QuiltFusion - The Future of Quilt Design?

Recently, while browsing the internet, I discovered a piece of software, called Quilt Fusion, which has the potential to remove constraints to your creativity by turning the process of quilt design on its head.

Quilt Fusion allows me to create a fusible web appliqué project from a library of fabrics and appliqué designs and then, with a push of a button, produces a fully developed pattern complete with full-size appliqué templates, appliqué placement guide, fabric quantities, and step-by-step instructions all customized for my design. The pattern shows exactly what the quilt is going to look like once it is created and I can even order a kit customized for my quilt design with a press of a button. In addition, you can download svg files of the individual appliqué pieces to use on an electronic cutter. Was I impressed? – you bet.

Photo courtesy of www.quiltfusion.com

Quilt Fusion is a free iPad app with a monthly subscription required to print out your quilt finished pattern (annual subscriptions may be available in the future). The software allows you to create fusible web appliqué quilts from a series of templates and shapes from a library that comes with the app. It is very intuitive to use and you can have a quilt design complete with instructions completed in no time. Once your design is complete you submit it and your pattern is emailed to you in pdf format. You can elect to share your design in the Quilt Gallery where other subscribers can download your pattern, or customize (edit) it to create their own design. If you want you can order a kit from Batiks Plus who will send you a kit customized to your quilt design. Imagine going from idea, to quilt design, to pattern & instructions, to a kit using one simple piece of software. This is mind blowing.

Photo courtesy of www.quiltfusion.com

Now before I let my enthusiasm run away with me you should know that the software does have some limitations. At this time the software only offers templates for fusible web appliqué quilts and, since it is new, there are a limited number of appliqué designs to choose from in creating your pattern. The designer is committed to adding to the library of appliqué designs and to develop new features in the near future. In addition, your “freedom” to design will be somewhat restricted by what designs are available. While this may seem restrictive, I actually view it as helpful when creating your quilt design. There are definitely lots of designs to choose from and I believe that sometimes too many choices can be more restrictive than not enough of them. This "restriction" is a natural result of making the pattern creation process simple. The trade-off between simplicity and “freedom” is one that is often made when making a tool (or a piece of software) simple to use. 

Photo courtesy of www.quiltfusion.com

As much fun as Quilt Fusion is, what really excites me is how this type of software has the potential to free the creativity of the quilter from the restrictions of traditional patterns. With Quilt Fusion everyone can become a quilt pattern designer (although you aren't able to sell your designs due to copyright on the appliqué designs). Just imagine the burst of creativity we are going to see in the quilting community as this type of software becomes more comprehensive. Think how satisfying it will be for quilters to conceive of an idea, assemble the design and then have it captured in a pattern. Quilt Fusion provides immediate feedback on what the quilt will look like based on their choices of fabric. For quilt designers this software may someday provide the opportunity to create a design that are flexible and will actively encourage the quilter to experiment.

Photo courtesy of www.quiltfusion.com

The state of this software feels very similar to the early days of page layout software, which initially allowed the average person to create simple written materials. Now that software has matured to a point that many people can now blog or self-publish books. I think that the quilt design world is on the cusp of a similar revolution and I can’t wait!

I know that you'll want to try Quilt Fusion, and they have generously offered a month's subscription to one of my blogpost readers. Just enter a comment below indicating your favourite design in the Quilt Fusion Quilt Gallery to be entered to win. You have until Friday, September 18, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. MST to enter. Good luck!

I hope you'll take a look at Quilt Fusion and let me know what you think. I'm sure you'll be as excited about it as I am.

Creatively,

Thread Tension on the Janome Horizon Memory Craft 8900 Sewing Machine

I recently had one of my Youtube viewers ask for help with the thread tension on her Janome Horizon Memory Craft 8900 QCP,  one of the sewing machines I also own.

She was trying to sew a straight seam and her machine was skipping stitches. In case you may also have this problem with your machine, here are some suggestions (the instruction manual pages refer to this specific model of Janome sewing machine):

• First, get out your sewing machine's instruction manual - you're going to need it!

