My Block Piecer
Block of the Month : Block 12 1904 Star
Software Instructions
By Nancy Stansbury

We hope you have been enjoying the block of the month series.  Remember, you can go back to previous posts to catch up on what you missed.

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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 1904 Star 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.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 while holding down the CTRL key, click on patches 1 through 5 (Square in a square).
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.
   3. Click Sort Numbers and Click Yes.
10. Click Preview.
11. Click Save.
    1. Click on Create a New Folder icon and name Block 12.
    2. Double Click on the folder to open it.
    3. In the File name box enter 1904_StarA.
    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. 1904_StarA_001.c2s.
       2. 1904_StarA _artwork.c2s.
       3. 1904_StarA _preview.pdf.
    7. Close the file window.
    8. Close the Save window.
12. Click on the Select icon, and while holding down the CTRL key, click on patches 6 through 9 (Corner). Notice the numbers have changed to 1-4.
13. Click on the Workflow icon.
    1. The numbers have been changed to 1-5.
    2. Click the Auto Build button.
    3. Click Sort Numbers and Click Yes.
14. Click Preview.
15. Click Save.
    1. In the File name box enter 1904_StarB.
    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. 1904_StarB_001.c2s.
       2. 1904_StarB _artwork.c2s.
       3. 1904_StarB _preview.pdf.
    5. Close the file window.
    6. Close the Save window.
16. Click on the Select icon, and while holding down the CTRL key, click on patches 10 through 13 (Top triangle).
17. Click on the Workflow icon.
    1. The numbers have changed to 1-4.
    2. Select a 200mm x 200 mm hoop or similar for your machine.
    3. Click the Auto Build button.
    4. Click Sort Numbers and Click Yes.
18. Click Preview.
19. Click Save.
    1. In the File name box enter 1904_StarC.
    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. 1904_StarC_001.c2s.
       2. 1904_StarC _artwork.c2s.
       3. 1904_StarC _preview.pdf.
    5. Close the file window.
    6. Close the Save window.
20. Click the Select icon and draw a box around the entire block, OR Enter CTRL-A to select all of the block.
21. 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. 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. If using a digital cutter, select the appropriate format for your cutter from the drop menu.
       1. In File name enter 1904_Star Templates.
       2. Click Save.
    6. The Following Files have been created.
       1. 1904_Star templates.
       2. 1904_Star templates_preview.pdf.
    7. Close the files window.
    8. Close the Cutter window.
22. Click on Create a New Design.Note: If desired the embroideries can be saved in a specific format individually or they can be combined into one file.
23. To save entire design in one hooping, Go To Step 43.
24. Click on the Hoop icon and select a 200mmx200mm or similar for your machine
25. Click File, Merge.
    1. Locate the file 1904_StarA_001.c2s.
    2. To open Double Click on the name OR Click on the name and Click Open.
26. Move the design to the lower center of the hoop.
27. Click File, Merge.
    1. Locate the file 1904_StarC_001.c2s.
    2. To open Double Click on the name OR Click on the name and Click Open.
28. Move the design to the upper left corner of the hoop.
29. Copy, Paste.
30. Move the design to the upper right corner of the hoop.
31. Click on the Select icon and draw a box around the upper two designs.
32. Copy, Paste.
33. Move near the center of the hoop.
34. Click File, Save As.
    1. In the File name enter 1904_StarA.
    2. In the Save as type select the format for your specific machine format.
    3. Click Save.
35. Click on New Design.
36. Click on the Hoop icon and select a 200mmx200mm or similar for your machine.
37. Click File, Merge.
    1. Locate the file 1904_StarB_001.c2s.
    2. To open Double Click on the name OR Click on the name and Click Open.
38. Can fit all for designs needed for one block in a 200mmx200mm hoop.
39. After bringing in the first design. Copy, Paste and rotate each design as necessary.
40. Click File, Save As.
    1. In the File name enter 1904_StarB.
    2. In the Save as type select the format for your specific machine format.
    3. Click Save.
41. Go to Step 47.
42. To save as one hooping.
    1. Click File, New.
    2. Click File, Merge.
    3. Locate 1904_StarA.001.c2s.
    4. Click File, Merge.
    5. Double Click to open.
    6. Locate 1904_StarB.001.c2s.
    7. Double Click to open.
    8. Move to upper leftr corner of the hoop.
    9. Copy, Paste.
    10. Rotate right twice.
    11. Move to upper right corner.
    12. Copy, Paste,
    13. Rotate right twice.
    14. Move to lower right corner.
    15. Copy, Paste.
    16. Rotate right twice.
    17. Move to lower left corner.
    18. Click File, Merge.
    19. Locate 1904_StarcC.001.c2s.
    20. Double Click to Open.
    21. Move to Upper center of the hoop.
    22. Click Copy, Paste.
    23. Click on Rotate right twice.
    24. Move to center right side of hoop.
    25. Click Copy, Paste.
    26. Rotate twice.
    27. Move to bottom center of the hoop.
    28. Click Copy, Paste.
    29. Rotate Twice.
    30. Move to right center of hoop.
    31. Adjust designs as needed for spacing.
43. Let’s combine all of the Placement Stitches so they all stitch out at once.
    1. Click Ungroup.
44. In the Sequence window
    1. Locate the second set of placement stitches.
    2. Click on them, and holding down the left mouse key, move to the top of the sequence window.
    3. Repeat for all 8 of the placement stitches below the first.
45. Save the design in the format for your machine.
46. Print the templates, or prepare your fabric and send the templates to your cutter.
47. Load each of the designs into your embroidery machine to stitch the nine units.