Today’s Topic: Four Fun Quilting Motifs Every Quilter Should Learn
Good Morning, Quilters!
Welcome to Week 8 of our 25 week quilt-a-long based on my new book 25 Days to Better Machine Quilting!
We’ve come a long way already! (Find the updated Machine Quilting Lessons HERE and Sign up for Email Lessons HERE)
So far, we’ve covered a lot of the technical aspects of machine quilting like tension settings and hand position.
Today, we begin to mix in the fun stuff–motifs and quilt design!
Four Fun Motifs
The title of Lesson Eight in THE Book is Four Fun Motifs.
It was a hard chapter to write. The Martingale editors said it was important to keep the book self-contained. In other words, the book should contain all of the information and tutorials to complete the projects. This meant I had to limit my choice of motifs.
ARGH!
Impossible!
No way!
How could I possibly narrow it down to a few motifs when I’ve written two books dedicated to motifs!
Creativity Begins is Easier with Limits
After my private mini-temper tantrum, I realized I like the idea of limits. First of all, that’s how we all learn quilting…a few motifs at a time. Then we learn variations of those motifs and slowly but surely add to our “workbasket” of motifs.
Secondly, creativity is easier when we create limits. Endless possibilities lead to confusion and indecision.
Workhorse Quilting Motifs
So I settled in and chose four fun quilting motifs every quilter should learn.
These are my mainstays-my “go-to” motifs. These four motifs look great on every quilt and answer a variety of quilting needs-from filling a square to covering a background.
We will spend all of this week learning the four motifs and their variations and we will use them in a fabulous table runner!
The Square Flower
The Square Flower is one of my earliest tutorials. It fills a square block uniformly and beautifully. Later this week we will look at ways to use the Square Flower in other shapes and how to stitch variations of it.
The Square Flower can be found:
LoriKennedyQuilts Flower Motif Page
Page 96 of Free Motion Machine Quilting 1-2-3
Page 94 of 180 Doodle Quilting Designs
Flower Power
Flower Power is a very versatile motif and one of my favorite quilting patterns. It can be used as a focus motif or a background fill motif depending on the thread used.
Find Flower Power:
Lori Kennedy Quilts Flower Motif Page
Free Motion Machine Quilting 1-2-3, Page 94
The Twist
The Twist Motif is also one of my favorite motifs because of its versatility. It can fill a border or confined space quickly and easily and it’s fun to stitch once you get the rhythm.
Find The Twist
Lori Kennedy Quilts Motif Page
Free Motion Machine Quilting 1-2-3, Page 40
Silly Spirals
Silly Spirals is a relative latecomer to my workbasket of motifs, but quickly became a favorite. I designed this easy motif to help quilters who struggled with the precision required for traditional spirals.
If you find traditional or Messy Spirals challenging, this is the motif for YOU! I love the whimsical touch they add to quilts–just fun, fun, fun!
Find Silly Spirals:
Lori Kennedy Quilts Motif Page
More Free Motion Machine Quilting 1-2-3, page 126
This Week
Begin doodling and practicing the Four Fun Motifs Every Quilter Should Learn!
(I will create doodle and stitched videos of each of the motifs.)
In addition to the motifs, we will be working on a table runner. You can make your table runner on a quick quilt sandwich–or make it longer to fit your table. If you are making a longer table runner, prepare a quilt sandwich six inches longer than your desired finished quilt.
Your Motif Workbasket
What are YOUR favorite motifs?
Which motifs can you pull from your basket and stitch readily?
If you had to fill a background or a square, what motif would YOU choose?
We’d LOVE to hear!
Your Maven of Motifs,
Lori
PS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of Lori Kennedy Quilts and are intended for personal use only. Feel free to re-blog, pin or share with attribution to LKQ. For all other purposes, please contact me at Lori@LoriKennedyQuilts.com. Thanks.
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