Flower Variations–The Free Motion Quilting Tutorial

February 11, 2014
FMQ, Tutorial, Flower Variations

 

FMQ, Tutorial, Flower Variations

Good Morning, Quilters!   Thank you to all of you who solved the “Bushel and a Peck” mystery (see more in A Valentine for my Mother…the song is from Guys and Dolls.   Also, I really enjoyed last Friday’s discussion about Quilt Labels.  I will be changing how I stitch my labels now–into the FMQ and into the bindings.  Sad to think we have to be so theft-aware with our quilts!

The Flower Variation Tutorial

A frequent request from readers is more explanation on using the motifs and tutorials in quilts.  In today’s tutorial we begin with  The Square Flower Tutorial and try stitching it in several variations to fit different quilt shapes.

FMQ, Tutorial, Flower Variations

Many quilts employ The Half Square Triangle.  One way to use our Flower design in a Half Square Triangle is to stitch the center of the flower in one of the corners.

FMQ, Tutorial, Flower Variations

The other half of the square could be left with minimal quilting…

FMQ, Tutorial, Flower Variations

Or…another Half Square Flower could be added in the opposite corner…

FMQ, Tutorial, Flower Variations

We can also stitch the center of the flower ON the middle line

FMQ, Tutorial, Flower Variations

Leave the other half of the square with minimal stitching to emphasize the  flower design.

FMQ, Tutorial, Flower Variations

Another common quilt shape is the Quarter Square Triangle

FMQ, Tutorial, Flower Variations

Our flower could be adapted to fill this pattern as well.  Again, a simple outline of the other triangles looks great and emphasizes the Flower Motif.

FMQ, Tutorial, Flower Variations

 We can vary the look of The Square Flower by  changing the position of the center

FMQ, Tutorial, Flower Variations

Each flower has a different look.

FMQ, Tutorial, Flower Variations

This adds another dimension to any square.

FMQ, Tutorial, Flower Variations

The next time you have a shape to fill, try the very Variable Flower on your quilt!

NOTE–This tutorial was stitched on my Bernina 820 (without a BSR) using Robison-Anton rayon thread on top and Aurifil 50 wt cotton in the bobbin using a Schmetz 90 Topstitch needle.  The squares are 4-1/2inches.

Happy Stitching,

Lori

PS…All tutorials, information and images are property of Lori Kennedy at The Inbox Jaunt and are intended for personal use only.  Feel free to re-blog and Pin with attribution to The Inbox Jaunt.  For any other purpose please contact me at lckennedy@hotmail.com….Thanks!

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30 comments

  • Joy F

    This is so inventive. One of my favorites of all time.

  • rascassepoule

    I like this design , thank you Lori

  • Joy French

    Great design, and it really helps me when you show the quilting in various settings. Thanks.

  • Judith

    Your work is so beautiful – it inspires me to keep working at fmq! Thanks so much for sharing Lori!

  • Marianne

    This is really lovely, and looks doable. It’ll be fun to try!

  • Once again, your lovely stitching has inspired us. Thanks so much!! I learn so much from your blog!!!!

  • Amazing quilting. Thanks for sharing, I’ve yet to master the art of FMQ, but will give these a try.

  • Wonderful design. Now I know what to put in those half square triangles! Thanks, Lori.

  • Great idea and so clever… thanks…

    Hugz

  • Love the square flower and all the ways you show to do it. Thank you sooooo much for your tutorials.

  • Roxanne

    Another awesome quilt motif. And done without the BSR, now I’m really jealous! wow. Love this.

  • Loved this square flower! And what timing. Just finished a quilt and was trying to think up a flower design for the small squares and voila! Thank you so much. Sue

  • Bluebonnet

    You are the best! Thank you for helping us with your fantastic solutions.

  • Wow! Just brilliantly simple and strong design. Thanks.

  • Pat Rime

    How about a snowflake filler for hexagons? I’m still stuck in winter for another 2 or more….
    Thank you Lori, for these ideas.

  • Theresa Sanders

    Hi Lori, I’m looking for a fairly simple design to use for a very busy 7″ blocks log cabin quilt that has 144 blocks. I think since there are so many seams that I don’t want it to get stiff with stitching.I bet you have an idea 😉

    • A

      Hi Theresa, Check out the log cabin I did–it’s the first quilt in my Trunk Show (Top Header under quilts) That pattern worked very well for crossing the seams. If you need help figuring it out, let me know…

      • Theresa Sanders

        Thank you for that idea! I should mention that this is a wedding quilt for my daughter and son-in-law who live and work in West Africa half the year and northern Colorado the other half. So it reflects their life at the ocean, forest and mountains going from blues to greens to browns to blue again for the water. So the wavy motif would be nice. Do you think I should keep it simple because of all the color changes and such?

        • A

          Simple is always best. Also, look for continuous line designs that go across the seams, so your stitching doesn’t “fall in” the seams.

  • Dalvinder

    Brilliant adaptations Lori.

  • Thankyou for that tute Lori, I will post it around! I would love some ideas for filling circle shapes, if you feel like posting some more inspiration!

    • A

      Circles sound fun! Not something we’ve done before. I’ll do some doodling and try a tutorial…

  • Charlie

    You are so great to show the designs that you are quilting, I love these square flowers, will have to try them soon, love your blog, thanks for all you do!

  • AND THAT my friends is why I find myself wishing for more than one Tues. in my week. I would have never moved the center on my own…that is just too cute and very awesome. Thanks for rocking my little square box…how do you come up with this stuff..what inspires you? It’s working whatever it is. 🙂

  • Kathy

    Very cool! Thanks Lori!

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