How to Join Split Embroidery Designs
Embroidery designs come in a variety of sizes and patterns for the very large designs are often split into multiple pieces for ease of packaging and use. While it is never necessary to join the pieces of a split embroidery pattern together, many people choose to do so before using one. Joining the pattern together can make using it much easier for some sewers, particularly those who may not be used to using split patterns. It is also harder to lose part of a pattern before the project is completed if the pieces are joined together.
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Instructions
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1
Lay out the pattern pieces so that they are arranged properly. Look for one to five grayed out rows along the joining side of one of the pieces. These rows are the same as the rows on the edge of the other pattern piece and show where the pieces join together. For example, if you have two pattern pieces, the bottom piece might have three grayed out rows along the top edge. If you look closely, you'll see that the three rows on the bottom edge of the top piece are the same as those grayed out rows. This lets you know how much to overlap and where.
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2
Cut off any excess paper borders from the sides of the pattern pieces that need to join together. For example, you want to cut the white border away from the bottom pattern piece described in step one, but leave the grayed out rows. You would cut the white border from the bottom of the top pattern piece. This leaves you with patterns that go all the way to the edges of the paper where they need to be joined.
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3
Carefully place the pattern pieces together, overlapping at the grayed out rows. Since the grayed out rows are repeated on both pattern pieces, you want to make sure they get completely covered up. Use them to make sure you are properly lining up your pattern pieces. You are essentially stacking two sets of the same rows on top of each other. For example, you would take the top pattern piece described already and carefully match the bottom three rows to the grayed out rows along the top of the bottom pattern piece. Once the top pattern piece is properly lined up, you should not be able to see the grayed out rows any more. They should be hidden underneath the same rows from the other pattern piece.
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4
Tape the two pattern pieces together. Be careful not to let the pattern pieces shift as you are taping since you don't want to lose any non-grayed out rows. You can use clear tape and tape on the front of the pattern or flip the pieces over and tape along the back. Either way works fine as long as the pattern pieces can't slip into different positions when you are finished.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure you lay out your pieces before you start taping to make sure they are arranged properly.
If you have more than two pieces, you may need to try overlapping the pieces in different orders to find the one that works. It is not always obvious from looking at the grayed out rows what order the manufacturer split the pieces in, but there is always a way that works.
If you are taping on the front of your pattern pieces, make sure everything is lined up before you put down any tape. Sometimes tape can pull the ink off the paper when removed, even after only having been in contact for a moment, so it's important to make sure the tape is going where you want it to go.
