Go big or go home with the Large Connect designs included with the Radiance. This collection of designs automatically connects to create designs that far exceed the already large embroidery field on the Radiance. In addition, there are several complimentary embroidery patterns included to match with the 7 Large Connect designs! Use this design collection for all sorts of projects or turn them into these fun throw pillows.
Click HERE to download printable instructions with additional photos.
Supplies:
- Baby Lock Radiance sewing and embroidery machine. This could also be done using the Solaris Vision and one of the 5 large connect designs included with that machine.
- W Embroidery Foot
- Zipper Foot or Adjustable Zipper & Piping Foot BLA-AZF
- 10 5/8” Square Frame (Note: the design you use from Large Connect will select the hoop needed)
- Upcycled Bench (The bench shown was thrifted from Facebook Marketplace)
For the bench project- adjust your fabric amounts based on the final bench or item you are upholstering.
- 20” X WOF strip of cotton or home décor fabric for bench top
- 1 yard of coordinating fabric for the side panels
- Velvet ribbon or trim to add to seamed pieces on the bench top
For the pillow project-
- Pillow front: 18” x 18” cotton fabric (since embroidering the fabric prior to the pillow construction, you will want to allow for additional fabric and stabilizer that will fit in the 10 5/8” X 16” hoop at a minimum or float your fabric.
- Pillow back: two 9 ½” x 16” cotton fabric
- 18x18” Baby Lock Ultra Soft Fusible for pillow front
- Two 9 ½” x 16” Baby Lock Ultra Soft Fusible for pillow back – if Ultra Soft is not available use a one-sided fusible fleece
- Baby Lock Tear Away Firm Stabilizer for Embroidery
- 20-24” zipper or larger
- 4-5 yards of 1/8” cording or coordinating home décor fringe or trim
- 2” Strips of fabric to cover the cording
- Pillow form
- Baby Lock Ultra Soft Stabilizer
- Baby Lock Tear Away Firm Stabilizer or Cut-away Stabilizer
- Madeira® Cotona and Madeira® Rayon/Polyester thread to match fabric. Coordinating bobbin for sewing.
- Rotary cutter, mat and ruler
- Staple Gun
Instructions:
The supply list will make one bench cushion. Use the layout at the end of the project with the piecing order for the cushion.
Selecting the Design:
1. Select Embroidery
2. Open Large Connect Category -Embroidery Designs and select the art deco design #2. Touch Set.
3. Each design is sectioned into 3 design segments that will be connected using the Camera and Projector on the machine.
4. Select the first design that will automatically connect these together. The other three are individual sections that you choose from and manually connect or stitch as an individual design.
5. With this design collection, you are limited to making edits and adjustments to the design.
6. Touch Embroidery and at this point, we are ready to hoop our fabric and stitch out the design.
7. You will note that Pattern Connectivity with the Camera is automatically turned on.
Embroidery:
1. Fuse Cotton fabric with the Baby Lock Ultra Soft Fusible Stabilizer or stabilizer of choice. Please note that many of the designs in this collection are very stitch intensive and require a stable fabric. Using a heavier fabric or stabilizing the fabrics with interfacing or starch/Terial magic type products can help to prevent puckering.
2. Hoop a section towards the left of the fabric strip in the 10 5/8” X 10 5/8” frame for the first part of the design. You can also use a magnetic hoop as well. That was done with this project since a velvet type fabric was used and this would help with any hoop burn with the fabric. You could also float the fabric on stabilizer. Be sure to allow extra fabric to the left as this will be trimmed up for the bench pillow after the stitch out is completed.
3. Thread the machine with the embroidery thread color and place embroidery bobbin into the machine.
4. Once a section is completed, you will be prompted to place positioning stickers on the fabric to help with connecting the next section.
5. Follow the prompts on the screen as it walks you through step by step when to re-hoop and scan to connect designs.
6. If this is your first-time using Pattern Connectivity on the Radiance, you may want to do a practice run of the design to get a feel before using your project fabrics.
