My Block Piecer
Block of the Month : Block 11 Crazy Star
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 11.

Let’s continue the journey of learning and creativity!

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Editor’s Note: The artwork for this block is original artwork. Download the Crazy Star.emf file and save it to your hard drive.  Download:  CrazyStar

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 File.
   1. Import Art Work
   2. Locate Crazy Star.png
   3. Click on the image.
   4. Click on the Open button.
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 down arrow by the Artwork Icon and select the Pen tool.
   1. On the Properties Window, Check the Fill Box and Click Apply.
   2. Right Click on Color 1 to make it the color to use.
   3. Click on each of the 3 corners of the upper right triangle.
   4. Click on the first corner again.
   5. Right Click to create the patch.
   6. Repeat for the other blue triangle.Note: If at some point the cross hair for the pen tool disappears, just click on the Artwork icon.
   7. Click on Color 2 at the bottom and change it to yellow.
   8. Click OK.
   9. Right Click on Color 2 to make it the color to use.
   10. Repeat 7c through 7f for each of the yellow patches.
   11. Continue changing colors and create the artwork for each of the other pieces of the block.
8. Click on the Reorder icon.
   1. Look at the diagram below for the numbering sequence.
   2. Click on each patch in block.
   3. Right Click to end the numbering. The numbers will disappear but the numbering is still there.
9. Click on the Select icon, and holding down the CTRL key, Click on numbers 1 through 5.
10. Click on the Workflow icon.
    1. Select a 200mm x 200 mm hoop or similar for your machine.
    2. Click the Auto Build button.
11. Click Preview.
12. Click Save.
    1. Click on Create a New Folder icon and name it Block12.
    2. Double Click on the folder to open it.
    3. In the File name box enter Crazy_Star_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. Crazy_Star_A_001.c2s.
       2. Crazy_Star_A _artwork.c2s.
       3. Crazy_Star_A _preview.pdf.
    7. Close the file window.
    8. Close the Save window.
13. Click on the Select icon, and holding down the CTRL key, Click on the patches for the other half of the block.
14. Click on the Workflow icon.
    1. Click the Auto Build button.
15. Click Preview.
16. Click Save.
    1. In the File name box enter Crazy_Star_B.
    2. Save as type select Inspiration Series (C2S).
    3. Click Save.
    4. A window will open showing the created files.
       1. Crazy_Star_B_001.c2s.
       2. Crazy_Star_B _artwork.c2s.
       3. Crazy_Star_B _preview.pdf.
    5. Close the file window.
    6. Close the Save window.
17. Click the Select icon and draw a box around the entire block, OR Enter CTRL-A to select all of the block.
18. 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 printing paper templates to manually cut the fabric pieces, select Paper Letter 210×279.
       2. If using the Scan and Cut, select Brother SCN 12×12”.
       3. If using the Silhouette, select Silhouette 12×12”.
    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 Crazy_Star Templates.
       2. Click Save. If using a digital cutter, select the appropriate format from the drop down menu.
    6. The Following Files have been created:
       1. Crazy_Star templates.pdf.
       2. Crazy_Star templates_preview.pdf
       3. Close the files window.
       4. Close the Cutter window.
19. Click on Create a New Design.
20. Click on the Hoop icon.
    1. Select the 200mmx200mm hoop or similar for a specific machine.
       Note: When using the Merge to open a file, SAVE is actually a SAVE AS and the original file is not overwritten.
21. Click File, Merge.
    1. Locate Crazy_Star_A_001.c2s.
    2. Click open.
    3. Move to the lower left corner of the hoop
22. Click File, Merge.
    1. Locate Crazy_Star_B_001.c2s.
    2. Double Click to open or Click on the name and Click open.
    3. Move to the upper right corner of the hoop.
23. Combine the placement stitches to sew in the first color.
    1. In the Sequence Window, click on the second design.
    2. Click Ungroup.
    3. Click on the placement stitch for the second design.
    4. Move the placement stitch up to the first placement stitch.
24. File, Save as
    1. In the name box enter Crazy_Star
    2. In the Save as type select the specific format for your machine.
    3. Click Save.
25. Print the templates, or prepare your fabric and send the templates to your cutter.
26. Load the design in your machine and stitch the two parts of this block.
27. Manually sew the two halves together to complete the block.