You should always have your sewing machine's manual close at hand.

• Let’s start at the beginning - winding the bobbin. The bobbin needs to be tightly wound as a loosely wound bobbin can cause problems. When winding the bobbin, ensure that you are running the machine at top speed - move the speed control slider over to the far right (see p. 8 in your manual). This will help to wind the bobbin tightly. Be sure that you are following the correct thread path when winding the bobbin (see p. 19 in your manual). You want to ensure that the thread stays in this thread path as you are winding the bobbin as sometimes it can slip out and this will result in uneven bobbin winding. If you’ve done this and are confident that the bobbin is wound tightly, …

Pretty blue Janome bobbins

• Check to ensure that you have put the bobbin in the machine correctly. For this model of the Janome, the bobbin should be inserted counterclockwise (see p. 20 in your manual).

Check your manual for the correct way to insert the bobbin.

• I have several machines and always have to check this out as the bobbins in some machines go in one way and some the other, so just be sure that the bobbin is in the correct way for your specific sewing machine. For my model of Janome the thread fits into the front notch in the bobbin holder and goes to the left into the side notch. Again, if the thread isn’t catching in all these areas, this will cause tension problems.

Ensure that the bobbin is inserted correctly - the thread runs off counterclockwise for my Janome

• I’m not sure if you’re using the same thread in the top of the machine as in the bobbin. If you are, the thread tension dial should be set to “Auto”. If you are using two different weights/types of thread, you may have to change the tension to either higher or lower (see page 12 in your manual).

Check and adjust your thread tension, if needed.

• Next I would check to ensure that your top thread is correctly threaded. Again, it’s easy to miss one of these areas or the thread can sometimes pop out and this causes problems. 

Do you know your sewing machine's thread path? If not, check your instruction manual.

Check page 21 in your manual to ensure that the top thread is correctly threaded. Remember to raise the presser foot when threading the machine and have the needle at the highest position. Threading the machine with the presser foot down can result in improper thread tension. 

Check your instruction manual for the proper way to thread your sewing machine.

• Changing the needle can sometimes help as well. Again, ensure that you are using the correct needle size for the thread you are using. I usually use an 80/12 or 90/14 in the machine and haven’t had any problems. You can check for the appropriate needle size on page 17 of your manual.

• You can also try cleaning out the bobbin area to ensure that there isn’t any lint or stray threads that are causing the problem. See page 101 in your manual to see how to take out the bobbin case and clean the area. Take a good look at how the bobbin case is installed before removing it as it has to go back in a certain way to work properly. There is also a screw on the bobbin case that you’ll see when you take it out. If the thread is running out of the bobbin case too quickly, you may need to tighten the screw. If you can’t get it to come out at all, you may have to loosen it a bit. Check out this blogpost to see what I mean.

Take out the bobbin and clean the bobbin area after each project.

I hope that some of these steps help you with the thread tension. If you are still not able to get the tension the way you want it, I would suggest calling up your local Janome dealer and they should be happy to help you out.

Download the free Get Out of the Ditch! guide to learn how to start free motion quilting by clicking here.

Telecast Thursday - The Pick-a-Pocket Purse

It's another Telecast Thursday and this week I'm sharing some of my tips for constructing the Pick-a-Pocket purse. This free pattern can be found at www.allpeoplequilt.com, the American Patchwork & Quilting website. I've made several of these purses and decided to change it a bit this time. 

To help ensure that you pass quality control, check out the video for my helpful tips.

You can watch the video below or on my Youtube channel.  

Subscribe to my Youtube channel to receive automatic notifications when new videos are posted. You can also click on the Chatterbox Quilts logo in the lower right corner on the video itself to subscribe. If you like what you see, please share my videos with your fellow creatives.

Share your photos of your favourite purse pattern or photos of this specific one, if you've made it. Let me know your best tips for purse construction in the comments below.

Creatively,