Converting Cutwork files into Silhouette files

If you are a lucky Diva, then you have the Bernina DesignWorks software AND a Silhouette Cameo!  I definitely use the Cutwork tool to cut multiple pieces for my larger projects, but when I need only one wing and one bird body, I use the Silhouette Cameo.

It is easy to convert the cutwork file to a Studio file following the tutorial below. Using the original cutwork file, delete the red basting box and change the cutwork back into a Line design.

Next >Right click>Break Apart

Next>File>Export>to SVG  Name the file Colorful Bird_SVG

Open the file in your Silhouette Cameo software. **You must have the Designer Edition to open SVG files.

File>Import to Library>Select Colorful Bird_SVG (yes, I made two files!)

Next> Load it onto your mat.

Be sure to EDIT PROPERTIES and add your keywords, description and artist name!  Then later on, you will be able to find it easier!

Close "My Library" and the EDIT PROPERTIES panels.  The design comes in grouped and with a compound path.

Next> Select the bird and outside square>Group  

Select>Select the wing and outside square>Group

Next> SCALE the Bird to 3" and the wing to 2"

Next>Make Compound Path SAVE AS>Colorful Bird>Studio

Now you are ready to cut it out!  I iron Heat and Bond Lite t the back of the fabric and peel off the paper.  I cut the fabric pieces to fit in the grid space, for example the bird fabric piece is cut 4" x 4" and place in the corresponding space.

I have the best luck with the following settings on my machine but your machine may be different.

Here is my finished project.  I am not happy with my choice of fabric because it created a spot above the eye.  Oh well...

Next up - a lady bug design!

Creating a Cutwork File

The next step in this tutorial is to create the cutwork file for the bird appliqué. Once you have your final design, it is quite easy to change it to a cutwork file.

The first step is to drag the bird body and bird wing off the hoop.  Follow the directions in the picture to change the shapes to a cutwork file.

I then copy and paste the shapes into a NEW file.  I usually change the Cutting Offset to 0.3mm to make it larger so the blanket stitch covers all of the fabric pieces.

The file will come in grouped and so the first step is to ungroup them.

Using the rectangle shape, I draw a rectangle around each shape and resize it to a basic shape such as 3" x 3".   This rectangle is the size of the cut fabric and you will place your cut fabric in this square.

I always center the designs within each rectangle using the alignment tools. Then I change the line to a Running stitch with a length of 3.0.

I then make a duplicate of the rectangle and reduce the size by a 1/4" or 2.75" x 2.75".  I change the color to red and a running stitch of 3.0 as well.

I combine the blue running stitch rectangle and place them first in the design.  I combine the red rectangles and place them second so they will sew out after I have placed my fabric in the hoop. Then the red stitching will baste the fabric to the hoop.

To combine designs > Select both trays in the sequence manager>Right click on the designs in the hoop>Combine.

The last step is to select the bird body and the wing shape and Combine them. This step will then cut out the #1 blade position in both shapes, the #2 etc.

Notice the trays in the Sequence Manager.  Your designs should look like mine!

I always add these steps to all of my cutwork designs.

Cut the bird fabric - 3" x 3" and the wing fabric 2" x 2".  

Hoop the Medium/Heavy Tear Away stabilizer and stitch out the blue fabric frames.  Cut the fabric pieces following the measurements above. Back with AppliKay Wonder or your favorite stabilizer.  Spray the stabilizer and place the fabric pieces in their respective frames.

Stitch the red frame shapes- this is the basting box. Stitch the running stitch around each shape.

Change to the Cutting Tool.  Be sure to use the Cutwork plate, foot #44C and start with blade turn #1.  Cut away!

If this is your first Cutwork design from start to finish, CONGRATULATIONS!

You may download my Colorful Bird file DRAW here.

Coming next....How to convert this cutwork file to a Silhouette Cameo Studio file.

I love to hear the birds!

My home is surrounded by a conservation area and we have plenty of birds flying around.  Our favorites are the Sand Hill cranes but they do make so much noise!

Today's lesson is using any one of the Colorful Birds, since they are all the same - just different colors!

I selected the orange bird but as you can clearly see, everyone is exactly alike!

You can find the jpg for the bird here.

Follow the same steps as the trowel including resizing the design to fit into the rectangle. This time I did not set a specific size but I tried to make it fir nicely inside the rectangle. As always, I set the "x" and "y" axis at 0 and this centers the design in the middle of the hoop.

I did HIDE the Backdrop because it was distracting.   You can review the steps following this post here.

Today's lesson is a combination of Paintworks and Cutworks using the Bezier drawing tool.

If you need a lesson or a review of the drawing tools, check out the video below.

           

Before I started 'painting', I changed the palette to the Eddings markers.  This way I could select the colors from the paint pens I already own.

I started with the tail feathers and changed the color using the Eddings markers that I have on hand.  I then changed  the FILL to a Zigzag and the DENSITY to 1.30.

I colored the beak red, the feet brown and the eye black.  Remember the Eddings markers are the markers included in the Paintworks tool kit. The numbers correspond with the numbers on the markers.

The first step to creating an outline is to use the Outline tool found in the Drawing tools section.  The hot key is Crtl +F5

Click on the BOTTOM right of the yellow color chip.  A message box pops up and check the appropriate boxes.

Begin drawing your bird outline.

If your design is not as smooth a shape as you would like, you can move the nodes to round it off.

Hit the SPACE BAR and the add an outline to the shape by clicking on the top left line of the color chip.

Follow the same steps for the bird wing but select GREEN as your color chip.

Select Green for the wing and then outline the wing shape. Outline the wing following the same steps as for the bird.

Add a fill and outline to the bird body and bird wing.

The last step is to remove all of the RGB colors.  *This step will allow you to determine what part of the design to keep and what part to delete.  Notice the color chips in the above picture and the picture below.

Select Applique for the bird body and the wing.  I selected a -.03 offset so it will stitch over the edge of the cutwork fabric.  Check Cleaning and Laser Cut. The machine will then add a placement line and stop before it begins the appliqué with this selection.

Here is the final design.

You can download the DRAW final here.

Coming Next... Creating the Cutwork file.