Free Motion Quilt Tutorial-The Pine Bough

December 3, 2013
Free Motion Quilt, Tutorial, Pine Bough

Free Motion Quilt, Tutorial, Pine Bough

Today is Tuesday and at The Inbox Jaunt that can only mean one thing–it’s free motion Tutorial Time!

I hope you have had a jolly time stitching The Holly Leaf and The Candy Stripe free motion quilt motifs.  The Pine Bough is a great addition to Christmas quilts as well.  The Pine Bough free motion quilt pattern can be stitched in a row, or in a group with a few berries…and it looks great paired with The Holly Leaf.

Free Motion Quilt, Tutorial, Pine Bough

Begin by drawing three”rails” equidistant apart.  In the sample below, the rails are 1/2 inch apart.

Begin stitching on the center rail.  Stitch a straight line at approximately a 45 degree angle to the left rail.  Stop and stitch back to the center rail.

Free Motion Quilt, Tutorial, Pine Bough

Repeat and stop at the center rail.  You now have two “needles” on the pine bough.

Free Motion Quilt, Tutorial, Pine Bough

From the center rail, stitch at a 45 degree angle to the right rail.  Stop here.

Free Motion Quilt, Tutorial, Pine Bough

Stitch back to the center rail and repeat to create another “needle”.

Free Motion Quilt, Tutorial, Pine Bough

Continue to the left with two more needles.

Free Motion Quilt, Tutorial, Pine Bough

As you stitch toward the top of the bough, make the needles a little shorter (don’t stitch all the way to the right and left rails).  This gives the bough a nice shape.

At the top of the pine bough, stitch one center needle–straight up and down on the center rail.  From here, you may begin the next pine bough by stitching right and left again, (see photo above)…Or close the bough by stitching to the tip of the needle below (see photo below)

Free Motion Quilt, Tutorial, Pine Bough

Or stitch through the center of the bough to begin a new leaf at the base.  Add a few berries, The Holly Leaf and a ribbon twist….

Free Motion Quilt, Tutorial, Pine Bough

Wouldn’t this look lovely on the corner of a napkin?  or in the corner of any Christmas quilt? Hmm… If I get the house decorations all up today… I could embellish a few…  22 days…

***FYI–This tutorial was quilted on my Bernina 820 (without a BSR).  I used Sulky 40 wt on top and Aurifil 50 wt in the bobbin.

Later this week…Stocking Stuffers for Quilters, Works in Progress, and I have several fabulous GIVEAWAYS for December!

Stay tuned…

Lori

PS…All photos and tutorials are the property of Lori Kennedy at The Inbox Jaunt and are for personal use only.  Any commercial use requires permission of the author…

PPS…Yes, I AM working on THE BOOK...writing every day and investigating publishers….

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20 comments

  • Elise mignon

    Your quilting tha you do is wonderfull . I love it.

  • Lovely design and not one that I have seen. If you are thinking of doing a book, I have heard from 2 authors that C&T is great to work with. Good luck!!

  • sillyandrea

    LOVE it.

  • Anna Maria Quagliero

    Thank you for this clear freemotion ! I’ll try to do it !!!

  • Your Tuesday motif is the highlight of my day! I missed yesterday as I am frantically piecing a quilt I want DONE by Friday. I am passed the days I could quilt all night, so the days are STUFFED. Filing away your Christmas motifs in my brain till next yr. I am going to make Christmas quilts for my kiddos. Glad to hear about the book! VERY glad!

  • You are very accomplished! Such a clever design, too.

  • Robin kinley

    Lol, don’t have my decorations up yet either! Too busy doing quilty things. Thanks for all your lovely designs and techniques.

  • Bonnie Reed

    Lori, YEAAA! About the book. Hope it goes well. Quilters NEED a book from you! What a great fmq reference it will be! Thanks for another great design!

  • Helen Stewart

    I’m so glad I came across your blog-I love your freemotion tutorials and look forward to your bookQ

  • So glad to hear about a book coming. The experience must be daunting, but you have so many supporters patiently waiting. Thank you for all your efforts!!! Thank you for sharing your talent with us, your encouragement and all the tutorials. I’m a better free motion quilter because of them. Have a very merry Christmas!

  • LINDA

    HELLO, love your tutorials! I’m sure to save+use today;s>so pretty!
    All the best as you progress with your new book!
    MERRY CHRISTMAS!

  • Thanks for the new greenery! Going to give them a try, love the little motif with the holly and berries and pine. You mentioned to let you know when we got my sewing table done. Well it’s done and I love it…I have pics on instagram or could email some if you want to see it. 🙂

  • Oooo I’m loving this pine bough!
    Wishing you all the very best and much success with your THE BOOK adventure, cheers!
    Have a great day.
    Always, Queenie

  • Wow, that is really nice. I love the simplicity of it! Thanks

  • so HAPPY to have discovered your blog!!! just the help I have been looking for,but I can’t decide which motif to start they are all so nice.

  • Roxanna

    I am so happy to hear about you writing a book. I want to be first in line to get yours!!!

    • A

      Thanks for the encouragement! The process is rather intimidating, but your kind words give me the courage…

  • Hi Lori, I do our Guild’s newsletter and will be writing about your blog. Could send me a jpeg of an image for one of your free motion designs? It would make it look enticing!

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