7. When complete, un-hoop, press and trim up the bench cushion fabric.
8. Set the machine up for Sewing using the standard foot and sewing thread and bobbin.
There is a tutorial videos under the Radiance help that walks through the steps of the Embroidery of this design. There are also printable templates for these designs that can be downloaded on https://babylock.com/radiance#product.info.description
Cushion Construction:
1. Because each bench size could be unique, measure the area of your bench and cut the fabric for the project to that measurement plus a ½” to each side for a seam allowance.
2. You could utilize one piece of solid fabric, but for this bench two strips of coordinating fabric were added to the center.
3. Place right sides together for the side and center pieces. Using a 1/2” seam allowance, stitch a seam using the 1-03.
4. Press the seam open.
5. Re-thread the machine with matching or monofilament thread and attach the velvet ribbon trim.
Note: Be sure to check out the Velvet Ribbon Applique Pillow project that showcases the coordinating pillow project using velvet ribbon.
Bonus Coordinating Pillow:
While the designs for the Large Connect designs don’t allow much in the ways of editing, there is a work around to be able to use those designs in a unique way.
1. Select Embroidery
2. Open Large Connect Category -Embroidery Designs and select the 2nd art deco design. Touch Set.
3. Each design is sectioned into 3 design segments that will be connected using the Camera and Projector on the machine.
4. When you select one of the individual sections, you still get limited options for making changes. However, if you choose a section and save it to memory, when you recall that saved design, you have most of your editing tools back.
5. For this pillow, 2nd and 3rd sections of the large connect were opened and then edited.
6. This is where the embroidery editing tools can really assist in creating a new design. Some of the design sections were turned off using the De-select region feature.
7. Then, designs were resized and laid out to isolate the bottom half of the large connect pattern. See the image below.
8. These designs will overlap to create a new design. Using the de-select region/no-sew will only hide portions of the designs not alter the designs size, so you may need to use a larger hoop than you expect.
9. Note that color sort is not an option with these designs because they are overlapping designs. If you want to consolidate on stitching steps, you will need to manually use the +/- key to advance back and forth in the stitching sequence.
10. Once completed stitching, the fabric was trimmed down.
Creating the Piping (Optional):
1. Attach adjustable zipper foot to the Radiance.
2. Wrap the fabric strip (wrong sides together) around the cording, making sure to position the cording along the fold and the fabric edges together.
3. Take a few stitches to catch the cording and the stitch the entire length of the fabric strip.
4. Set the strip aside for pillow construction.
Attaching Piping to Pillow Front (Optional):
1. Using the adjustable zipper foot, attach the piping to the pillow front.
2. Stitch the piping, raw edges facing out, all the way around pillow front overlapping ends.
3. Be sure to cut a 45-degree notch in the piping at the corners to assist with being able to turn those sections.
Preparing Pillow Back:
1. To attach the zipper, use a straight stitch and the adjustable zipper foot.
2. Baste the two pieces for the pillow back together stitching a 2mm stitch about 1” from the edges and a 5mm basting stitch in the center.
3. Press the seam open.
4. Pin or use tape to secure the zipper to pressed seam, with the right side to wrong side of the pillow fabric. Flip the fabric to the right side.
5. Be sure to open the zipper towards the basted area to access the pull once stitched.
6. Using the zipper foot, stitch around the edges of the zipper attaching it to the pillow back.
7. Once stitched around, use a seam ripper to remove the basting stitches.
Stitching Pillow Front & Back Together:
1. Open the zipper about halfway.
2. Place the pillow front and back right sides together.
3. Use Wonder Clips to assist with securing the pillow front and back in place.
4. Stitch the pillow front and back together.
5. Press both sides of the seam to set and turn the pillow right side out.
6. Insert 16” pillow form.
This pillow and bench collection was created to coordinate and used several features in the Radiance!
