Cougar Cutting

The cool part about my Cougar is that it will take the Electric Quilt programs!  I did a test on a tile block and this is how it came out:

Not bad!  The mat has lost some of it's stickiness and the machine got caught up, but WOW.  It cut out all those itty bitty pieces with ease.  That would have ended up 8x8 so you can get an idea of the size.

It will be cool to do my own designs and cut them out via the Cougar for piecing and applique!

Design Wall Monday

It's been a fairly busy weekend.  I made a cover for my Cougar.  It's passable and won't ever be in production, but it works.  As long as you don't look to closely, it's all good.  Finished is better than perfect. I just needed something easy to dust and lightweight.

I wish I could say I have some fantastic project done with it, but learning MTC software does have a learning curve.  The only mat available MTC has is with the Cricut and knowing where to place your design has proved difficult.  I did a couple of tutorials and have learned some things, but it's not easy.  You can import your EQ designs into the software for quilt projects and cut them out.  I need to work on stabilizing the fabric.

Last night I did work on my canvas work project:

The cream border is torture to work with and I hate doing it.  It's not easy to follow on the pattern sheet and I find myself lost.

I also worked on satin stitching my "My Tweets" block.  Friday I went to Lincoln to get tear-a-way stabilizer and get some feet from my Topaz.  She's been in the shop for two weeks waiting for a part to come in.  I can't believe out of the three stores nearby, no one carries it.  It has made this project so much easier with my open toe foot and the stabilizer.  I still have leaves to finish up and finish up block number two.

Check out Judy's blog for more design wall Mondays

There is a new cat at my house.  He's all black and sleek looking.  He showed up yesterday and boy does he put up a fight.  I have cursed and screamed at him, and have cried over DH's shoulder out of sheer frustration.  He didn't come with instructions either.  Just a nice note that basically said, "Enjoy your black cat".

Now before you think I am abusing a real cat and want to send me hate mail, he's electronic.  I could never hurt a real cat.  I have Bandit sleeping on me as I type.

Wanna see my new beast?  He's a Black Cat Cougar cutter.  Now if I could just tame him enough to use it.  He hasn't played nicely in two days and you all know what happens when I try to set up a new toy.

The machine is actually really nice once I got it to work.  The setup is worse than you can ever imagine so if you get one, be prepared to pull your hair out.  It doesn't come with any instructions other than a welcome letter.  Apparently; (I didn't know this) I was supossed to get an email with a link to download the PDF files except I didn't get one.

The only reason I got any help is because I belong to the MTC forum (which is how I found out about the Cougar)  and someone started a Cougar Yahoo! group.  I finally got sent the link to the Black Cat Forum to get the instruction manual and downloaded it.

The set up was so confusing.  I went back to the MTC forum to figure things out.  Then I went back to the Black Cat forum and found another PDF file that gave me the information I needed.  I managed to install the drivers and put the right information in the device manager.

The letter said to use the blade holder they sent me and to use their blades.  I can't find the blades.  For half a day I couldn't find the blades.  I had seen them when I opened the letter.  I knew I hadn't tossed them out.  Turns out they were taped to the paper that had the blade list on it.  Sigh.

Okay.  Insert blade into blade holder.  Instructions in the small bag say to put some kind of ring on it.  There's no ring in the bag.  Instructions say to use the CD to adjust the blade height.  What CD?  I didn't get a CD.

The PDF file has you using the blade holder that came with the Cougar, but the letter said to use the one they gave me as it was better quality.  I can't use it because I don't have a ring.

I go back to the MTC forum and ask for help.  I don't need the ring.  I just need to adjust the blade using any CD you have.  Sigh.

I put the blade in the holder and put it into the machine.  Now how do I put the mat in?  The Cricut has a load page which automatically sets the mat where it needs to be.  There's no such button here.  If I put it in, how do I even know it's straight?  Turns out you have to manually put the mat in using the +/- keys.  Doesn't say that in the PDF files I got.  There's an align button that I can't seem to work right either.

I finally say forget it, load a design in from MTC and click the cut icon.  It starts cutting but it's not lifting to go to the next cut.  I have cut marks all over the design.  Once again to the MTC forum.  The people over there are amazing.  They had me check different settings and 2 hours later finally one of them came to the conclusion that maybe the "better" holder was defective.  Who knows...

I put the blade in the other cutter, make the adjustments according to the PDF file, used an old CD to make sure the depth was right and hit cut.  No problems.  It cut beautifully.

I wish the company had done several things:

1.  In the welcome letter packet,  let you know that there is an email that is sent to give you PDF files and which ones I should look at.  If you don't get an email, let us know. (turns out she had forgotten to send it to me)  Maybe it did say that.  I seem to have put that away so well I can't find it.

2.  You don't need an O-ring to use the blade cutter.  Change the instructions on the card or let me know in the welcome letter.

3.  That I just need to use an old CD to align the blade depth right so I don't dig through the box looking for one.

4.  To put the mat in, you do it manually by moving the arrow keys. If it's spitting the mat out at me at full speed, my alignment button needs adjusted or something like that.  Still haven't worked that one out.

5.  How to align the mat with the different software versions out there.

6.  A PDF file with a beginner tutorial of getting the mat to load and to cut out a basic shape.  Maybe I missed it while trying to figure everything out.

