Because I wanted the flowers to remain flexible, I decreased the density of the stitching. I did this using the embroidery controls on the 830, but could also have done this using BERNINA Embroidery Software.

Applique designs are divided into several steps:

The first stitching is the placement line - this shows where the outer edge of the applique design will be. For this project I cut a square of fabric larger than the applique outline, then placed it ove the stitched placement line.

(I'm showing this in v6 software - notice how BIG the images in Color Film are!)

The second stitching line is the tackdown stitch that holds the fabric in place. After this line stitched I removed the hoop from the machine and carefully cut the excess fabric away from outside the stitching line.

The third color for this design was some decorative stitching inside the petals.

The fourth line of stitching is the applique stitch - in this case the chainstitch around the outside of the pink petals.

The remaining stitching adds the embroidered flowers and leaves to complete the stitching.

Simple! You can also create your own applique designs using Designer Plus BERNINA Embroidery Software - the applique tools are awesome!

Here's why I bought my 830! I created each block using DesignerPlus software and Elly Sienkiewiez's Studio BERNINA Exclusive Embroidery Collection, Baltimore Elegance designs. I used the Jumbo hoop and cut the blocks down to 10 1/2" squares and the rest is history. Sooo... when asked the question "Why did we buy the 830, for embroidery or quilting?" I had to answer "Both!" I hope now you understand why. Enjoy!

I am having lots of fun playing with the Mirror-Merge Horizontal & Vertical tool in the Bernina Embroidery Software Version 5 (available in Designer Plus and Editor Plus). I used Mirror-Merge to put together the embroidery designs in my first quilt. This cool tool automatically duplicates a design, and mirror-images horizontal and vertical at the same time. The tool also lets you play with the positioning of the duplicated design, which means the possibilities are endless! Here is how it works - I have one design open in the software, and it is selected:

Next I select the Mirror-Merge Horizontal & Vertical Tool from the menu located at the bottom left of the screen, and three other outlines of the design appear on the screen. As I move the cursor around, it changes the position of the three other outllines.

When I have the outlines positioned EXACTLY where I want them, I can right click the mouse button or hit the enter key, and the designs will appear in place. Now I have a completely new design!

Now here's the really cool part; you have the option of creating a little embroidery collage using the Insert Design function before using the Mirror-Merge tool! I started with several of the Creative Genes designs, then used Mirror-Merge to create this final large design. I used the Happy machine to stitch it out in the 12" x 12" hoop, and turned the final product into a tote bag.

Keep your eyes out for the next issue of Through The Needle magazine for more information on this project!