Patent Publication Number: US-8967062-B1

Title: Systems and methods for creating quilt blocks

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/174,614 entitled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CREATING QUILT BLOCKS”, filed Feb. 6, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The illustrative embodiments relate generally to quilting, and more particularly, to systems and methods for creating quilt blocks. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In quilting, a plurality of quilt blocks are sewn together to form a quilt. Each quilt block is formed by one or more pieces of fabric. Creating quilt blocks from a plurality of pieces of fabric typically requires time in developing a plan for sewing the pieces together to form the quilt block. A degree of skill is also required in sewing pieces of fabric together to form the quilt block. Other inconveniences and problems may be encountered when sewing pieces of a quilt and/or quilt block together. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an illustrative embodiment, a method for creating a quilt block with a computerized embroidery machine includes sewing placement stitching on a backing according to a placement stitching pattern provided by instructions for at least partially creating a quilt block comprised of one or more pieces, providing directions for placing one or more pieces of the quilt block on a corresponding portion of the placement stitching on the backing, and sewing the one or more pieces to the backing in accordance with the instructions. 
     According to another illustrative embodiment, a method for creating a quilt block includes securing a backing in an embroidery hoop and attaching the embroidery hoop to an embroidery machine, sewing placement stitching on the backing according to a placement stitching pattern provided by instructions for at least partially creating a quilt block comprised of one or more pieces, providing directions for placing one or more pieces of the quilt block on a corresponding portion of the placement stitching on the backing, and sewing the one or more pieces to the backing in accordance with the instructions. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a flowchart of a method for creating a quilt block with an embroidery machine; 
         FIG. 2  shows an illustrative quilt block; 
         FIG. 3  shows an illustrative placement stitching pattern; 
         FIG. 4A-4C  illustrate a sequence for creating the quilt block of  FIG. 2 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic, block diagram of a data processing system in which the illustrative embodiments may be implemented. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical structural, mechanical, electrical, and chemical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. To avoid detail not necessary to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments described herein, the description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the illustrative embodiments are defined only by the appended claims. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a method for creating a quilt block with an embroidery machine is shown. Unless otherwise indicated, as used herein, “or” does not require mutual exclusivity. In one embodiment, the method is performed by an embroidery machine, but it will be appreciated that it may be performed by any suitable device or combination of devices capable of creating a quilt block. The method begins with the embroidery machine receiving a quilt block (or block) selection from a user (step  102 ). In one embodiment, the block is selected from a list of predefined blocks provided to the user by the device. In one embodiment, the block may be uploaded to the device by a user such that the user may select the block. As will be discussed below, each block typically has one or more characteristics associated therewith; for example, and without limitation, the number of pieces that form the block, the fabrics or materials each piece is formed from, the dimensions of the block and/or pieces, etc. As will be further discussed below, the block may also have instructions for sewing the pieces together to form the block associated therewith including, but not limited to, how to place the pieces down, where and when to place the pieces down, the orientation a piece should be in when a particular sewing or stitching is to take place, when and where to sew stitching, or any other suitable information or instruction relevant to creating the block from one or more pieces. These instructions may be loaded to or otherwise accessed by the embroidery machine when the block is selected. 
       FIG. 2  shows an illustrative block  200 . The block  200  comprises a first piece  202  and a second piece  204 . It will be appreciated that the particular block  200  of  FIG. 2  is used for illustrative purposes only and that any suitable block or block design, having any number, shape, or type of pieces, may be employed and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. This block  200  will serve as the basis for an illustration of the method throughout. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , once the block selection is received (step  102 ), placement stitching may be sewed on a backing to which the pieces of the block will be sewed (step  104 ). In one embodiment, the backing is placed in an embroidery hoop attached to the embroidery machine prior to the placement stitching being sewed on the backing. The placement stitching serves to outline where the pieces of the block are to be placed on the backing. Once the placement stitching has been sewed (step  104 ), piece identifiers may be sewed to the backing (step  106 ). The piece identifiers serve to identify the location for placement of each piece of the block within a corresponding portion of the placement stitching of step  104 . In one embodiment, each piece has a unique identifier and a corresponding piece identifier is sewed on the backing. For example, and without limitation, the piece identifier may be a number, letter, or any suitable symbol or character(s), marking or combination thereof. Alternatively, the different portions of the placement stitching may be identified with different colors of thread when sewing the placement stitching on the backing. Further, in one embodiment, the piece identifiers may also be associated with the order in which to lay the pieces on the backing and/or the order in which to sew the pieces on the backing. