Using the Mirror Feature for In-the-Hoop Patchwork on the creative icon 2

Yesterday, when talking about working on quilting projects with small pieces of fabric, I shared with you how the Integrated Dual Feed Technology on the PFAFF creative icon 2 helped to keep my pieces in place, providing precise, even fabric feeding and eliminating fabric distortion.

Today, I’m flipping the fun! I’m excited to show you how easy it is to use the Mirror Feature when doing in-the-hoop patchwork. With just a simple touch, you can flip your design and add even more variety to your blocks without starting from scratch. And while I’m at it, I’ll also walk you through another favorite tool of mine, the Stitch-out Progress (Go to Stitch) feature. It’s a total lifesaver whenever you need to jump to a specific part of the design or if you lose your top thread…

Preparing Your Fabric Templates for Mirrored Blocks

Let’s get started by tracing the templates! You’ll find the actual-size templates for Block 1 on page 196 of the Embroidery Collection manual. These templates are thoughtfully designed, printed at full size, with seam allowances included and corners trimmed to reduce bulk and awkward angles. Each template is clearly numbered to match the piecing order your machine will follow during stitching.

For today’s project, I’ll make two blocks: one as built-in, and one using the Mirror Feature. To prepare:

• Trace the template onto the right side of the fabric for the regular block.
• Flip the template over and trace it again for the mirrored block.
• Cut out all pieces for both blocks.

And we’ll be ready to sew!

Loading and Mirroring Your Design on the PFAFF creative icon 2

On the welcome screen, tap Embroidery mode.

• Then, click the Help Center icon and open Techniques and Tutorials.
• Scroll to the Quilting Techniques category, and under that, select Piecing to view the options.
• Choose Piecing in the Hoop. In the pop-up window, you’ll see two tabs; scroll to the Content tab to open the built-in block designs.
• Double-click on block 1 to load the design onto the main editor screen. The block will appear at actual size, a finished 5½” x 5½” block.
• To create a mirrored version, simply tap the Edit Design In Embroidery Edit mode, click the Mirror icon. Just one touch, and your mirrored block is ready to go, perfectly flipped without any extra fuss.

Stitching the Original and Mirrored Patchwork Blocks

Now you’re ready to stitch your first block!

• The hooped stabilizer and the piecing diagram guide your placement.
• Stitch the regular block first, then the mirrored block. The machine handles both layouts beautifully, with flawless tension and clean seams.

The simplicity of it all is truly marvelous!

Here you can see the foundation of our in-the-hoop patchwork blocks being stitched out. In the first photo, the precise piecing diagram of the original block 1 design is stitched, clearly marking where each fabric piece will be placed and sewn. In the second image, the same stage of stitching is shown, but with the mirrored version of the block diagram. Both stitch-outs follow the same sequence, but the mirrored layout creates a fresh and dynamic variation, adding even more creative flexibility to your quilting projects.

Using Fabric Glue for More Precise Patchwork Placement

When working with patchwork pieces, I like to make the process even more hands-free and a bit more confident by using a fabric glue stick to temporarily secure each fabric piece. Just apply a small amount of glue inside the stitched shape on the stabilizer; this helps hold the fabric exactly where it should be while the PFAFF creative icon 2 takes care of the magic stitching. It’s a simple step that sets you up for crisp, clean results right from the start.

Handling Lost Top Threads with Stitch-out Progress

But what if, while stitching, you notice the top thread is missing? Don’t worry, there’s no need to cancel anything or start over. The PFAFF creative icon 2 has a smart, built-in way to pick up exactly where you left off. Here’s what happened: I had just started stitching the second fabric piece when I saw the tail thread notification and realized the top thread had come out. Instead of panicking, I tapped the Embroidery Stitch-Out Progress icon. This screen shows the total number of stitches and how many have already been completed.

In this case, there were 58 stitches in total, and the machine had stitched 10 before the thread was lost. A little arithmetic: 719 (the starting stitch number) minus 10, told me to go back to stitch 709. I used the Go to Stitch by tapping the minus button until I reached 709, or I could have simply tapped the number and entered 709 directly. I re-threaded the top thread, pressed Start on the machine, and I was back to stitching without losing my place!

Final Thoughts: Expanding Creativity with Mirror and Stitch-Out Progress

My two blocks, one built-in and one mirrored, are beautifully stitched, with perfect tension and clean, even seams. All that’s left is a quick trim around the edges, and just like that, they’re ready to be joined into a larger project or stitched again in new colorways.

Whether you’re building a bold layout or playing with mirrored symmetry, the PFAFF creative icon 2 makes it effortless to bring your vision to life, block after perfect block. Let’s keep the momentum going, your next favorite combination is just a stitch away!

Exploring the Mirror feature and Stitch-out Progress function today really highlights how the PFAFF creative icon 2 transforms creative ideas into reality with precision and ease. I can’t wait to keep sharing how this incredible machine adds extra joy and flexibility to every stitch! Until next time.

Sincerely,
Olesya

This is part 4 of 4 in this series

Go back to part 3: Quilting a cushion top on the PFAFF creative icon 2 | hands-free stitching!