Lesson Three: Why Every Quilter Should Doodle

June 29, 2020

 

Welcome to the Better Machine Quilt-a-long based on my book 25 Days to Better Machine Quilting.(Find all of the previous Lessons HERE.  Sign up for emails of the class HERE.)

Today’s Topic: Why Every Quilter Should Doodle

Good Morning, Quilters!

This is from Dictionary.com:

Hmm…in my humble opinion, Dictionary.com has it all wrong. Doodling is neither a waste of time nor an idle activity!

 

Every quilter should doodle!

 

This week we begin:

Lesson Three:  Start a Doodle Habit

Throughout the week, we will discuss why doodling is important for quilters and explore a variety of doodling options. We will end the week with a small gallery of whole cloth patriotic quilts to celebrate one of my favorite holidays, Independence Day!

Monday-Why Every Quilter Should Doodle

Tuesday-Six Essential Doodles

Wednesday-Make a Transparent Quilt Overlay to Test Your Designs

Thursday-Paper, Electronic and Other Doodle Options

Friday-Quilt Gallery of Patriotic Quilts

Why Every Quilter Should Doodle

For the quilter, doodling serves a variety of functions, including:

The best way to learn a new motif

Develops muscle memory for smoother quilting

Allows you to evaluate quilt design

Sparks creativity

Doodling is the Best Way to Learn a Motif

To learn a new motif, start by reviewing each of the steps.  When learning a motif from a book, trace each step of the motif with your finger.  Then practice the steps with paper and pen.  Practice each step several times before adding a new step.  This allows you to develop the muscle memory for each part of the pattern.  Continue until you can doodle the full motif.  Later, practice doodling a chain of the motifs, just like you would stitch on a quilt.

At first, you will need to concentrate on each step.  Keep doodling!  It is not unusual for me to doodle a motif hundreds of times before I ever sit down to stitch.

Doodling Develops Muscle Memory for Smoother Quilting

When you are quilting, if you hesitate for a split-second, your quilting line will be interrupted.  The quilted line will show long and short stitches or a wavy, uneven line.  It is important to have the steps for the motif clearly ingrained in your memory before you begin stitching.  When you have the motif memorized, you can concentrate on stitching and moving the quilt. You no longer need to think about the motif–just the stitching!

Doodling to Evaluate Quilt Design

Once you’ve learned a few motifs through doodling, it is necessary to see how they will fit into your quilt.  Start by drawing quilt blocks and shapes in your sketchbook.  For example if your quilt includes a nine-patch, draw it in your sketchbook.  Try a variety of ways to use the motif within the nine-patch. Doodle a variety of options–the first is often not the best!  Also doodle ways to travel from one part of the block to another. (More on traveling in an upcoming lesson.)   Check the scale of the design.  Most motifs can be stitched from small to very large.  Practice doodling a variety of sizes to see which suits your quilt best.

Doodling Sparks Creativity

Doodling ignites the right side of your brain and helps create new associations.  While you are doodling, new patterns emerge.  Notice when you doodle a motif and think to yourself “that looks more like….”  Change directions and try to make a new pattern.  (This is how many of my motifs are born!)

 

Light Housekeeping

I am absolutely thrilled with YOUR doodles and quilting as seen in the private Facebook group, Quilting with LKQ.

YOU inspire me!  Even if I don’t comment–please know that I’m am reading and observing everything and will try to adjust the blog posts to accommodate.

I have been reluctant to get involved in the conversations on thread, needles and other topics we haven’t covered in our QAL so far.  We will be spending a lot of time on these topics here  and I don’t feel I can do justice to some of your questions with a short answer.  So please be patient…we will cover EVERYTHING about FMQ!

I spent a lot of time ordering the chapters in 25 Days to Better Machine Quilting.  I arranged, re-arranged, and re-arranged again.  Thread before doodles? but what will we stitch? Doodles before thread? but what thread will we use?  (I used a computer program to move around every chapter.)  Finally, I realized there is no perfect answer-except patience! LOL!

What About YOU?

Have YOU started a doodle habit?

Are YOU having fun doodling?

Have YOU noticed an improvement in your quilting from doodling?

We’d LOVE to hear!

Your Duchess of Doodles,

Lori

PS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of LoriKennedyQuilts 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!You might also enjoy my motif books:   Free Motion Machine Quilting 1-2-3 and More Free Motion Machine Quilting 1-2-3

 

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