Embroidery Machine Guide

Design size guide

Quilt block embroidery size

Embroidered quilt blocks are often 6 in (152 mm) finished, with a design about 5 in (127 mm) square inside. In-the-hoop block designs reach about 8 in (200 mm). Embroider first, then cut: start with fabric bigger than the block.

Typical size5 × 5 in (127 × 127 mm)
Width range3.5–8 in (89–203 mm)
Height range3.5–8 in (89–203 mm)
Smallest hoop5 × 7 in (130 × 180 mm)
Machines that fit it61 in our guide
5 × 7 hoopDesign
A typical quilt block design inside a 5 × 7 in hoop, drawn to scale.

Where to place it

Embroider each block on fabric that is bigger than the finished block, then cut it to size afterward. For a 6 in (152 mm) finished block, cut a 6 1/2 in (165 mm) square to allow 1/4 in (6 mm) seams. Draw the block outline, mark the center and the horizontal and vertical lines, and line the hoop marks up with them. Keep the design at least 1/2 in (13 mm) inside the finished edge, which makes a design of about 5 in (127 mm) square in a 6 in block, and at least 1 in (25 mm) from any neighboring design.

Block sizes. Quilt blocks come in many sizes, so the hoop field is the real limit. The Embroidery Library lap quilt uses 6 in (152 mm) finished blocks, cut at 6 1/2 in (165 mm) for 1/4 in (6 mm) seams. Its rag quilt blocks are cut at 6 1/2 in too, but sewn with 1/2 in (13 mm) seams. A design of about 5 in (127 mm) suits a 5 × 7 in (130 × 180 mm) hoop. A block design made to be stitched in the hoop can measure about 7.9 in (200 mm) square, which needs an 8 × 8 in (200 × 200 mm) field. Anything bigger than your field has to be split or stitched in sections.

Fabric and stabilizer. Embroidery Library hoops quilting cotton with medium-weight cutaway stabilizer, sprayed with temporary adhesive so the two stay together. It uses a sheer mesh cutaway when it wants lighter blocks. Sewing Machine Fun suggests a tear-away stabilizer on stable woven cotton, with a fusible interfacing on the back of the fabric. Cut the fabric and the stabilizer larger than the hoop. If you embroider through a finished quilt sandwich of top, batting and backing, the same author usually skips the stabilizer.

Cutting after stitching. Do not trim anything until every design on the piece is stitched and the piece is out of the hoop. Fabric can shift a little while it is stitched, which is why the Embroidery Library projects embroider first and cut afterward. Press the piece, then cut along your marked block outline with a quilting ruler and a rotary cutter. For a multi-piece block, measure 1/2 in (13 mm) out from each edge of the design. For rag quilts, trim the stabilizer out of the seam allowances so the seams fray when you wash it.

Tips

  • Embroider first and cut after. Start with fabric a couple of inches bigger than the finished block, so the hoop has fabric to grip.
  • Print a full-size paper template of the design and lay it on the fabric to check its position before you stitch.
  • Mark the block's center and its horizontal and vertical lines, then line up the hoop marks and move the needle over the center point.
  • Use cutaway stabilizer for blocks you will sew into a quilt. A sheer mesh keeps them light.
  • Press the block before you cut it, and use a quilting ruler and rotary cutter for square edges.

Check this size on your machine

Machines that can stitch a quilt block design

These machines hold the typical 5 × 5 in size in one hooping.

And 37 more. See all machines.

Frequently asked questions

What size is an embroidered quilt block?

A common size is 6 in (152 mm) finished, cut at 6 1/2 in (165 mm) for 1/4 in (6 mm) seams. Block designs made for in-the-hoop use run up to about 7.9 in (200 mm). You can go as large as your hoop field allows.

What hoop do I need to embroider quilt blocks?

A 5 × 7 in (130 × 180 mm) hoop holds a design of about 5 in (127 mm) square. For a design around 8 in (200 mm), you need an 8 × 8 in (200 × 200 mm) field. A 4 × 4 in hoop works for small blocks, with designs up to about 3.9 in (99 mm).

Should I cut the fabric before or after I embroider it?

After. Fabric can shift a little during stitching, so embroider on a piece larger than the block and trim it to the final size once the stitching is done.

Do I need stabilizer under a quilt block?

Usually yes. The Embroidery Library projects use medium-weight or sheer mesh cutaway, and Sewing Machine Fun uses tear-away with a fusible interfacing on stable cotton. Stitching through a finished quilt sandwich often needs none.

Sources