BERNINA Anniversary Quilt-along: Part 4 Embroidery

Welcome back to the BERNINA 125th Anniversary Quilt-Along! I’m BERNINA Expert and Amanda Murphy and in this post I’ll be covering the optional corner embroideries. There is a lot of information to get through so let’s get started!

BERNINA 125th Anniversary Quilt-along

The BERNINA 125th Anniversary Quilt.

BERNINA_125_Anniversary_Quilt-along_Month_4_Embroidery

A detail of a corner border embroidery in the BERNINA 125th Anniversary Quilt.

BERNINA_125_Anniversary_Quilt-along_Month_4_Embroidery

Two border corners embroidered in the BERNINA Maxi Hoop.

Don’t worry! We have information below on how to multi-hoop this design using the BERNINA Oval Hoop!

BERNINA_125_Anniversary_Quilt-along_Month_4_Embroidery

Two border corners embroidered in the BERNINA Maxi Hoop—in red!

You can download a PDF of the instructions that you will need to complete these optional embroideries here.

If you have a BERNINA Maxi or Jumbo Hoop you can download the embroidery file here

Before you jump in, I’d recommend you watch the following video so that you are familiar with the process. You’ll note that in this video I embroidered two corners at a time using file 80190-20_Composite, but you can also use the file 80190-19 to embroider just one corner at a time. It is really up to you. BERNINA is supplying both!

How to Embroider Two of the Optional Corner Border Embroideries in the BERNINA Maxi or Jumbo Hoop

How to embroidery two of the optional corner border embroideries for the BERNINA 125th Anniversary quilt at one time in the BERNINA Maxi or Jumbo Hoop.

The basic steps for completing this embroidery using a Maxi or Jumbo Hoop are:

  1. Apply Fusible Woven (or other woven stabilizer) to the back of the large triangles cut from the 14-3/4” squares.
  2. Mark each triangle’s vertical center.
  3. Hoop two layers of Ultra-Clean and Tear or other tear-away stabilizer in a BERNINA Maxi or Jumbo Hoop.
  4. Choose motif 80190-20_Composite to embroider two corners at a time or 80190-19 to embroidery just one. Starting with Isacord in the needle, embroider your placement lines through the stabilizer.
  5. Attach your two stabilized corner triangles along the placement lines using temporary spray adhesive.
  6. Embroider the basting lines.
  7. Embroider the placement lines for the applique.
  8. Attach your applique fabric using just a touch of temporary spray adhesive. Embroidery the tack-down lines and trim the applique fabric very close to the tack down lines, being careful not to clip your fabric.
  9. Embroider the rest of the design. (This is the point at which I’d change to metallic thread, if desired.  I used Yennmet Mayan gold in the original quilt, but Isacord in a gold color looks lovely as well. You can find my tips for working with this thread in this post. <<link to the Month 1 Embroidery post>>)
  10. Embroider the paisley details in cream colored Isacord when prompted.
  11. Remove the embroidery from the hoop and remove the tear away stabilizer.
  12. Trim the long edges of the triangles if needed so that those sides are 1/2” away from the design. You won’t need to trim much fabric in this step – it is just to get rid of the raggedy edges.

If you just have a BERNINA Oval Hoop you can download the embroidery file here.

To complete each corner, you will need to hoop the fabric three times. An extra PDF is included with these files to help with placement. I printed it out on an OESD Stabil Stick Template Sheet which was super easy to press onto the fabric, but you can also print it on regular paper and attach the paper to the fabric using temporary spray adhesive.

OESD Stabil Stick Template Sheets and the printed PDF

OESD Stabil Stick Template Sheets and the printed PDF

Regardless of what product you use make sure to print the PDF Template at 100%! To help you out with multi-hooping this design, I prepared a video.

How to Embroider the Optional Corner Border Embroideries in the BERNINA Oval Hoop

How to embroider the optional corner border embroideries for the BERNINA 125th Anniversary quilt in the BERNINA Oval Hoop

The basic steps for completing this embroidery using an Oval Hoop are:

  1. Apply Fusible Woven (or other woven stabilizer) to the back of the large triangles cut from the 14-3/4” squares.
  2. Mark each triangle’s vertical center.
  3. Print out the PDF on the Stabil Stick Template Sheet at 100%. Peel away the backing and press it onto the stabilized fabric triangle, aligning the vertical centers and long edge of the triangle as shown in the video.
  4. Spray the back of the triangle lightly with temporary spray adhesive in a BERNINA Oval Hoop.
  5. Hoop two layers of Ultra-Clean and Tear or other tear-away stabilizer.
  6. Use the grid that came with your Oval Hoop and position it so that it is centered over the center lines for motif 80190-13. Pay attention to the “UP” arrow!  It is important!  Also note that this motif is flipped, while the second and third are not.  (You can use double-stick tape if needed.)  Move the assembly into the hoop and then remove the grid.   Tear the template sheet away JUST from the area where you will be embroidering your first motif.
  7. Choose motif 80190-13 and embroidery the placement lines for the applique. (Remember to flip it if needed.
  8. Attach your applique fabric using just a touch of temporary spray adhesive. Embroidery the tack-down line and trim the applique fabric very close to the tack down line, being careful not to clip your fabric.
  9. Embroider the rest of the gold portion of the design.
  10. Embroider the paisley details in cream colored Isacord as prompted.
  11. Remove the embroidery from the hoop and remove the tear away stabilizer.
  12. Repeat Steps 5-11 to embroider the next paisley design (80190-12), but do not flip it. Note that you might have to spray a little more temporary spray adhesive to on the back of the triangle if needed.
  13. Repeat Steps 5-11 to embroider the third paisley design (80190-09), but do not flip it.
  14. Trim the long edges of the triangles if needed so that those sides are 1/2” away from the design. You won’t need to trim much fabric in this step – it is just to get rid of the raggedy edges.