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a placement stitching pattern  300  and piece identifier patterns  306 ,  308  for the block of  FIG. 2  are illustrated on a backing  310 . The placement stitching pattern  300  includes a first portion  302  identified with a first piece identifier  306  and a second portion  304  identified with a second piece identifier  308 . The first portion  302  corresponds to the first piece  202  of the block  200  of  FIG. 2  and the second portion  304  corresponds to the second piece  204  of the block  200  of  FIG. 2 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , once the placement stitching and piece identifiers have been sewed, the user is directed to place one or more pieces of the block on a corresponding portion of the placement stitching pattern associated with the piece and identified by a corresponding piece identifier on the backing (step  108 ). The user may be directed to place any number of the pieces forming the block on the backing including only one piece, a plurality of pieces, or all of the pieces. When to place each piece on the backing will be largely dictated by the block design and the order in which the pieces are sewed to the backing, which is, as mentioned, included in the instructions associated with the block selected at step  102 . The user may also be directed to place the pieces of the block on the backing in a particular order in accordance with the instructions associated with the block selection at step  102 . Further, the user may also be directed to place a piece on the backing in a particular orientation in accordance with the instructions associated with the block selected at step  102 . Illustrative orientations include, but are not limited to, right side up (RSU) and right side together (RST). Next, one or more pieces of the block are sewed to the backing according to the instructions associated with the block selection (step  110 ). Next, it will be determined whether the block is complete (step  112 ). If the block is complete, the method will be finished (step  114 ) and the block removed from the embroidery machine. If, however, the block is not complete, the user may be prompted to take an appropriate action such as placing additional piece(s) at appropriate locations on the backing and/or orienting one or more pieces as required to form the block (step  108 ). Steps  108 - 110  may be repeated until the block is complete. 
     With particular reference to  FIGS. 4A-4C , the sequence of steps  108 - 112  of  FIG. 1  will be illustrated in the context of forming the illustrative block of  FIG. 2 . In the sequence of  FIGS. 4A-4C , the placement stitching and piece identifiers of  FIG. 3  have already been sewn in the backing. Also, for the sake of simplicity, the element numbers of  FIGS. 2 and 3  will be employed to refer to like elements in  FIGS. 4A-4C . As shown in  FIG. 4A , per prompting of the user, the first piece  202  of the block is placed atop the corresponding first portion of the placement stitching pattern  200  in a RSU orientation. The first piece  202  is then sewn to the backing  310  by stitching placed about the perimeter of the first piece. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4B , the user is then prompted to place the second piece  204  of the block atop the first piece in a RST orientation whereby the face of the first piece and the face of the second piece are adjacent to one another (i.e. with the back portion of the second piece  204  facing upwards). The embroidery machine then sews the second piece  204  to the backing  310  by way of stitching along a line illustrated with the dotted line  410 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4C , the user is then prompted to fold the second piece  204  of the block  200  over top of the second portion of the placement stitching. The outer perimeter of the second block  204  is then sewn to the backing  310  to complete the block  200 . If the backing  310  has been disposed within an embroidery hoop as previously mentioned, the backing  310  with the completed block  200  thereon may be removed from the hoop. The backing  310  may then be trimmed such that excess backing is removed from about the completed block  200 . 
     Referring to now  FIG. 5  a block diagram of a computing device  502  is shown in which the illustrative embodiments may be implemented. The computing device  502  may be a computer, an embroidery machine, a computer in communication with an embroidery machine, or any other suitable device or combination of devices. Computer-usable program code or instructions implementing the processes used in the illustrative embodiments may be located on the computing device  502 . The computing device  502  includes a communications fabric  503 , which provides communications between a processor unit  505 , a memory  507 , a persistent storage  509 , a communications unit  511 , an input/output (I/O) unit  513 , and a display  515 . 
     The processor unit  505  serves to execute instructions for software that may be loaded into the memory  507 . The processor unit  505  may be a set of one or more processors or may be a multi-processor core, depending on the particular implementation. Further, the processor unit  505  may be implemented using one or more heterogeneous processor systems in which a main processor is present with secondary processors on a single chip. As another illustrative example, the processor unit  505  may be a symmetric multi-processor system containing multiple processors of the same type. 
     The memory  507 , in these examples, may be, for example, a random access memory or any other suitable volatile or non-volatile storage device. The persistent storage  509  may take various forms depending on the particular implementation. For example, the persistent storage  509  may contain one or more components or devices. For example, the persistent storage  509  may be a hard drive, a flash memory, a rewritable optical disk, a rewritable magnetic tape, or some combination of the above. The media used by the persistent storage  509  also may be removable. For example, a removable hard drive may be used for the persistent storage  509 . 
