Today’s Topic: How to Add Visual Pop to Your Quilt Designs
Welcome to Week Sixteen of The Better Machine Quilt-a-long based on my book 25 Days to Better Machine Quilting.
Find all of the previous Lessons HERE.
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Good Morning, Quilters!
I’m really excited about today’s lesson on creating visual “pop” in your quilts!
When I first began quilting, I assumed that if I wanted to bring attention (create a focal point) on my quilt, I should free motion quilt that area heavily. It seemed reasonable to me that the more thread on an area within the quilt, the more you would notice it…
Nay, not so…
In fact the opposite is true. The first thing your eye is drawn to is the unquilted areas, especially when they are surrounded by dense quilting.
Once I figured that out, I started to use it to my advantage in my quilts.
Create Negative Space Designs
To create negative space designs, simple draw or trace a shape on your quilt and quilt densely around it.
Sometimes it works best to outline the shape several times.
Another way to create negative space designs is to draw the shape with chalk and add dense quilting around it without the outline.
The Fish Sampler Project
This week we will take advantage of negative space design as we begin working on the Fish Sampler Project. 
Today’s Homework
Choose a central motif idea. The central motif in the Fish Sampler doesn’t have to be a fish. I have used a variety of shapes in the center of this type of quilt, including a circle, a star, the outline of the United States. I even designed a Texas Sampler when I taught at the Dallas Modern Quilt Guild. (Hi Denise and all the DMQG!)
Create a quick quilt sandwich in your favorite color! (You will do your best work when you LOVE the fabric and colors you are using!)
Doodle. Use a stencil or trace shapes in your doodle notebook and practice doodling around the shapes.
Practice circles. Doodle clockwise and counter-clockwise circles to create pebbles. If you are a beginner at circles, try the Dots and Dashes motif to get started.
Are We Having Fun Yet?
I know I am….
Poppin in Minnesota,
Signed,
Lori-pop Kennedy
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 LKQ. For all other purposes, please contact me at Lori@LoriKennedyQuilts.com. Thank you!
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11 comments
Sue Muza
A friend sent me a link to this QAL within the last week. I’ve been looking at the past lessons and was trying to access the video for how to make even stitches. When I click on the link I am getting the Flower Power video. Since the link emphasizes listening to the video, I’m thinking I’m not getting the right one…?
Diana Weston
Lori, this may be a silly question, but I’ve been trying to follow along with your lessons – except I haven’t had much time to practice – but are all these designs ones that can be done on a longarm quilt machine?
Lori Kennedy Quilts
Absolutely!! You can definitely do all the motifs and all the projects on a long arm!
Diana Weston
Ok, I just need to work on my quilting. Hopefully I can get more time. Do you still have the autographed copies of your book?
rosa
Obvious – when you’ve done it… thank you. A good tutorial.
Suzanne
To me, FMQ is the best part of the quilt process. I’m not especially good at it, it’s sometimes frustrating and I may end up removing stitches. Still, I’m delighted every time I complete a quilt. Even though my work is not prize-worthy, just being able to make something pretty and useful is rewarding and makes me very happy.
Karen
Love your good examples. You are one of my favorite inspirational teachers. I have several of your books and have taken your Craftsy classes. I appreciate your dedication to helping so many followers!
WordPress.com Support
Thank you! Means a lot to me!
Phyllis A Arnold
Love the explanation and the example. Thanks Lori!
JoAnn Strollo
You are truly amazing! I’m just starting out and you have me convinced that I can do this ( with lots of practice) Many thanks for the inspiring way that you teach!
Joyce Remley
Thank you for wonderful inspiration; I’m going to try your technique!
Comments are closed.