My Block Piecer
Block of the Month : Block 5 Friendship Chain
Software Instructions
By Nancy Stansbury

This ongoing Block of the Month series was designed to inspire you to learn new techniques using My Block Piecer.  As a reminder, the first Saturday of every month will feature the software lesson using My Block Piecer.  The following Wednesday will feature the sewing lesson.

• You are free to adapt the block to a size of your preference.
• A free trial of My Block Piecer is available if you’d like to try it before you buy it.  Note the “Save” feature is deactivated until the software is purchased.
• Interested in learning more about My Block Piecer and other Inspirations Software?  Join us at an Inspirations Event.  Click the Events link for events near you.
• If you’re late to the Block of the Month “party” have no fear!  Start with Block 5 or spend a little time catching up.

Let’s continue the journey of learning and creativity!

1. Open MBP.
2. Click on Create a New Design.
   
3. If the units for the ruler on the design page show mm, Right Click on either one of the rulers on the Design Page, and Click on Inches.
4. Right Click on either ruler again and click on Grid Settings.
   1. Check marks by:
      1. Maintain aspect ratio
      2. Snap to grid.
   2. Set Horizontal spacing to 0.25.
   3. Click OK.
5. Click on the Block Icon.
   

1. Enter Friendship Chain in the Find box at the bottom of the window (DO NOT CLICK THE ENTER KEY).
2. Click on the Down green arrow.
3. Click OK to place the block on the design page.
   

• In the Properties Window on the right side of the screen click on the Transform icon.
  
  1. Have Maintain aspect ratio checked.
  2. Change the Width to 6.
  3. Click Apply.
• Click on the Reorder icon.
  1. Look at the diagram below for the numbering sequence.Note: The block can be numbered differently, remembering that this is a stitch and flip method of sewing and that each piece can only have one straight seam to connect it to the previous piece.
     
  2. Right Click to end the numbering. The numbers will disappear but the numbering is still there.
• Click on the Select icon and click on patches 1 through 3.
• Click on the Workflow icon.
  
  
  1. Select a 200mm x 200 mm hoop or similar for your machine.
  2. Click the Auto Build button.
     
• Click Preview. Click Save.
  1. Click on Create a New Folder icon and name Block5.
  2. Double Click on the folder to open it.
  3. In the File name box enter Friendship_Chain_A.
  4. Save as type select Inspiration Series (C2S).
  5. Click Save.
  6. A window will open showing you the files that have been created.
     1. Friendship_Chain_A_001.c2s.
     2. Friendship_Chain_A _artwork.c2s.
     3. Friendship_Chain_A _preview.pdf.
  7. Close the files window.
  8. Close the Save window.
• Click on the Select icon and click on 4 of the patches in the lower left of the block.
• Click on the Workflow icon. The numbers have been changed to 1-4.
  
  1. Click the Auto Build button.
• Click Preview.
  
• Click Save.
  1. In the File name box enter Friendship_Chain_B.
  2. Save as type select Inspiration Series (C2S).
  3. Click Save.
  4. A window will open showing you the files that have been created.
     1. Friendship_ChainB_001.c2s.
     2. Friendship_ChainB _artwork.c2s.
     3. Friendship_ChainB _preview.pdf.
  5. Close the file window.
  6. Close the Save window.NOTE: Since the triangle on the upper part of the block is identical to the one that was just created, there is no need to create a third embroidery design.
• Click the Select icon and draw a box around the entire block, OR Enter CTRL-A to select all of the block.
• Click the Cutter icon.
  
  1. Seam allowance default is .25”. Normally I change this to 0.4” or 0.5”, to make it easier to place the fabric pieces no matter which output format I choose.
  2. How you are going create the fabric pieces for the block, will determine which file format (hoop) to choose for the templates.
     1. If going to manually cut the fabric pieces, print the templates and select the Paper Letter 210×279.
     2. If going to use the Scan and Cut, select Brother SCN 12×12”.
     3. If going to use the Silhouette, select Silhouette 12×12”.
  3. Can Unclick Optimize Orientation if using a directional fabric (This will optimize how the pieces fit on the paper.
  4. Click Apply.
  5. Click Save.
     1. In File name enter Friendship_Chain Templates.
     2. Select the proper digital format (from the drop down menu) if using a digital cutter and click Save.
     3. Since I’m using paper templates, the following files have been created.
        1. Friendship_Chain templates.
        2. Friendship_Chain templates_preview.pdf.
     4. Close the files window.
     5. Close the Cutter window
• Click on Create a New Design.Note: When using the Merge to open a file, SAVE is actually a SAVE AS and the original file is not overwritten.
  
• Click the Hoop Icon, and select 200mmx200mm hoop or similar.
  Note: If desired the embroideries can be saved in a specific format individually or they can be combined into one file.
• Using the File, Merge
  1. Locate the file Friendship_ChainA.c2s.
  2. Double Click to open, or Click on file and Click open.
• File, Merge, Open Friendship_ChainB.c2s.
• Move to the lower left corner of the hoop
• Copy, Paste.
• Click the Transform Icon on the Properties Window.
• Rotate 180 degrees.
• Move to the upper right corner of the hoop
  
• Save.
  1. In the name file enter Friendship Chain.
  2. Save as type enter the format for your machine.
  3. Click Save.
• Print the templates, or prepare your fabric and send the templates to your cutter.
• Load the design into your machine and have fun making this block.