How To Add Handwriting to Quilts

October 29, 2019
How to add handwriting to Quilts
Good Morning, Quilters!

Today we are going to add handwriting to our quilts. It’s the fastest way to add personality to quilts.

Because cursive is a continuous line (with a few exceptions), handwriting is a natural quilting motif.

NOTE-Today’s post contains a tutorial, a pop quiz and homework!

Continuous Line Design

Most of the letters of the alphabet are continuous line. The letters i, j, t and x require a little modification to stitch.

The letter “i”

To stitch the letter i-stitch the upsweep vertical line and add a small circle on top before sweeping back to the bottom line.

quilt the letter i
The letter J

Likewise for the letter j.  Dot the top of the letter after the upsweep.

quilt the letter j
The letter t

For the letter t, stitch the vertical upsweep of the letter, then stitch down a few stitches.  Add the horizontal bar, then return to the vertical line to complete the letter.

Add handwriting to quilts
The letter x

When stitching the letter x, complete the angled line before returning to the bottom line.

quilt the letter x
How to Connect Words

To connect words in a sentence, return to the bottom line of the text and add a wavy line between words.

At the end of a line you have two choices. You can knot off between lines or stitch under the words to connect to the next row.

How to add handwriting to quilts
Underline to begin a new line
Stitching “Print” Letters

You don’t have to write in cursive.  With a little practice, print letters work too!

The key to print letters is to return to the bottom line between each letter to make it easier to read.

Oscar Wilde quilting
how to add handwriting to quilts
knot off between lines of handwriting
The Pop Quiz

Who wrote the poem  “The time has come the Walrus said…”

What classic novel begins “It is a truth universally acknowledged…”

Who said “Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.”?

Your Homework

Think about the quilt you are working on right now.  Who is it for? What poem, prayer, inside joke, song, or expression could you stitch into the quilt?

Practice continuous line doodling on lined paper.

Later this Week

The quilted handwriting challenge!

And the answers for today’s quiz.

How’s YOUR Handwriting?

My grandmother taught me the Palmer Method of Handwriting–her penmanship was beautiful! Depending on your age, you might recognize the formal posture, position of the paper and the drills.

But don’t worry if your handwriting is not perfect–your handwriting is YOUR personality –and your friends and family wouldn’t have it any other way!!!!

Yours,

Loribe-the (quilted) Scrivener

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 Lori Kennedy Quilts.  For all other purposes, please contact me at Lori@LoriKennedyQuilts.com.  Thanks!

For more step-by-step tutorials and skill building exercises, check out my books:

MORE Free Motion Machine Quilting 1-2-3!

 

 

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