Sashiko Embroidery for Quilt Blocks on the Janome 550E

Video reference: “Enhance Quilt Blocks with Machine Embroidery: LeMoyne Star Sashiko Design” by GUR Sewing Superstore.

If your LeMoyne Star is lovely but missing that jaw-dropping texture, here’s your shortcut: embroider the texture into the fabric first, then cut your diamonds. The Janome Memory Craft 550E and its generous RE36b hoop let you stitch a large Sashiko pattern in a single hooping for a one-of-a-kind block.

What you’ll learn

• How to stabilize and hoop fabric for crisp machine-embroidered texture

• Which 550E settings to choose (RE36b hoop and built-in Sashiko stitch 11)

• The exact order to attach the hoop, lower the presser foot, and start

• How to cut four embroidered diamonds and assemble a standout LeMoyne Star

- Practical checks, pitfalls to avoid, and quick-fixes at each stage

Transforming Traditional Quilt Blocks with Embroidery

What is a LeMoyne Star Quilt Block? A LeMoyne Star uses four diamond units per star point. In this approach, we embroider the surface texture onto fabric before we cut those diamonds. It keeps piecing familiar while making your star dimensional and bespoke.

Why Add Machine Embroidery?

• Texture on demand: stitch a Sashiko pattern directly into your fabric to create visual depth.

• Scale and speed: the 550E’s large hoop (RE36b) and built-in designs cover a wide area in one run.

• Endless variation: change fabric and thread for a fresh look every time.

Pro tip: If you’ve been wrestling with getting a design to fit a small fabric piece, flip the script—make the fabric first, then cut. hooping station for embroidery

Getting Started: Preparing Your Fabric and Hoop

The Importance of Stabilizer Always stabilize before hooping. Iron stabilizer to the back of your chosen fabric; this supports the stitches and prevents distortion during embroidery. Stabilizer is the backbone of even Sashiko lines and tidy corners.

Mastering the Hooping Process with RE36b Hoop 1) Lay the stabilized fabric over the outer hoop. Place the inner hoop on top and slide it down.

2) Engage the clamps at the intermediate position on both sides. This holds fabric while you fine-tune tension.

3) Smooth the fabric taut—but do not stretch it. Taut keeps stitches crisp; stretching rebounds later and can skew the design. 4) Lock the clamps into the final closed position.

5) Use the small dials beside the clamps if you need precise tightening.

Quick check

• Stabilizer is firmly fused.

• Fabric is taut and smooth; weave not distorted.

• Both clamps are fully locked; dials set where you want them.

Watch out Stretching the fabric when you lock the hoop can distort stitch spacing later. If you see ripples or slack, re-hoop now rather than fighting it in the stitch-out. magnetic hoops

Community question, answered A reader asked if you can hoop all three quilt layers (top, batting, backing). This project demonstrates embroidering on a single stabilized fabric layer to create custom fabric first. It does not show hooping a full quilt sandwich.

Prep checklist

• Fabric (the same color you’ll use for the star diamonds) stabilized with an iron-on

• RE36b hoop and the Janome 550E ready to embroider

• Clear table space for hooping and later cutting

Unleashing Creativity with Janome Memory Craft 550E

Exploring Large Embroidery Areas (7.9x14.2 inches) The 550E supports Janome’s largest hoop, the RE36b, at 7.9 by 14.2 inches. That span lets you stitch big designs in one hooping—ideal for creating an entire sheet of textured fabric from which to cut multiple pieces.

Discovering Built-in Sashiko Designs The machine includes gorgeous Sashiko designs; for this project the selection is stitch number 11. These motifs stitch quickly and deliver that classic, geometric hand-worked look—without the hand-worked time.

Pro tip Have a finished, non-embroidered LeMoyne Star block nearby for comparison. It helps you gauge how much Sashiko coverage you want before you cut the embroidered version. janome 550e magnetic hoop

Step-by-Step Embroidery: From Selection to Stitch

Selecting Your Hoop and Design

• On the touchscreen, select your hoop size; scroll to RE36b (7.9 x 14.2 inches).

• Tap the Home icon, then the flower icon for large built-in designs.

- Choose the Sashiko design—stitch number 11. Confirm both the hoop and the design on screen before continuing.

Starting Your Embroidery Project - Mount the hooped fabric onto the embroidery arm securely.

• Lower the presser foot.

- Press Start. The 550E takes it from there.

