SMCreations

Using Sure Cuts Alot for cutting applique designs help

When using the trace feature, be sure to click on the break apart button at the bottom of the trace window.  When you open it up in SCAL, you will need to resize it to a size that will fit on the mat. You can do that by clicking on the resize button and typing in 8 0 9 as the width. Make sure you have the Proportions button checked or your image will be distorted.. Then go to objects and click on ungroup.  You may have an image that the lines are too wide for one pass around the image.  What happens in SCAL, is the  software breaks apart the lines that are on the inside of the shape and the ones on the outside of the shape.  What I do is to hide the ones that I don’t want by clicking on the layers options, or in the object menu drop down, click on hide.  If the eye is showing on the layers part, clicking the eye will hide the image.  It is not deleted, just hidden.  Once you have all of the images cleaned up, you can cut just what you need.  If you select an image and it has numbers or writing inside the lines, used un-group or break apart in the objects drop down menu to separate them out of the finished image.  You must then click on the image and go to the path menu and simplify the nodes on the image or the Cricut machine will stop at each of the nodes.  I have been able to clean 90% of the nodes that I don’t need in one or two tries by setting the threshold to 100.  You can preview the image and always us undo if you don’t like the results.

I bought my Cricut just to cut fabrics and am teaching others at the local sewing machine shop and Quilt store to use it also. SCAL is a great program for cutting your designs.
 

You don’t have to use inkscape to convert your files any more. I make applique designs all the time from the original scanned image. I use the trace command that is on the file menu in SCAL. When you trace the image, click “break apart outlines” button on the trace tool. Once you have traced the image, and it is on a mat in SCAL, add a page tab on the page bar. Select all of the design from page 1 and copy it. Paste it on page two. By doing this, you will then see all of the details separated on the right in folders. You must have advance workspace opened. At this time you can hide or delete the items that you don’t want and by using the group/ungroup tool, can take out lettering and marks you don’t want. SCAL’s path tool allows you to simplify the design and minimize the nodes. You can also edit the design by using the tools on the left. I have just recently found that you can cut fabric without stabilizer if you starch it well. I use best press from Mary Ellen. Batiks works best, but other fabrics will also cut. Find out what stabilizer your mom wants to use if she is machine appliqueing. I like Heat and Bond Lite the best, but steam a seam will also work.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

As many quilters are finding out, Sure Cuts a lot and the Cricut machine aren’t just for scrap booking. We can cut templates, applique designs and even the fabric for machine applique. Here is the first in a series of mini lessons in using your Cricut machine for quilting success. When computer technology merged with sewing, a whole new world opened up for us. And now we can digitize our designs and cut out our fabric using our computer. I am waiting for the day that I throw the fabric over the computer at night and a full quilt appears in the morning.  In the mean time, lets applique!

Instructions for Using the Cricut and SureCutsAlot Software to Cut Machine Embroidery Shapes

There are several methods used to generate embroidery shapes. The two I am familiar with are:

1. Scan the design from the paper copy file that comes with your Embroidery design.
2. Create the outline using machine embroidery software such as Embird, Generations, Viking 4D or PE Designs.

Here are the instructions for Method 1. Method 2 is similar, but requires creating a jpg file from an Embroidery program.  Some programs let you copy and paste an image into Paint and save it as an image.  Other programs generate graphic images in a PDF format.  I have successfully copied and pasted PDF images into Paint and saved them as a .jpg files.   Here is how to scan a PDF file and “trace” it in SureCuts aLot

Method 1.

1.  Print out the pdf file that comes with the design that shows the colorchanges and the lines that are embroidered in order.

2.  Use the placement guide to determine the actual size of the design and make sure the outline falls within the border stitching.

3.  Scan the single line drawing into your computer using the scanning software that came with your scanner.

4.  Verify that the outline is the correct size and matches your desired finished project.

5.  If you have multiple fabric patches, you must scan each one of the patches that are a part of the design.

6.  Create a file folder that describes your project and save the scanned images in the folder.  Save the image as a .jpg file so it can be used by SureCutsAlot.

7.  Using the SureCutsAlot program, import your scanned image onto the cutting mat. To do this, you must use the “Trace Image…. ” This feature is found in the drop down File menu.

8.  When you trace the image into SureCutsAlot, again make sure that it is the exact size as the original document.

9.  Now that you have the image in SureCutsAlot, you can cut out the fabricpieces for the design. I use Heat and Bond Lite as my stabilizer for fabrict hat I cut with the Cricut. I usually use 100% cotton fabric and a medium to hot iron. I don’t use steam. Heat and Bond Lite also fuses to light weight fabrics and does not require a really hot iron to bond to the fabric. Cut out your shapes.

10.  Now begin your stitch out in your embroidery machine. The first sewing line is the placement guide. Stop your machine after you sew out this running stitch.

11.  Fuse the cut out fabric to the fabric in your embroidery hoop by using a hot dry iron. Do not un-hoop the fabric. If you prefer, you can use adhesive spray or sticky dots that are double sided and made to be washable, non-permanent. This step will make sure your fabric doesn’t slip when machine embroidering the next stitches.

12.  Run your machine through the next sequence and it should tack down the fabric layer you just applied.

13. Finally, stitch out the final outline using the button hole, blanket or satin stitch.

14.  Embroider the patches in the order given on the pattern directions.

The big change with this method is  you do not have to cut out the appliqué fabric while it is in the hoop because it was cut out on the Cricut using SureCutsALot.  I hope these instructions are clear and if your have any questions, just email me at Sharon@smcreations

The world of blogging isn’t new to me as I read other  blogs.  However, writing one is strange.  What do you really want to know?

The reason I started this blog is to provide creative ways to use software programs and computer tools in the quilting world.  Many quilters are comfortable with their sewing machines, but when it comes to connecting them to computers, they become frustrated and confused.

Recently I started using the Cricut machine to make applique shapes for my quilts.  I have used the carriages that come with the machines, but my excitement came when I found I can scan designs into my computer, load them into Sure Cuts alot and cut out the shapes on the Cricut.  Sure Cuts a lot is a software program that is available for Windows and Mac and makes this process easy.  I will be sharing my tips and tricks on this site and maybe some demos.  So watch for future updates as I complete projects and begin to post the process.  Welcome to my site and check back often.  Sharon

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