More creativity with the Brother ScanNCut SDX225

In July 2020, I wrote a series of QUILTsocial blog posts about the Brother ScanNCut SDX225 electronic cutting machine. At that time, I was using a machine the Brother Company had loaned me. I had to return the machine, but I liked it so much, I soon purchased my own ScanNCut SDX225! There are so many possibilities for using it my quilting projects, and this week I’ll be showing you even more techniques and tips for using this amazing machine. I hope you’ll go back and read the previous QUILTsocial blog posts to learn some of the basics for the ScanNCut.

Brother ScanNCut SDX225 with 2 cutting blades, stylus and spatula

There are lots of wonderful YouTube ScanNCut videos I’m sure you’ll enjoy watching. Two of my favorite series showing many different techniques are by Julie Fei-Fan Balzer and Alanda Craft. For a good introduction to the Brother ScanNCut SDX225, be sure to watch Julie’s video on the top 10 favorite features of the ScanNCut.

There’s also lots of information in the ScanNCut manual on the Brother website. You can download the manuals and all the pattern designs.

I know we’re still in the Christmas holiday season, but this week I’ll be showing you some Valentine projects. It is our next holiday and it’s always good to get a head start on these projects.

There are many Valentine-themed designs already available in the ScanNCut pattern library. From the opening screen, just touch Pattern.

Brother ScanNCut SDX225 showing the opening screen

Then touch the picture showing the tree and Eiffel Tower.

Brother ScanNCut SDX225 showing the pattern selection screen

That’ll open up a screen with dozens of different designs. Here are the Valentine-related patterns I found. I don’t think we’ll run out of design possibilities here! All of the designs can be re-sized, so they’re perfect for any project you’d like to make.

Heart designs available on the Brother ScanNCut SDX225

More heart designs available on the Brother ScanNCut SDX225

My first project for this week is a Valentine cushion, and I’ll be showing you exactly how I made it using just two different heart shapes.

Finished Valentine cushion

Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

• 1 piece of fabric 16″ x 16″ for the front of the cushion
• 3 or 4 different pieces 12″ x approximately 9″ for heart shapes (I used batiks because they tend to fray less than regular cotton.)
• 2 pieces of fabric 9½” x 14″ for the back of the cushion
• approximately 1m of light-weight fusible web
• 2 – 3″ x 40″ (WOF) strips for the binding
• 1 – 17″ x 17″ piece of thin batting
• 2 pieces of fabric 13½” x 14½” for pillow form
• Fairfield Poly-fil stuffing

Following the manufacturer’s instructions for the fusible web you’re using, apply the web to the wrong side of your heart fabrics. I like the Steam-A-Seam 2 Lite product because, after cutting, when you remove the paper backing, the pieces will stick to your background fabric for a temporary bond. They’re not permanent until you iron them in place.

From the pattern library, choose the heart shape(s) you like. I chose this one first because it has three different sizes in the one design. The default size is 2.6″ x 2.54″, but it’s easy to make it larger or smaller just by touching the + or – keys on the edit screen. You can also enlarge by a percentage amount by touching the % key.

Screen on ScanNCut SDX225 showing heart pattern

Screen on ScanNCut SDX225 showing 3 parts of the heart pattern

Select each shape, press OK and Set, and the heart will appear on the screen.

Place the fusible backed fabric on the standard cutting mat. I like to use this Brother Brayer to make sure the fabric is adhering well to the mat.

Use a brayer to make sure fabric is firmly attached to the cutting mat

Load the mat into the ScanNCut.

You can see I used an odd-shaped scrap for my hearts, and I wanted to make sure the hearts fit properly on the fabric. I used the Scan Fabric key and my fabric then showed on up the screen.

Touch the edit key to make changes to the shapes

Use the stylus to move the shapes around on the screen so they fit on the fabric exactly. You’ll notice there’s an Edit key on this screen. By pressing this key, you can resize the heart shape or rotate it to fit the fabric better. If you find you have some extra fabric available, you can select a heart shape that’s already on the screen, duplicate it and move it to an empty space on the fabric.

When you have everything where you want it, touch OK. Then select Cut and Start. Now sit back and watch the Brother ScanNCut cut your heart shapes perfectly!

Unload the mat and carefully remove the background fabric first and then the heart shapes. Use the spatula to remove the shapes without distorting them.

Hearts are perfectly cut on the Brother SDX225

The smaller spatula in the picture comes with the ScanNCut. The large one is an accessory that you can purchase. Don’t remove the paper backing from the fusible web just yet.

Use a spatula to remove shapes from the cutting mat

Cut as many hearts as you like using the heart shapes of your choice. There are many options already in ScanNCut library! As you can see, I got a little carried away and cut lots of heart shapes in various sizes.

Lots of heart shapes – all perfectly cut on the Brother SDX225

Be sure to come back tomorrow and I’ll show you how to finish making this Valentine cushion!

This is part 1 of 5 in this series

Go to part 2: Applique hearts galore on a Valentine’s cushion!

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