My Block Piecer
Block of the Month: Block 8 Butterfly Tail
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 8.

Let’s continue the journey of learning and creativity!

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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 Butterfly Tail 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.
6. 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.
7. Click on the Reorder icon.
   1. There are three separate patch groups in this block. See the illustration that follows for the numbering order. The block is numbered in this order so the seams will nest when sewn.NOTE: When numbering the pieces of the block, keep in mind that this is a sew and flip method of piecing, so each patch can only have a single straight seam joining it to a previous patch/patches.
   2. Right Click to end the numbering. The numbers will disappear but the numbering is still there.
8. Click on the Select icon, and and draw a box around the top row of the block.
9. Click on the Workflow icon.
   1. Select a 200mm x 200 mm hoop or similar for your machine.
   2. Click the Auto Build button. This portion has been created with only one unit.
10. Click Preview.
11. Click Save.
    1. Click on Create a New Folder icon and name Block 8.
    2. Double Click on the folder to open it.
    3. In the File name box enter Butterfly_TailA.
    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. Butterfly_TailA_001.c2s.
       2. Butterfly_TailA _artwork.c2s.
       3. Butterfly_TailA _preview.pdf.
    7. Close the file window.
    8. Close the Save window.
12. Click on the Select icon, and draw a box around the middle row of the block.
13. Click on the Workflow icon.
    1. The numbers have been changed to 1-4.
14. Click the Auto Build button.
15. Click Preview.
16. Click Save.
    1. In the File name box enter Butterfly_TailB.
    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. Butterfly_TailB_001.c2s.
       2. Butterfly_TailB _artwork.c2s.
       3. Butterfly_TailB _preview.pdf.
    5. Close the file window.
    6. Close the Save window.
17. Click on the Select icon, and draw a box around the bottom row of the block.
18. Click on the Workflow icon.
    1. The numbers have changed to 1-4.
19. Click the Auto Build button.
20. The build has more than one unit, so it has to be created manually.
    1. Right Click on one of the numbers in the right pane and Click on Reset.
    2. Holding down the CTRL Key, Click on the 1 and 2.
    3. Right Click and Group.
    4. Holding down the CTRL Key, Click on unit and 3.
    5. Right click and group.
    6. DO NOT CLICK AND GROUP THE LAST NUMBER.
21. Click Preview.
22. Click Save.
    1. In the File name box enter Butterfly_TailC.
    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. Butterfly_TailC_001.c2s.
       2. Butterfly_TailC _artwork.c2s.
       3. Butterfly_TailC _preview.pdf.
    5. Close the file window.
    6. Close the Save window.
23. Click the Select icon and draw a box around the entire block, OR Enter CTRL-A to select all of the block.
24. 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 print the templates, and use them to manually cut the fabric pieces, 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”.
       4. If making the large quilt, place a 4 in the repeat field.
    3. Can Unclick Optimize Orientation if using a directional fabric (This will optimize how the pieces file on the paper.
    4. Click Apply.
    5. Click Save.
       1. In File name enter Butterfly_Tail Templates.
       2. Select the appropriate format if using a digital cutter. Click Save.
       3. The Following Files have been created.
          1. Butterfly_Tail templates.
          2. Butterfly_Tail templates_preview.pdf.
       4. Close the files window.
       5. Close the Cutter window.
25. 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.
26. If saving all three sections together, go to Step 32.
27. Click on the Hoop Icon and select the 200mmx260mm or similar for your machine.
28. Click File, Merge.
    1. Locate the file Butterfly_TailA_001.c2s.
    2. To open Double Click on the name OR Click on the name and Click Open.
29. Click File, Save As.
    1. In the name field enter Butterfly_TailA.
    2. In the Save as Type select the format for your specific embroidery machine.
    3. Click Save.
30. Repeat Steps 25-29 for each of the other two embroideries, changing their names so they don’t write over the previous one.
31. Go to Step 41.
32. Click on the Hoop Icon and select the 200mmx260mm or similar for your machine.
33. Click File, Merge.
    1. Locate the file Butterfly_TailA_001.c2s.
    2. To open Double Click on the name OR Click on the name and Click Open.
    3. Move to the top of hoop.
34. Click File, Merge.
    1. Locate the file Butterfly_TailB_001.c2s.
    2. To open Double Click on the name OR Click on the name and Click Open.
    3. Move to the middle of hoop.
35. Click File, Merge.
    1. Locate the file Butterfly_TailC_001.c2s.
    2. To open Double Click on the name OR Click on the name and Click Open.
    3. Move to the bottom of hoop.
36. Select all by both clicking the select icon and drawing a box around all of the designs, or CTRL-A.
37. Click the Ungroup icon.
38. To save time at the machine, move all placement guides to the first color. In the Sequence window,click on the icon for the second stitch placement guide and move it below the first sequence.
39. Repeat for the third stitch placement guide.
40. Click File, Save As.
    1. In the name field enter Butterfly_Tail.
    2. In the Save as Type Select the format for your specific embroidery machine.
    3. Click Save.
41. Print the templates, or prepare your fabric and send the templates to your cutter.
42. Load each design/designs onto your machine and stitch the pieces of the block.
43. Manually sew the three sections together for finish the block.