My Block Piecer
Block of the Month : Block 10 Tulip Time
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 10.

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 Tulip Time 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. Click on each patch as numbered below.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 draw a box around the patches in the upper left quarter of the block (patches 1 through 3).
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.
10. Click Preview.
11. Click Save.
    1. Click on Create a New Folder icon and name it Block 10.
    2. Double Click on the folder to open it.
    3. In the File name box enter Tulip_TimeA.
    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. Tulip_TimeA_001.c2s.
       2. Tulip_TimeA _artwork.c2s.
       3. Tulip_TimeA _preview.pdf.
    7. Close the file window.
    8. Close the Save window.
12. Click on the Select icon and draw a box the Upper right quarter of the block (patches 4-10).
13. Click on the Workflow icon.
    1. The numbers have been changed to 1-7.
    2. Click the Auto Build button. More than one unit has been created, so this part of the block needs to be manually created.
    3. Right Click in the window on the right side (with the numbers) and Click Reset.
    4. Holding down the CTRL Key, Click on the 1 and 2.
       1. Right Click and Group.
       2. Holding down the CTRL Key, Click on unit and 3.
       3. Right click and group.
       4. Repeat ii and iii for patch 4 -6.
       5. DO NOT CLICK AND GROUP THE LAST NUMBER.
14. Click Preview.
15. Click Save.
    1. In the File name box enter Tulip_TimeB.
    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. Tulip_TimeB_001.c2s.
       2. Tulip_TimeB _artwork.c2s.
       3. Tulip_TimeB _preview.pdf.
    5. Close the file window.
    6. Close the Save window.
16. Click on the Select icon and draw a box around the lower left quarter of the block (patches 11-15).
17. Click on the Workflow icon.
    1. The numbers have been changed to 1-5.
    2. Click the Auto Build button. More than one unit has been created, so this part of the block needs to be manually created.
    3. Right Click in the window on the right and Click Reset.
    4. Holding down the CTRL Key, Click on the 1 and 2.
    5. Right Click and Group.
    6. Holding down the CTRL Key, Click on unit and 3.
    7. Right click and group.
    8. Repeat ii and iii for patch 4.
18. Click Preview.
19. Click Save.
    1. In the File name box enter Tulip_TimeB.
    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. Tulip_TimeC_001.c2s.
       2. Tulip_TimeC _artwork.c2s.
       3. Tulip_TimeC _preview.pdf.
    5. Close the file window.
    6. Close the Save window.
20. Click on the Select icon and draw a box the around the lower right quarter of the block (patches 16-18).
21. Click on the Workflow icon.
    1. The numbers have been changed to 1-3.
    2. Click the Auto Build button.
22. Click Preview.
23. Click Save.
    1. In the File name box enter Tulip_TimeC.
    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. Tulip_TimeD_001.c2s.
       2. Tulip_TimeD _artwork.c2s.
       3. Tulip_TimeD _preview.pdf.
    5. Close the file window.
    6. Close the Save window.
24. Click the Select icon and draw a box around the entire block.
25. 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”.
    3. 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 Tulip_Time Templates.
       2. Click Save if using paper templates or use the drop down arrow to find the digital cutting format for your cutter.
       3. The Following Files have been created.
          1. Tulip_Time templates.
          2. Tulip_Time templates_preview.pdf.
       4. Close the files window.
       5. Close the Cutter window.
26. Click the Hoop icon.
    1. Set Hoop to 200mmx260mm.
27. 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.
28. Click File, Merge.
    1. Locate the file Tulip_TimeA_001.c2s.
    2. Click Open.
    3. Move it to top left corner of the hoop.
29. Click File, Merge.
    1. Locate the file Tulip_TimeB_001.c2s.
    2. Move it to top right corner of the hoop.
30. Click File, Merge.
    1. Locate the file Tulip_TimeC_001.c2s.
    2. Move it to lower left corner of the hoop.
31. Click File, Merge.
    1. Locate the file Tulip_TImeD_001.c2s.
    2. Move it to the lower right corner of the hoop.
32. Move all the placement stitches to the top.
    1. CRTL-A or Select all.
    2. Ungroup.
    3. In the Sequence Window move the second set up placement stitches on top of the first set.
    4. Repeat for the other two sets of placement stitches.
33. Click Save.
    1. In the name box enter Tulip_Time.
    2. In the Save as type select the format for your specific machine.
    3. Click Save.
34. Print the templates, or prepare your fabric and send the templates to your cutter.
35. Load the design in your machine to create the four parts of this block.
36. Option: Manually sew the four parts together to create the block.