FREE Quilting Patterns, Tutorials, Magazine

Home » PFAFF » PFAFF quilt expression 4.2 » Using decorative stitches effectively to enhance a quilt block

Using decorative stitches effectively to enhance a quilt block

by Jean Boyd

Yesterday on QUILTsocial I showed you how I used the PFAFF Expression™ 4.2 to make an improv wonky house block with a window and a chimney. Today I get to play with some of the wonderful decorative stitches on this PFAFF machine and use them to embellish my house block.

The decorative stitches are all displayed on the flip-up lid. And of course, all the stitches can be made longer, narrower, wider, denser, etc, just by touching the + or – buttons. The possibilities are endless on this PFAFF machine!

Decorative stitches shown on the flip-up lid

Decorative stitches shown on the flip-up lid

When using decorative stitches, it’s always a good idea to put some type of stabilizer under the fabric. My favorite stabilizer is a page torn from an old telephone book. It’s readily available and is easy to remove after stitching. But of course, you can use your own favorite product if you wish.

I used stitch 65 with a variegated thread to go around the roof outline. With the paper stabilizer underneath and the integrated dual feed foot engaged, the stitch came out perfectly. The large graphic display screen shows your chosen stitch and it’s easy to change the width and length by using the plus and minus buttons.

Stitch 65 shown on the graphic display panel

Stitch 65 shown on the graphic display panel

Stitch 65 on the Pfaff Expression 4.2 is used to outline the roof of the wonky house.

Stitch 65 used to outline the roof

I used stitch 2, which is a triple straight stitch, to go around the window.

Stitch 2 shown on the graphic display panel

Stitch 2 shown on the graphic display panel

Stitch 2 on the Pfaff Expression 4.2 is stitched with variegated thread to outline the window of the wonky house.

Stitch 2 used to outline the window

Next, I used stitch 14 on the door and stitch 56 on the grass. It’s so easy to change between stitches on the PFAFF Expression™ 4.2. Just press the number of the stitch as shown on the flip-up lid and everything is ready to go!

And here’s my little improv house with all the added stitching.

Improv house with decorative stitches #65, #2, #14 and #56 on the Pfaff Expression™ 4.2

Improv house with decorative stitching

Come back tomorrow and I’ll show you how to sew the improv houses together and quilt them on the PFAFF Expression™ 4.2 to make a little wall hanging.

This is part 4 of 5 in this series.
Go back to part 3: Making a house a home out of the improv quilting wonky house block

Go to part 5:  Machine quilting improv houses makes for a very pretty quilt

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE...

2 comments

Marie LoPresto October 13, 2017 - 7:26 am

What weight and brand of thread did you use? Your block is adorable. Thanks

Reply
Jean Boyd October 14, 2017 - 9:56 am

I used Rainbows 40 wt #814 by Superior Threads. Glad you enjoyed the post!

Reply

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.