An update: Hugs & Kisses is not finished yet because knee surgery was indeed in my immediate future --now in my past . The right knee was replaced on July 8th and the left on July 15th. I spent July in the hospital, much of August on the couch when I wasn't at physio therapy or exercising at home. We had a dear friend who was coming to visit us on Aug. 22 and I was motivated to be able to walk with just one crutch by the time she arrived. We even managed a trip to Paris and Tuscany before she joined her tour group on Sept. 12th. I am now walking without any crutch around the house and part time with 1 crutch when DH and I go out. DH finally let me out of the house on my own using public transportation (I am still not allowed to drive) on the 16th. I am resuming my social life this week with book club, my craft group and the cooking group. Not much time for quilting but I am going to make a start next week.
Now, I hope I remember how to use the 830 ... .

Libbi, you get a star for "stick-to-it-ivness"!!! Good luck with the knee replacements. Hope all goes well and you are better than ever when they are all healed.

A bit of an update on this process. I determined that digitizing the swags was probably a step too far. I determined that I would machine applique the swags but digitize the flowers in order to keep the look consistent. I did create strips of the various fabrics used in the appliques to create the swags. However it began to look like a circus tent because of the vivid colors I used. After "auditioning" a few swags and gathering opinions from fellow crafters and quilters, I decided that the dark green used in the leaves was the best choice. Only I didn't have enough to cut them. I thought, "no problem." I was going to California for 3 weeks and would have no problem finding a dark green batik to match or blend. WRONG! :shock: I didn't know there were so many shades of green. I couldn't spend the whole trip going from quilt shop to quilt shop (children and grandchildren are SSSSOOOOOOOOOO demanding). I didn't find any suitable fabric but that didn't stop me from buying loads of other fabrics for my stash. So I returned to Switzerland. Allowing for the Easter holiday, other commitments and two bum knees, I found the right fabric in late May. But the right knee has totally blown up and after a course of rest, anti-inflammatories, and doctor visits, I am finally completing the borders this week. Yes, there is knee (both) replacement surgery in my future but I don't know when.
I also need the quilt back fabric. Thanks to the wonderful customer service at eQuilter.com, I have made a selection. I had to mail them swatches of my fabric and asked for them to make color match suggestions to me. Thanks to them for their quick response and willingness to help a long distance customer.
Next challenge is quilting design and quilting thread selection.

mellymoo wrote:
Did you ever get a response to this question? I know your question is from last year, but do you need us to bring it up again? What machine and hoop are you using?

This answer from me will take some composing so I want to know if you need it before attempting it, but I'm glad to do so.

I had to take time out from Hug & Kisses to finish my Christmas quilt and gifts. Now I have finished all the blocks and cornerstones and have assembled that part of the quilt top. But I am stuck on the swags. They don't fit in one hooping of the mega or jumbo hoops and do not lend themselves to split hooping. Since I do not have enough fabric of one color to cut the swags, I may piece fabric of my leftovers. If so, I may have a way to split hooping since I will piece in the hoop. I don't know if I will complete any of this before we travel to California for 3 weeks.

Thank you for your kind comments throughout my adventure.

Libbi, your work is absolutely awesome! Thank you so much for sharing!

Maggie in E. Central Illinois

Thank you, Margo. I value your opinion
Libbi

Libbi, I am SO IMPRESSED!! You have taken machine applique to a whole new level, and I love the colors you are working with! It's going to be a fabulous quilt!

I have to admit I am nuts about combining work in the hoop with my quilting. I FINALLY gathered all the fabrics I need for Hugs and Kisses and stitched out January to June. I posted them in Show and Tell this weekend. I faithfully digitized each BOM as they appeared on TQS. Before I finalized my digitized applique design, I decided to do what Pat Holly recommends for decorative stitches but to do it with outline and fill stitches in the DPV6 software by digitizing circles and changing the outline stitch from straight to a pattern run, candlewick, etc. Even if the pattern's default is tiny or gi-normous, it can be altered in the software creating some beautiful and surprizing alternatives to blanket stitches or satin stitching. More fun!

Oh, Libbi! That looks way cool!!!

Since I haven't stitched the BOMs out on the final fabric YET (indecision, indecision, indecision ), I thought that my original digitized versions looked a little plain. So I've been experimenting with different outline stitches, etc. I've toggled to the Artistic View and took an image. The stitch outs will include the applique fabric and these embroidered elements will stitch on top of the fabric.

PS. I cannot, as of yet, get the V6 multihooping feature to work to my satisfaction-- pilot error, I am sure (neither can I size my photos correctly ). So I manually split the designs into 2 jumbo hoopings and provide my own registration marks. This is a cut 'n paste into a new hoop operation. For the X designs, Part 1 is the 2 stems to the left which include registration marks for the center motif and the placement of the right side stems. Part 2 is the right stems with center motif. For the O design, I could fit the the 3 small flowers and 2 motifs on the right as Part 2. Again my registration marks are the center of the design and the placement of the stems.
PPS: I use a thumb tack board to assist in placement. In the Yahoo group for Hatched in Africa, there is a file that explains this placement technique but I am sure there are others available.

Would anyone be willing to share their knowledge of multi hooping and how to go about placing registration marks.

There is no underlay but if some reason you want a wide satin stitch you would probably need an underlay. I am not using an stitch wider than 2.0 for any shape. I haven't altered the density...yet

Libby,

From a strictly technical standpoint, any satin stitch or fill stitch with a width wider than 1 mm should have an underlay. Even 1 mm should have at least a center run underlay or the fabric could 'scoot' during embroidery. The purpose for underlay is three-fold. First, to attach the fabric to the stablizer. Second, to provide lift where needed. And/or, Third when needed for decorative purposes.

You are creating very well on your own, and I hope you don't mind me providing a little extra information (theory of digitizing) that I have learned from many years of classroom experience from the top digitizers in the industry.

jojo

It's me Libbi...been offline for a couple of days. I do not use any automatic applique function of the Bernina software. I don't believe it gives you the flexibility of digitizing manually.
I scan the drawing that comes with Sue's monthly instructions into the software, not all, just 1/4. For lack of a better description, I trace the design. I duplicate each shape 3 times in 3 different colors to create the stop: placement, tackdown, cover. This gives me the option of playing around with the cover stitch. I use a straight stitch for the placement & tackdown.

So far I have selected the satin stitch but I alter the width dependent on the shape I am digitizing. The stems are narrow so I have selected the 3rd line, select satin in outline and manual in object properties and reduced the stitch length to 1.5. I also center the placement line under the satin stitch. There is no underlay but if some reason you want a wide satin stitch you would probably need an underlay. I am not using an stitch wider than 2.0 for any shape. I haven't altered the density...yet

I too have not found the fabric setting to be of much use. But I haven't selected my background fabric yet. My tests have been on 100% quilting cotton. When I do I will test out density.

Since I do not want to keep removing the hoop, I use the color film to sequence the design in the order of Sue's instruction but I group the objects. For example, all the stems first, then the large petal shapes, then the inner petals, etc. This is the most confusing bit, but not hard to do.

This is my choice but only after I am satisfied with the quarter do I duplicate and position the remaining 3/4s of the design for create a whole. Then I sequence the entire design. Then I split it into hoopings (2 for the Jumbo hoop) adding registration marks that make sense to me.

It sounds like a lot of work but now that I have the process down it really doesn't take long. I test the design using slow redraw. That shows me if I made any sequence errors. If I have made a sequence error, I just toggle through the color stops on the 830 and make the corrections in the software.

Hope this helps.