Good Morning, Quilters and Doodlers!
Today we are going to learn how to doodle tapered scallops.
Doodling is a great way to improve your free motion quilting skill. In our series, Better Quilting Through Doodling, we are going to learn the basic building blocks of many quilt motifs. Doodling helps develop both muscle memory and visual memory. While doodling does not have the same muscle movements as free motion quilting, there is a direct correlation between the two. The more you doodle, the better your free motion quilting will be! However, doodling will only take you part of the way. You still need to practice free motion quilting. Am I stating the obvious?
How to Doodle Tapered Scallops
Last week we practiced scallops. (See: How to Doodle Scallops )
Scallops are a building block of many quilting motifs. To create a tapered scallop, draw along a horizontal or vertical line, then gradually create the scallop. Complete the pattern by gradually moving back to the horizontal or vertical line. In the photo below, compare scallops to tapered scallops.
Practice Doodling Tapered Scallops
Using lined paper, practice doodling tapered scallops. Doodle some that are convex–the scallop is upward, and some that are concave, the scallop is downward.
Doodle several rows of separated tapered scallops, then try to create a wavy line by connecting tapered scallops. (Hint: This may be harder than it looks!)
Change the Amplitude
Amplitude? A little trigonometry refresher–yikes!
Create tapered scallops that fill two, three or four lines.
Echo Doodle the Line
Next, doodle a tapered scallop and echo the line two or three times.
Try adding embellishments between the scallops.
Taper One Side
Change it up a little by tapering just one side of the scallop.
Don’t stop with just one row!
Double Tapered Scallops
What happens when you combine tapered scallops?
Play, play, play!
Design your own doodles. Do any look like quilting motifs?
Free Motion Quilt YOUR Doodles!
YOUR Assignment: While you are doodling, evaluate your work. Do any of the doodles look like quilting motifs?
Spend at least twenty minutes this week quilting scallops and tapered scallops.
Do you notice anything?
Over time, stitching will improve your doodling and doodling will improve your stitching!
What about YOU?
Are YOU ready to doodle?
Do YOU have your notebook ready at all times?
Are YOU ready to quilt?
Do YOU have quilt sandwiches ready?
(Hint: Open Free Motion Machine Quilting 1-2-3 to page 8 and More Free Motion Machine Quilting to page 7 to find 12 Steps to Set-up for FMQ!)
Happy Doodle-Quilt-Doodle Day!
Your Maven of Quiltoodles,
Loridoesdoodleallday
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. Thank you!
