Saturday, August 30, 2008

Using The Giga Hoop

I tried out the giga hoop today. The giga hoop lets you do larger areas without having to rehoop. It's basically 2 5x7 fields. You do one side, flip the hoop and do the other side. What it doesn't do is one large section starting from the middle. There isn't enough space to the right of the needle. The biggest catch to this hoop is being able to line up both sides perfectly. It means careful marking and careful editing.

Here's my first attempt:


Using Customizer I imported the design and opened the "Easy Gigahoop". I played with a couple of different layouts and decided on this one. I zoomed in to see if everything matched and got them as close as I could using the guides. I saved the design to my USB stick and stitched it out one side at a time. I'm off some..but in this case you wouldn't notice. My center marks are off just a tad and maybe the design as well. I'm pleased that it came out so good.

This is perfect for quilting! I can do large blocks this way. It took two hours to stitch this out though. I thought I'd picked a quicker design but for a test run, it worked.

I've also been working on my purse squares. Here's what I have so far:

Somehow you are supposed to zig zag the blocks together to make this purse. Each block is quilted so it will be relatively stable. Still not sure this is going to work.

Actually; this is really easy as well, but tricky. The design stitches out the outline on water soluble stabilizer. You add the batting and the top over the stitching. The machine stitches another line over the two layers. The first couple of blocks have pleats as I was out of basting spray. The spray is a must so the layers don't shift. I thought I could away with it. After the design is stitched out, you add the backing behind the stabilizer. It does another outline stitch and then you trim the fabric as close to that outline as you can. You take the hoop off the machine, but you don't unhoop the project. That's still a skill I need practice on as it's really hard.

This pattern seems to be off on the edging as it doesn't quite line up with the basting stitches. I don't know how to fix it. When you trim the batting and fabric, it doesn't line up when you do the last satin stitching. I have the top row done and was working on the one of the 2nd row blocks when the inner hoop popped out while trimming the layers. 30 minutes down the drain..LOL.

6 comments:

Hazel said...

My goodness , you have such a talent for this ,it's hard to believe you haven't had your machine very long .Everything is just awesome.

Kristie said...

Such beautiful work! I can't wait to see more of this purse!!!!!
Kristie

Kathy said...

Wow, you are doing a wonderful job! I have a Janome 10001 and have never used the gigahoop. Maybe I'll give it a try now.

I enjoy your blog!

Rhonda said...

Excellent demo. Your work in great. I've got a Janome 11000 and am experimenting daily....I'm adding you to my favorites on my sidebar.
ravelly1-quiltzblog.blogspot.com

Connie said...

Oh my heavens those are some lovely designs! And I love the colors--so cool and soothing and fresh. You are doing an amazing job on this project!

bethq said...

I sure understand when you talk about your 6600. I had a Janome 9000 for about 5 years. Called it Martha because I thought it did everything and I loved it. I didn't do a lot of embroidery but was very happy with what I did do. I sure did sew up a storm though. I was sewing all the time and getting a lot done. I kept dreaming that I could quite my day job to sew all the time. I knew it like the back of my hand. The I thought I would upgrade and got the 6600 and 350e. Dumb dumb move. While I do love the 350e a lot I just don't do nearly as much as I used to. The 6600 just sits there. I hardly do any sewing anymore as I don't like the machine. I just have never gotten comfortable with it. I don't think I ever will. Financially it was kind of a fluke that I was able to afford the 2 new machines and I don't fore see me being able to afford another new one for a long time. In the mean time I have wanted to pack up my sewing room and sell it all on Ebay and just be done with this hobby. It seems that my unhappiness with this machine has just made me want to give up. There are many who absolutely love their 6600s. Good for them. And like you, this is one of the very few if not the first time I would say out loud that I don't like my machine. I feel like it's a new baby I brought home and have just never bonded with!!!

I'll keep reading your blog and maybe we'll figure this out. You have made me want to give the gigahoop a try.