If you choose to opt out of the embroidery shown you have a few options:

  • You can choose a different embroidered design. Make sure this design is smaller than the triangle because you will be trimming it down a bit during assembly.  You can print out the PDF in the multi-hooping zipped file to compare size.
  • You could appliqué similarly sized design in its place.
  • You can purchase the Jubilee embroidery panel and back the motifs on it with paper-backed fusible web and appliqué them down to the block for a similar look to the original 125th Anniversary Quilt. The motifs on the panel are the same size as the embroidery motifs.

That is it! I’ll be back on January 2nd to walk you through assembling the 125th Anniversary Quilt.

Don’t forget to post photos in the We All Sew Community Forum of your progress to be eligible for the fantastic prizes BERNINA of America is offering!  Contest rulers can her found here.

If you have questions please comment below and I’ll try to help.  You can also join me in my Facebook Group, Quilting with Amanda Murphy.

Share how you are progressing on Facebook and Instagram using the hashtags hashtags #bernina125quiltalong.

Happy quilting, happy holidays, and HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, BERNINA!

Amanda Murphy

BERNINA Expert/Quilting and Longarm Spokesperson

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21 comments on “BERNINA Anniversary Quilt-along: Part 4 Embroidery”

  • I use a mega hoop (I hate it but it is a necessary evil sometimes) and the design doesn’t fit a mega hoop. I had to reduce the size to 75%. I am posting the images on my project post. I’d have gone the re-hoop option if I knew and didn’t have a broken hand making hooping difficult. But I thought I’d point out the design didn’t fit.It is beautiful, though. Even at 75% so thank you!
    Marie

  • I made the 14 3/4″ triangles, used the Maxi hoop and find that the design doesn’t fit into the hoop correctly. Looking at your instructions for the template and the Oval hoop, you will see that there is about an inch of space between the lower paisley shape and edge of paper; that is how my stitching of the 80190-20_Composite to embroider 2 corners at a time looks; ie the designs need to be moved up or down 3/4″ towards the tack down lines to fit inside the triangles.
    In your picture of the Composite hooping, presuming you used the Maxi hoop, your triangles look larger than my 14 3/4″ triangles. Is there a cutting out error for the corner triangles or must I manouvre the placement myself?
    I’m using Bernina B880.

    • Is there any chance you might have cut the 14-3/4” squares in half diagonally twice rather than just once? Can you check? The squares for the side border triangles should be cut twice, but those for the corners just get but in half once…

      • Hello Amanda, I certainly did cut twice diagonally, as we did for the side borders, so that would make a big difference to the size of the corner triangles. I will happily try again to get it right this time.

        My new internet provider doesn’t allow me to send jpgs so I haven’t been able to send in my project as I progress!!

        Thank you so much for being there during the festive season. All the best to you and your family for Christmas and the coming New Year.

        • The squares for the corner triangles should only be cut in half once. That should solve the problem. (The squares for the side triangles are cut differently because in both instance you want to have the grain of the fabric run parallel to the edge of the quilt top.

  • Amanda, quick question. Probably a bit of a silly one, but I am pretty new to all this. Do you need to use a long arm machine for the long arm embroidery designs in the Jubilee Embroidery Collection or can I use my Bernina 880? Thanks!

  • Another question. I read this in the contest rules and I am not sure what it means exactly.

    “8 (8) entries into the Contest per participant sharing the process while creating the quilt per quilt-along part including the finished quilt. For your entry to be valid, you must complete all required information.

    Only (8) entries per person/email address will be entered into the contest.”

    Does it mean you can post up to eight posts for your quilt or does it mean you can enter up to 8 different quilts (not that I’m that ambitious, just trying to clarify).? Thanks!

  • I am embroidering my cornerstones on my Bernina 880 and I am having quite a bit of trouble with the Yenmet thread breaking. Any suggestions? Thanks!

    • Tips from BERNINA for working with metallic or tricky thread on an 8 Series:
      These are the recommendations for sewing with Yenmet thread on the 8 Series:
      – Use an SUK needle (size 90-100) to prevent the needle from nicking the thread and causing it to break
      – Slow the speed of the machine down – slightly
      – Decrease upper thread tension
      – Try putting the Yenmet on a spool on the desk below the thread stand. From the spool, take the thread through the metal guide on the multiple spool holder base, and into one eyelet in the thread stand and thread normally.
      – Try using the thread lubricator

  • When I attempted to embroider the cream paisley details, I encountered numerous bobbin thread nests and Gears of Death. My embroidery, in Isacord gold, is flawless. I am using a new Bernina 790 Plus AE. I have cleaned and oiled the bobbin area, reduced the speed, and inserted a fresh, sharp needle.

    I have spoken with another person who has experienced the same problem. Please share the techniques you used to achieve your beautiful results.

  • Trying to find out— I screwed up one of the embroidery triangles for Fabric D. I have 32” left after cutting everything in the cutting instructions. Are there more borders, bindings to cut later? Or, am I good to redo this block?

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