Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Computer Software for Quilters

There are so many software programs out there that it makes it hard to know which one will be best for your needs.  So lets look a the different software programs to see the features and benefits.
 

MyDecorative Quilter by Floriani:
http://www.florianisoftware.com/my-decorative-quilter.html

Crazy Quilting: Crazy Quilting is a time honored technique that directly reflects the artistic expression of the quilter. It is an art form in and of itself. Easily apply the look of hand stitched embellishments choosing from over 50 heirloom stitches to create exquisite embroidery that will be treasured for all time.
Echo Quilting: Showcase your applique or embroidery with this radiating quilting method. Easily manipulate the echo impression to capture your inspiration in a few simple clicks.
Trapunto Quilting: This sculptured quilting technique is made effortless and unlimited, allowing you to choose or create the trapunto effects you desire.
Stippling & Micro Stippling: Create the look of free motion stippling and micro-stippling without the labor. Choose from over 300 advanced stippling designs or simply create your own!
Applique the Floriani Way: Quilting applique is amazingly simple and unlimited with the tools to create, stitch and embellish any design with a little touch of fabric and a few simple clicks. Create a design or simply open an existing applique design to embellish on the fly.
Your Imagination is Your Only Limit! Choose popular scanned fabrics or simply add your own favorites. Upload your own images and simply trace around them to add to your design repertoire.
Personalize IT! Add text choosing from over 50 fonts plus endless borders and embellishments to create custom quilt labels or even custom quilt blocks.
My Decorative Quilter will bring out the creative artist in every quilter. Over 2200 quilt blocks can be embellished with fonts, stipple, echo, trapunto or décor stitches with accuracy, speed and creativity.
Saves in many formats for embroidery and quilting. 

Corel Draw: Vector files
http://coreldraw.com/

EXPORT File Formats used in the sewing industry:
(AI) adobe illustrator
(WPG) wordperfect document
(WMF) windows metafile
(EMF) enhanced windows metafile
(SVG) scalable vector graphics
(SVGZ) compressed scalable vector graphics
(DXF) AutoCAD drawing interchang format
(PLT) HPGL plotter file
(TTF) truetype font
(JPG) JPEG
(JP2) JPEG 2000 standard
(JP2) JPEG 2000 codestream
(BMP) windows Bitmap
GIF
(TIF) TIFF bitmap
(BMP) OS/2 bitmap
(PNG) portable networks graphic
(TXT) ANSI text
More file formats are available to be saved or imported.  These formats are not your typical formats used in the sewing machine industry.


Adobe Illustrator:
  • AutoCAD Interchange File (dxf)
  • GIF89a (gif)
  • JPEG (jpg, jpe, jpeg)
  • JPEG2000 (jpf, jpx, jp2, j2k, j2c, jpc)
  • Enhanced Metafile (emf)
  • Windows Metafile (wmf)
  • Text (txt)
  • Computer Graphics Metafile (cgm)
  • TIFF (tif, tiff)
  • Photoshop (psd, pdd)
  • BMP (bmp, rle, dib)
  • PNG (png)
  • SVG Compressed (svgz)
  • SVG (svg)

Art & Stitch made for quilters by quilters:
http://www.artnstitch.com/index.html


Art and Stitch (ANS)                
AutoCAD DXF (DXF)                   
ABM Innova (PAT)                    
CompuQuilter (CQP)                  
HQ Pro-Stitcher (HQF)
HandiQuilter recorded patterns (TAP)
IntelliQuilter (IQP)                      
PC Quilter (TXT)
QBOT (PLT) 
4QB files (4QB)                   
SideSaddle (SSD)                    
Statler Stitcher/Creative Studio (QLI)     
Additionally you can also read and write embroidery files and convert from embroidery to quilting. 

5D Quilt Design Creator by Inspira for Viking and Pfaff:
http://www.5dquiltdesign.com/
Read and write quilting formats: 4QB QuiltSewClever / Quilt Artist / QBOT (.4qb), QuiltSewClever / Quilt Artist / Shirley Stitcher (.qcc), CompuQuilter (.cmd, .cqp), Handi Quilter (.hqf), IntelliQuilter (.iqp), PC Quilter (.txt), Statler Stitcher (.qli), AutoCAD (.dxf), Windows Meta File (.wmf), Windows Enhanced Meta (.emf), HPGL (.hp, .plt)
Works with other brands only sold by Viking and Pfaff dealers.
 original
Electric Quilts:
This software program is primarily used to design blocks and quilts.  You also can make stencils and motifs within the program.  You can also save your stencils to file formats that can be converted for quilting robots.

Happy Quilting,
Denise

Monday, April 21, 2014

Paducah bound!

On our way to the quilt show in Paducah, Kentucky and we are both very excited about the trip.
Watch for pictures of some of our favorite quilts and exhibits too.
Stop by the Baby Lock both and say hello.
Paducah McCracken County Convention & Expo Center
415 Park Ave
Paducah, KY 42001


Wed. - Fri., 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Sat., 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.




Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Items that will help when recording with robotics

There are many notions that will help aid when free motion quilting and recording with robotics on quilting frames.  Some of these items were talked about and demoed during this mornings Webinar.
 http://tinlizzie18.com/the-tl-learning-center/webinars/

So, I thought it would help if I listed what the items were that I used:

  1. Golden Threads Paper- comes in 3 sizes 12", 18" and 24".  You can use this paper to draw your own designs and make pantographs from scratch.  It works great because you can see through it and trace.  I own every size so that I can create designs in many different dimensions.   Trace with a pencil and retrace with a marker.  The Golden Threads Paper can also be stitch though and removed with the Seam N Fix seam ripper eraser.                http://youtu.be/aHXoitox02E

  2. Grid for drawing design is freeing for the soul.  When drawing on this grid I use wet erase markers so that I do not smug the marker when move the machine around the design.  The grid comes in a few styles and size is 36x36 and border size too. I use the 36x36 all the time.
      http://quiltersrule.com/Graphs/vinyl-graphs.html
  3. Stencils: There are so many sizes, shapes and styles.  You can find stencils made from plastic, silk screening, paper and other products.  Keep in mind when recording if it fits under the foot you can record it.
    http://quiltingstencils.com/ http://www.fulllinestencil.com/ http://www.nancysnotions.com/category/supplies/quilt+stencils.do
  4.  Pink Embroidery Perfection Tape by Floriani to hold things in place http://florianisoftware.com/products/Floriani-Specialty-Stabilizers-and-Products/