What a great blessing to be able to honor your church with this gift.  Galey