BERNINA Corporate Blog -Today we start with a new XXL cushion embroidery project, created in the Giant Hoop of the magical BERNINA 990.
I immediately fell in love with the wonderfully detailed and colorful LOVE embroidery design. The matching embroidery file is available on the B 990.
Materials Required
To make a cushion, you’ll need the following sewing supplies:
- Color-coordinated cotton fabrics
- Thin batting
- Embroidery thread
- Bobbin thread
- Cotton thread
- Piping cord
- Bias tape
- Stuffing as needed
- For the tassels (optional): cotton thread, strong thread, and beads
The cheerful colors make embroidery so much fun!
Preparing the Cushion Embroidery File & Stitching
The quilted background and the LOVE lettering are combined in the editing mode of the BERNINA 990 and then stitched in the Giant Embroidery Hoop.
We start with the quilted background. In the embroidery mode of the B 990, you’ll find the Embroidery Designs folder…
… open the Inspirations folder…
… then open the Quilt folder and select the quilt design Q 133.
Now, select the Giant Hoop from the display overview on the left, visible at the bottom right of the screen.
Your display should now look like this:
Switch to the editing mode (pencil icon approximately in the middle top of the screen). There, reduce the design size to 49%, making it 75 mm.
Check the file using the “Show Start/Stop” function. The green marker indicates the start, and the red indicates the end of the pattern. If necessary, these points can be adjusted using the “Flip Start/Stop” function. In our case, everything fits perfectly, as we will place all subsequent circles below the first one.
The circles can now be duplicated as needed. In our project, we place five circles vertically.
Next, I select all elements using the checkmark at the bottom right of the display, then choose the options “Match Start/Stop” and “Group.”
This grouped unit is then duplicated. To ensure that the thread does not run across the entire design later, I mirror the file Up/Down. This mirrored unit is then grouped, placed to the very left, and duplicated again. The background is now complete! If it is slightly too large for the frame, you can try move it slightly or reduce the pattern size by a few percentage points before marking the entire design.
For the back of the pillow, I hoop a quilt sandwich, consisting of two cotton fabrics with a thin batting layer in the middle, into the Giant Embroidery Hoop. Using matching cotton thread, I embroider or quilt this section. This ensures the back of the pillow also features a beautiful quilt pattern.
For the front cushion embroidery, the “Love” text design is now inserted into the center of the file. You can find this design under Embroidery Designs/Words and Sayings with the name “PK10004-01L” at the very bottom of the folder. Additional elements can always be added via the plus sign in the middle of the display. In my view, the quilt elements are still visible as separate layers. If you want to ensure that the elements do not shift during further processing, you can group them as well.
The front design can now be embroidered. This is done again on three layers consisting of cotton fabrics and batting, as described for the back.
It’s important to always create the quilt background first on the machine before adding the design. If you choose a different order, you can adjust it later in the BERNINA 990 menu by reordering the sequence.
The machine will now stitch the quilt background first, followed by the “Love” text. Additional stabilizer is not required for this type of embroidery.
The front is now fully embroidered!
Finishing the Pillow
Next, I trim both pieces to the same size, adding a 1 cm seam allowance around the quilt pattern.
I create a thick piping using a cord and bias tape. This works wonderfully with the Bulky Overlock Foot #12C. Its deep groove ensures the piping slides smoothly while sewing without slipping.
In the next step, I sew the piping around the pillow front. The seam allowance is positioned outward so it remains invisible later. I adjust the needle position accordingly. Whether you start and finish at the bottom edge of the pillow or in a corner is up to you. Since I’ll add tassels at the corners later, I choose the corners. To ensure the piping fits neatly around the corners, I cut the bias tape slightly at the appropriate spots.
Finally, I sew both pieces together, right sides facing. A turning opening remains at the bottom. Again, I use the cording foot, but this time with the needle positioned close to the piping.
Before turning the pillow inside out, trim the seam allowances at the corners. Then, fill the pillow with stuffing and close the opening by hand.
Tassels
Optionally, you can add handmade tassels to your pillow. Cotton threads work perfectly for this! Wrap the thread around a piece of cardboard. The height of the cardboard will correspond to the finished tassel length.
Once you’ve achieved the desired tassel thickness by wrapping the thread, tie the bundle in the middle using a very strong thread. The EXTRA STRONG thread by Mettler works well for this.
On the opposite side, cut the thread bundle in the middle.
Now, gather the ends to one side …
… and wrap them with a thread, optionally in a contrasting color as shown here.
After stringing a few wooden beads, sew the tassels onto the corners of the pillow.
And that’s it—my first pillow created and quilted with the B 990 is complete! Are you inspired to try such a magnificent embroidery cushion project yourself?
As always, I wish you beautiful and creative hours!
Best regards and see you soon,
Claudia from Il Coccolino
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