A day’s work
There’s been a four part series on the Bernina blog, about machine quilting and painting a feather wreath. Of course, it’s “my” colours, so hit all the buttons and I bookmarked it in my brain, thinking I’d have a go at it sometime. But recent trials of my free machine quilting skills have not gone so well and I really doubted my ability to create such a beauty, so I’ve hung fire a while.
But just a minute. Haven’t I got some rather clever software in which I could draw out such a design and stitch it automatically? Couldn’t I use a little practice in using that software, since the arrival of the cutwork and other clever things have overshadowed it of late? I thought about it for all of five minutes and with a day at home, I cracked on right away this morning.
I started by drawing it all out in Photoshop and importing the drawing to the Bernina software, but then had a “duh” moment and started again. This time, I drew a single feather loop and used the “wreath” tool to create the circular pattern. Clever! (the software, not me!)
I used the wreath tool several times more, each time finding it a really powerful means of creating an even, symmetrical design. I watched the “slow redraw” several times and was fairly happy with what I saw…except it did sew out in a strange order, and I wasn’t sure how to correct that.
By about four o’clock I was ready to begin stitching. Yes, really, it had taken me almost the whole day to create the design – so much for those who think we just “press a button”! I could wait no longer and just had to give it a try out.
Having stitched it, I got the Markal paintstiks out and chose a couple of colours. I wasn’t too worried about colour by now – just wanted to get it done!
By five o’clock, I was ready to set the colours with the iron and sit back.
Sit back and look a little closely at all the small things I wish I’d done differently, that is. It’s not bad as a starting point but it needs more work; of that I am certain.
Bernina machine embroidery friends (you know who you are!), prepare for the arrival of an email with a small attachment shortly. I’m hoping that you will be able to bring your skills and experience to the party and show me where I went wrong!!
Sometimes, more brains are better than one.