This week we are going to explore some free motion quilting with a marked pattern from a stencil. This is an easy project to learn to control your movement and stitch length. So join us below the tangled orange thread.
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I have some stencils that I like to use. Since I learned to use them before there was all the neat stuff to do this with, I just use a fine yellow crayon pencil or a number #2 pencil. I am using a yellow pencil to mark on the green center in this Hole in the Barn Door block. But first I have a video that covers what you can use to mark your quilt with.
Two weeks ago I marked my block using a stencil using the plastic stencil and yellow pencil. But my yellow pencil marks had faded and I thought it would be better to not remark the fabric.
This was the stencil that I was using.
I have several quilting pattern books that you can trace your quilting design from or copy it on the copier. I picked this one to use as an example. Creative Designs For Hand And Machine Quilting by Judy Florence, 1996. Only I found a perfect motif that I really wanted to use with this fabric. It was in the section of adding motion to your quilt. In the last diary, http://www.dailykos.com/... adding motion was covered in the first video. We were showed how quilting with curves and movement would complement the geometric design of the pieced blocks. This design seemed to also flow with the print of the background fabric. I auditioned it and liked it better then my stencil from my stencil collection.
I traced it on to my artist tracing paper. I didn't have the gold tracing paper that comes in a roll. I think I was going to buy it several years ago but changed my mind because of the price. I use an inexpensive artist tracing paper that comes in a tablet.
I have a light box that I bought as a markdown. It was made for children to trace on by Crayola. I like it because it is battery operated and I can use it anywhere.
You can use tape or pins to secure your paper stencil to the layered quilt. I chose pins because that was what I am used to. There is also products that you can find at quilt shops to secure your paper down with sticky dots and glue.
I am using a light cream thread through out this quilt for my quilting. This pattern required me to use a free motion foot. It is not a continuous sewing pattern but you do one point section at a time. Be sure to pull your bottom thread up to the top before you sew. This way you can hold on to both threads from the top so you won't get your thread ends tangled in your sewing.
It went very quickly. I enjoy using this type of paper stencil because it is so easy to see on dark fabrics and you don't have to worry about marking lines not washing out.
See how clean the paper pulls off. It just takes a gentle pull and a small scissors to get the tare started. This paper can be found at Walmart and is less then two dollars.
I have only a few little pieces of paper to pick out with tweezers.
I see another design that will work on the gold fabric in this block. So I am off to trace it four times to finish this block. I will stop here today and get this posted. Next time you will see many finished blocks that I have used this technique on. We will also explore all over free motion quilting patterns.