     The communications unit  511 , in these examples, provides for communications with other data processing systems or communication devices. In these examples, the communications unit  511  may be a network interface card. The communications unit  511  may provide communications through the use of either or both physical and wireless communication links. 
     The input/output unit  513  allows for the input and output of data with other devices that may be connected to the computing device  502 . For example, the input/output unit  513  may provide a connection for user input through a keyboard and mouse. Further, the input/output unit  513  may send output to a processing device. In the case in which the computing device  502  is a cellular phone, the input/output unit  513  may also allow devices to be connected to the cellular phone, such as microphones, headsets, and controllers. The display  515  provides a mechanism to display information to a user, such as a graphical user interface. 
     Instructions for the operating system and applications or programs are located on the persistent storage  509 . These instructions may be loaded into the memory  507  for execution by the processor unit  505 . The processes of the different embodiments may be performed by the processor unit  505  using computer-implemented instructions, which may be located in a memory, such as the memory  507 . These instructions are referred to as program code, computer-usable program code, or computer-readable program code that may be read and executed by a processor in the processor unit  505 . The program code in the different embodiments may be embodied on different physical or tangible computer-readable media, such as the memory  507  or the persistent storage  509 . 
     Program code  517  is located in a functional form on a computer-readable media  519  and may be loaded onto or transferred to the computing device  502  for execution by the processor unit  505 . The program code  517  and the computer-readable media  519  form computer program product  521  in these examples. In one embodiment, the computer program product  521  is an application or program module encompassing the method described in  FIG. 1 . In this embodiment, the program code  517  may include computer-usable program code capable of receiving a block selection from a user. The program code  517  may also include computer-usable program code capable of directing an embroidery machine to sew placement stitching on a backing according to a placement stitching pattern. The program code  517  may also include computer-usable program code capable of directing an embroidery machine to sew one or more piece identifiers on the backing according to a piece identifier pattern. The program code  517  may also include computer-usable program code capable of directing a user to place one or more pieces of a block on a backing. The program code  517  may also include computer-usable program code capable of directing an embroidery machine to sew one or more pieces to the backing. Any combination of the above-mentioned computer-usable program code may be implemented in the program code  517 , and any functions of the illustrative embodiments may be implemented in the program code  517 . 
     In one example, the computer-readable media  519  may be in a tangible form, such as, for example, an optical or magnetic disc that is inserted or placed into a drive or other device that is part of the persistent storage  509  for transfer onto a storage device, such as a hard drive that is part of the persistent storage  509 . In a tangible form, the computer-readable media  519  also may take the form of a persistent storage, such as a hard drive or a flash memory that is connected to the computing device  502 . The tangible form of the computer-readable media  519  is also referred to as computer recordable storage media. 
     Alternatively, the program code  517  may be transferred or deployed to the computing device  502  from the computer-readable media  519  through a communication link to the communications unit  511  or through a connection to the input/output unit  513 . Such a transfer may be executed in response to a request from the user for an embroidery application. The communication link or the connection may be physical or wireless in the illustrative examples. The computer-readable media  519  also may take the form of non-tangible media, such as communication links or wireless transmissions containing the program code  517 . In one embodiment, the program code  517  is delivered to the computing device  502  over the Internet. 
     The different components illustrated for the computing device  502  are not meant to provide architectural limitations to the manner in which different embodiments may be implemented. The different illustrative embodiments may be implemented in a data processing system including components in addition to or in place of those illustrated for computing device  502 . Other components shown in  FIG. 5  can be varied from the illustrative examples shown. 
     As one example, a storage device in the computing device  502  is any hardware apparatus that may store data. The memory  507 , the persistent storage  509 , and the computer-readable media  519  are examples of storage devices in a tangible form. 
     In another example, a bus system may be used to implement the communications fabric  503  and may be comprised of one or more buses, such as a system bus or an input/output bus. Of course, the bus system may be implemented using any suitable type of architecture that provides for a transfer of data between different components or devices attached to the bus system. Additionally, the communications unit  511  may include one or more devices used to transmit and receive data, such as a modem or a network adapter. Further, a memory may be, for example, the memory  507  or a cache such as found in an interface and memory controller hub that may be present in the communications fabric  503 . 
     Although the illustrative embodiments described herein have been disclosed in the context of certain illustrative, non-limiting embodiments, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, permutations, and alterations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. It will be appreciated that any feature that is described in a connection to any one embodiment may also be applicable to any other embodiment.