Outcome expectation You’ll see a clean, consistent Sashiko pattern building across the fabric. Stitch-out is quick for such a large area.

Watch out Forgetting to lower the presser foot can cause stitching issues. Make it a ritual: attach hoop, lower foot, then Start.

Operation checklist

• RE36b is selected and displayed

• Sashiko stitch 11 is active

• Hoop fully seated, presser foot down, then Start

Quality Checks: What “Good” Looks Like

• Before sewing: Fabric is smooth in the hoop; no slack or stretching.

• During stitch-out: Lines are even; fabric remains flat with no puckers forming.

- After stitch-out: The Sashiko texture looks uniform, and the sheet lies flat on the table.

Quick check Hold the embroidered sheet up to the light; the pattern should look balanced across the surface with no obvious tension pulls.

Pro tip If you plan multiple blocks, stitch a larger sheet at once using the full RE36b field so your diamonds match perfectly in texture and direction. embroidery magnetic hoop

Finishing Your Unique Quilt Block

Cutting Your Embroidered Fabric Remove the embroidered sheet from the hoop. On your cutting surface, cut four diamonds for the LeMoyne Star. Accuracy matters—clean diamonds are the foundation of star symmetry.

Assembling the LeMoyne Star Pair the embroidered diamonds with your second fabric color, right sides together, and stitch to form your star units just as you would in a standard LeMoyne Star build. Join the units to complete the block.

Outcome expectation Your finished block mirrors the classic geometry of a LeMoyne Star, but the diamond areas now shimmer with crisp Sashiko texture.

Operation/assembly checklist

• Diamonds cut accurately and grain-aligned

• Seams joined cleanly; points protected

• Pressed block lies flat with no distortion

Creative Combinations: Endless Possibilities

Experimenting with Thread Colors and Fabrics This approach is all about creative play. Vary thread color, swap fabric tones, and change which units you embroider (all diamonds vs. alternating) to reinvent the same block again and again. embroidery machine for beginners

Making Every Quilt Block Unique

• Light thread on dark fabric = high contrast Sashiko.

• Tonal thread on matching fabric = subtle, shadow-like texture.

• Mix embroidered and non-embroidered diamonds for rhythm and focus.

Quick check Lay out a few color swatches before you stitch—contrast choices are far easier to evaluate at the fabric stage than after you’ve cut pieces.

Results & Handoff

What you’ll have at the end

• A sheet of Sashiko-embroidered fabric large enough for your LeMoyne Star diamonds

• A finished block with standout texture in the diamond areas

Handoff considerations

• Keep the embroidered sheet flat until cutting to preserve alignment.

• When piecing, handle embroidered sections gently to protect the decorative stitches.

Pro tip Create a small reference swatch of your stabilized fabric and chosen Sashiko stitch. Keep it near your machine so future projects start with repeatable results. hoopmaster

Troubleshooting & Recovery

Symptom: Puckering or distortion after stitching

• Likely cause: Fabric was stretched during hooping or stabilizer bond was weak.

• Fix: Re-hoop with the intermediate clamp position, smooth to taut (not stretched), and re-fuse stabilizer.

Symptom: Design isn’t centered or runs near the hoop edge

• Likely cause: Wrong hoop selected on screen.

• Fix: Confirm RE36b is selected before starting; reposition if needed.

Symptom: Machine won’t start stitching

• Likely cause: Presser foot not lowered.

• Fix: Lower the presser foot, then press Start.

Symptom: Uneven stitch lines

• Likely cause: Fabric slackened after locking clamps.

• Fix: Use the hoop’s side dials for fine tension control; re-lock and test on a small area first. dime snap hoop

From the community

• Mindset shift (summarized): Don’t force a design onto a small piece—make the fabric you want first, then cut for perfect placement and scale.

• Hooping all three quilt layers?: This workflow shows stitching on a single stabilized layer to create custom fabric; it doesn’t cover hooping a full quilt sandwich.

• Larger motifs?: The 550E offers large built-in Sashiko designs and supports the RE36b 7.9 x 14.2 inch hoop for single-hooping coverage. magnetic embroidery hoops

Quick reference: Buttons and sequence

• Hoop prepared and attached

• Presser foot lowered

• Start pressed—the machine handles the rest

Further exploration If you enjoy experimenting with hooping aids and accessories, you might also research specialty systems and frames used by other embroidery brands and setups, such as hoop master embroidery hooping station or magnetic hoops for embroidery. These can inspire workflow ideas even if you’re stitching on the 550E.