“MasterWorks™ Digitized Bulletin Board”
Creating a unique design with MasterWorks and then applying it to a
bulletin board is a fun way to craft a message board. Place the board over
your desk, in your bedroom or in your hobby room. This project may be
your first design created within MasterWorks. Have fun while learning the
fundamentals of MasterWorks.
Skill Level: Basic
Created by: Diane Kron, Product Development Specialist
Supplies:
MasterWorks™ digitizing software by Designers Gallery®
Baby Lock Elegante embroidery machine or similar machine
Lightweight to medium-weight fabric in amounts listed below
Note: Yardage given is for an 18" x 22" frame
Color A: 1 ⅓ yards (light orange) Cut one piece 24" x 28" and 2 pieces 11″
square
Color B: 1 ⅞ yards (green print) cut two pieces 32" square
Color C: 1 ½ yards (orange) cut two pieces 27" square
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Color D: ⅝ yard (floral print) cut two pieces 22" square
Color E: ⅓ yard (peach) cut two pieces 16" square
1- 18" x 22" frame
1- 18" x 22" foam-core board cut to size (Michaels Craft Store)
Air Erasable Marking Pen
Baby Lock Tear-Away Stabilizer
Instructions:
Digitizing with MasterWorks:
1. Open MasterWorks by double clicking the icon
desktop.
on the
2. To create a flower open the Custom Shape
tool on the left toolbar
and open the down arrow to the left of the icon. Select Custom which
will allow you to choose a multitude of shapes built into the program.
Scroll down and select Flower3. The shape will be placed on the
workspace.
3. Select Transform under the properties field and change the width of
the shape to 92 mm. Since Maintain Aspect Ration has a checkmark
in the box you only need to change the width. The ratio of the design
will be maintained.
4. Select the Shape Select
tool on the left toolbar. The shape shows
the outline with Blue squares which defines the shape of the flower.
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Reshape the center section of the
flower to give definition each of the petals. Right click on the blue
line in the armpit of the petal and choose Add Point from the menu.
Move the new point inward towards the center. Repeat this for all
petals shown in the diagram.
If you need to smooth out any
of the other areas right click on the point and click on Smooth from the
menu. You may also wish to move the end points around the outer
edge of the petal. Click on the point and drag it inward as needed. If
you make a change that you do not like click on Undo
Your shape should look similar to the diagram above.
to backup.
tool and draw a circle. Place the circle
5. Activate the Circle Shape
in the center of the flower. Resize the circle as needed so that the
circle just touches the center of the petals. You can adjust the petals
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for minor adjustments if needed by repeating Step 4.
6. Select the flower and fill with Fancy Fill
stitch named Carved71
listed under the Properties field. Reduce the Fancy scale of the pattern
to 50% as shown in the example to the right.
Click on Apply.
7. To duplicate the flower, right click on the flower and select Copy,
right click and Paste. Left click to select the first flower section listed
under Sequence View.
8. Under the Stitch Effects toolbar select the Run (Motif)
icon and
choose motif fill number 237. Click on Apply.
9. Select the Circle Artwork under Sequence View with a left click.
Change the color to white in the Color Palette. Select the Radial Fill
option on the Stitch Effects toolbar.
10. Change the Density to 2.0 in the Properties field. Click Apply.
11. Right click on the white radial filled area and Copy & Paste the area.
12. Select the duplicated region and apply a Satin
outline to this area.
Increase the width to 3.0 mm. Click Apply.
13. To place the largest hoop for the Ellegante embroidery machine on the
workspace open View menu and choose Select Hoop. Select the 180
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x 300 mm hoop and click OK. The design will be centered in the
hoop.
14. Activate the Triangle Shape
tool. Draw a triangle on the
workspace larger than the flower. Place the triangle so that the flower
sits in the bottom of the widest part of the triangle. See the diagram
for placement.
from the
15. Select the triangle and apply the Wave Gradient fill
Stitch Effects toolbar. Change the density to 5.0 mm on the Properties
field. Click Apply.
16. Change the color to a light shade of green from the Color Palette.
17. To move the triangle to stitch first, right click on the triangle in the
Sequence View and select Move. When the sub menu opens select
First which will position the triangle section to stitch first.
18. To duplicate the triangle, right click on the triangle and Copy & Paste.
Select the duplicated area and apply a Motif Run
outline border
around the triangle area. Under the Motif Properties select motif
number F027 and click on Apply.
icon to print out a template for placement on
19. Click on the Print
the fabric.
20. Click on File Save As and save under the “Working File” folder. Give
your design a name and click on Save. Your design is saved with a
.blf file extension. Repeat this step to save in the .pes file format or
choose the specific format that your machine will read. Instead of
saving in the working file (.blf), open the down arrow next to Files of
Types and select the format needed for your machine. Baby Lock
embroidery machines use the .pes format. Your finished design
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should look similar to the example that is shown.
At the Work Table:
Cut the background fabric Color A, 6" wider and 6" longer than the foamcore board.
1. To determine placement of the design lay the light orange fabric
section, which measures 24" x 28", over the foam-core board allowing
3" to overlap on each side and 3" on the top and bottom of the board.
2. Measure approximately 6 1/2" down from the top of the fabric/board
and 9" in from each side edge. Mark the fabric at this point with an
Air-erasable Marking Pen. Draw crosshairs at this center point. This
is where the template from the design will be placed.
3. Hoop the stabilizer along with the light orange fabric having the
center point in the center of the hoop. Pin the template with the long
point of the design positioned downward on the fabric lining up the
crosshairs on the fabric with the crosshairs on the template. The
crosshairs should line up with the markings on the hoop. Move the
fabric as needed in the hoop for perfect placement.
4. Embroider the design.
5. While your design is embroidering fold each of the square pieces in
half and press.
Assembly of Board:
1. On a flat surface place the embroidered light orange section (color A)
on top of the foam-core board so that the edges hang over 3" on each
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side. Fold the edges to the back of the board and staple close to the
edge of the board. Pull tight as you staple around the board being
careful to maintain the position of the design on the front.
2. Place the folded 32" (color B) square section on top of the first piece
at an angle. Place the sections on the left side first.
See the diagram for placement. Pin
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
in place.
Repeat for color C, D, E and finishing with Color A. Place each of the
sections 2 ½" apart. Tip: I used thumb tacks to hold the sections
together. Placing them around the outer edges of the board.
Check for even placement by placing the frame over the covered
board. If you need to adjust positioning you should do it now.
Turn the board to the backside and staple the fabric in place. Pull the
edges tight for a taut look.
Trim the edges of the fabric.
Place the covered board into the frame and secure. Cover with a
paper backing.
Hang in your home or office. Enjoy your handiwork.
For other exciting projects like this one, visit our Web site at
www.designersgallerysoftware.com
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