7.  Put all the PDF files in one place so I'm not looking through the Black Cat Forum trying to go through the posts.

8.  Include several blades, not just two.

Or maybe I just don't read manuals very well...

It was just frustrating jumping from one forum to the other trying to figure things out.

What I've decided to do was keep a notebook next to my cutter and write down what works and what doesn't and any specifications that need done.

Tomorrow I'll do some more basic playing and I plan on doing some satin stitching on "My Tweets".

I'm crawling into bed now.  It's been a frustrating couple of days.  That's what you get going from the bottom of the line cutter to the top of line one..mass confusion and a splitting headache.

Cricut Cutting For "Hearts Desire"

After multiple attempts I got my Cricut to cut out block 2 or 3 (don't remember) of "Hearts Desire".  Make The Cut doesn't work for Mac and I don't have much on my XP side since I only use it for my embroidery/quilting software.  It's an easy program unless your design isn't in the right format and you don't know how to change it.  After going through the forums and some help with PDF files, and 3 or 4 days I was able to cut this out on freezer paper:

There is one mistake and I didn't realize that until I cut it out.  Do you know what I did wrong?  Yes, I know right leaf is missing a part. I need to REVERSE the pattern so it turns out like the above when it's done!  Arghhh!

The Cricut only cuts 12x12 (not really, it's 11 and something inches) and Hearts Desire is a 16x16 inch block.  I'm not sure I want it that big but after doing a 12x12 I think I would lose my mind piecing it.  A 14x14 would be a nice size.

BTW,  Make the Cut no longer works with the Cricut if you are thinking of getting one to do stuff like this as Provo Craft has won the lawsuit.  Your best options would be a cutter from Black Cat like the Lynx or the Cougar or a Gazelle from another company.  I know there are other cutters out there besides these.  Those just are the most popular.  I think I'm good if I don't update the Cricut or the software.

While at my LQS the owner had cake pincushion patterns.  I don't get into "cutesy" items but figured what the heck.  I bought the pattern and the filling.

I pulled out my FQ bundle that I bought a few weeks ago and found three fabrics I liked and started in on it.  Now it doesn't look bad after I have it done, but I'm not fond of daisies and I hate this style of button.  I like flat ones.  These seem to poke out and catch on everything.  I thought they were flat when I grabbed the package.  I wouldn't have bought them if I had known.

It's a little lopsided despite my attempts to put in the filling, but at least it's not dented.

Now before you think I truly hate it, I don't.  My Ruby did a fabulous job with stitching it together with ease.  I had hoped to use some of my fancy stitches, but nothing seemed to fit.  I had to figure out how to scale the stitch design so it would go around perfectly and I didn't feel like taking the time to do that.  

I love the blanket/buttonhole stitch on this machine.  It's perfect.  This stitch isn't one I'm fond of but I like it here.

Would I make it again? No, it way too big for my taste and filling the dang think took two jars instead of the one she insisted would work just fine.

If you like it, the pattern is from Taylor Made Designs and is called "Baby Cakes".

Design Wall Monday

What a weekend.  Does anyone else get obsessed about making something work until you exhaust yourself?  Between the "Fiesta" quilt problems and figuring out the Make The Cut software, I've been a mess.  DH finally told me to get off the computer and made me watch TV last night.  The mania just doesn't let you stop.

Throwing out the "Fiesta" blocks made me feel amazing.  If something isn't working, you don't have to toss it, but put it away until you can work it out.  I did email Karen Kay Buckley about my invisible machine issues and she said it was the thread, not me.  It's so wonderful that so many quilting professionals will help via an email.  It means a lot.

I do have a block to put up as I finished it this morning:

How did I get this done so fast?

I figured out to draw on the sticky side of the fusible webbing with a pen.  A pencil will rip up the fusible webbing making it useless.  Then when you pull off the paper, your pieces are ready to cut out.  You don't have to reverse your pattern or deal with your webbing coming off the paper while you trace.

I used a circle template to get perfect circles.  Karen Kay Buckley's circles are wonderful.  Now if I can just find the bag to put these back.  I'm sure the ring is for putting all of them on, but I use it to keep track of the ones I'm using.  These came out perfect.

Now to finish satin stitching block 2 of "My Tweets" if my eyes don't give out first.  I have loved doing this pattern and it's going to be stunning once it's done.

Check out Judy's blog over at Patchwork Times to see more designs.

Cutting Fabric With Your Cricut Testing

On to better things..

Since "My Tweets" is done using fusible webbing, I thought I'd use my Cricut and see if it could cut fusible webbing with fabric on top.

My first attempt was to put my fabric on the fusible webbing, tape the edges, press down and go from there.  I chose a simple heart.

It got caught in the fabric and tried to cut it out:

Second attempt was a little better but the cutter didn't go through the fusible webbing:

I had pulled off the back to see if it worked right.

Third attempt.  I'm smarter now right?  Starch it to death so it's stiff.  Done.  Press to fusible webbing.  Done.  Tape in place.  Done.   Move the blade over and down so it doesn't get caught up in the edge of the fabric.  Done.  Push button and...

One perfectly cut heart already to be fused down.

The next test is leaves.  Will the Cricut cut several leaves without getting hung up?  I hope so.  Even if I do have one leave at a time, it sure beats tracing and cutting manually.  Will let you know how it goes.