Christmas Quilts-and a Free Motion Quilt Tip

December 7, 2012
Quilt Stencils, The Stencil Company

Green:Red Quilts008

Today,  I am decorating the house with our collection of Christmas candles, figurines, Santas and snowmen.  I have several red and green small quilts that I use as a base for my collections.

Green:Red Quilts006

They add a bright “pop” of color…

Free Motion Quilting

and protect the wood from scratches…

Christmas Decoration with Quilts

Some of the quilts are “free form” doodles…like the red one on top (below)

Free Motion Quilting

while others start with a stencil:

Quilt Stencil

I liked this stencil, but I wanted a square quilt…and the stencil was not detailed enough for me…

Green:Red Quilts001

In the above quilt, I added feathers and a lot of filler to make the feathers stand out.  I also added my favorite–spirals– and lots of other tiny quilting–(you’ll notice no stippling—my brain does not do stippling!)

The next time you use a stencil–(you can find some great stencils at The Stencil Company)   make it your own and go beyond the stencil…(more on beyond the stencil in 2013)

Green:Red Quilts009

Time to run.  My house is a wreck of boxes, tissue paper and bubble wrap!

You might also like:  Ten (Must Have) Stocking Stuffers for Quilters

and Work in Progress: Christmas Gifts

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34 comments

  • Do you have a preferred method or pencil for marking the stencil to start with? There are so many choices and I am sure you have tried them all. And when working with a stencil, how do you decide where and how to start stitching the design?

    • A

      Hi Jan,
      I’m not sure the perfect marking pen does exist: Check out this post and all the comments https://lorikennedyquilts.com/2013/10/25/open-line-friday-does-the-perfect-marking-pen-exist/
      I like Fons and Porter white mechanical pencils and Clover’s chalk wheels–especially nice for straight line and grid stencils. I have started using the Frixion pens–just remember it takes steam to remove them. Many people I trust use them exclusively. As for where to start…as I am tracing the design, I try to look for a good place…but often it doesn’t matter. I don’t have any real advice for you…I’ve had stencils that I could not figure out at all–my quilting was a mess. Two things that DO help: when you are tracing the stencil, fill in the “gaps” in the lines that are there to hold the stencil together. And make sure you can easily see all of your lines. If you have to pause for even a moment because you can’t follow the path, there will be noticeable mistakes in your FMQ. Hope that helps!

  • Tina H

    I sent you a private email with this information. Thank you 🙂

  • Thanks for linking back to this post, Lori — I was MESMERIZED by your green quilt and just had to see more! I need to start making small projects like this for my own home. Not only are they useful and practical, but I feel like a series of smaller, more manageable projects (versus giant bed quilts) would do a lot to increase my quilting skills. Also, I can strategically place a plant over the place where I messed up… 😉

    • A

      Small projects give you the skill and confidence to try the bigger ones. I love all of my little vase quilts. And if the mess us is big…I put a bowl on it instead of a vase!

  • Tina H

    wow, wish they still had that stencil available for sale. I really love it.

    • A

      Tina, Send me your e-mail, we may be able to work something out…

      • Tina H

        Also , I have to say, while searching their website for this stencil I ended up buying about 8 others from them that I liked too. Looking forward to them arriving so I can play with them.

  • Wow, I can’t even imagine how you get that done in a reasonable amount of time. Amazing. It that all by hand? I’m stunned. I’ve done some seminal quilting (strips sewn together, cut and then re-sewn), but that pales in comparison. This is quilting to the max.

  • Wow! Just beautiful! I’m on a bit of a learning journey with FMQ and have never used stencils. I might have to put that on the list for 2013 🙂

    • I am planning to do more tutorials and projects using stencils as well as doodle quilting–check back often! I love to start new projects and ideas in January….more to come!

  • What a gorgeous project! wish I could find a stencil like that!

  • Gee, I don’t quilt but that is really lovely and appreciated.

  • These are just AMAZING. The details are unreal!

    • Thank you!-The green quilt – though small-took a surprising amount of time to quilt. I use it a lot-Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day, etc.

  • Those are gorgeous and what a great idea! I’ve never tried a stencil, but I think I need too. I love that you added to it.

  • Lori, these are just stunning! I really hope to “grow up” one day into as accomplished an FMQ’er 😀 Thanks ever so much for the continuing inspiration.

    • I am flattered, thank you! Learning to machine quilt was a New Year’s Resolution of mine about eight years ago…

      • Jeanne Crea

        I am so impressed! I want to be like you someday! However in the meantime, if you ever decide to make more than you need and sell them…let me know!
        Right now I am immersed in photo projects.

  • I have enjoyed sewing and crafting for many years but about a year ago became interested in learning how to quilt. I ‘thought’ the beauty of quilting was in the top but have come to learn that the back or quilting process has a tremendous beauty of its own. You are truly an artist.

    • Thank you, Judy! It is a good idea to plan the quilting as one plans the quilt top–that way you can leave open areas that just emphasize quilting. Can’t wait to see some of your quilted creations!

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