How to Machine Quilt the Honeycomb–A Great Background Fill Motif!

October 30, 2018

Honeycomb, Machine Quilting Tutorial

Good Morning, Quilters!

Last week, our machine quilting tutorial was for these adorable ghosts  .

While it’s fun to personalize our quilts with character motifs, we also need a variety of background fills and allover patterns to complete our quilts.

Today’s machine quilting tutorial, The Honeycomb, is a great example of an easy and quick background or allover fill motif.

CHOOSING THREAD

If you want the Honeycomb pattern to show, use a heavy weight thread in a contrasting color.

On the other hand, if you only want a honeycomb texture,  use a lightweight thread in a matching color

BETTER THAN STIPPLING!

The Honeycomb is a great motif to use in place of stippling or meandering.    And don’t worry if your wavy lines aren’t perfect!  This motif will look still look great!

YOU DON’T NEED A STENCIL

One other note before we get started…Some quilters might use a stencil for this motif.  I don’t recommend it.  It’s too much work to draw every wavy line and too limiting–you can only stitch one size–the size of the stencil.

I only recommend stencils for patterns that are too complex to learn by doodling.  (Though you might want to use a straight line stencil to help draw the parallel lines.)

(Follow along on page 134 of More Free Motion Machine Quilting 1-2-3-or order YOUR copy on Etsy today!)

HOW TO STITCH THE HONEYCOMB

Begin by drawing parallel lines.  The lines can be any distance apart–from 1/2 inch to 2 inches.

I like to use a ruler and the Dritz Cartridge Chalk Holder-one of my favorite tools with white chalk only!  (Here is the Amazon link–but look for it in YOUR store–I’ve never paid $34 for it!–argh!–or try one of the other brands offered on Amazon.)

 

Honeycomb, Machine Quilting Tutorial

Begin stitching on the second line from the left.

Stitch a tapered scallop.  (One of the Six Essential Doodles in More FMMQ 1-2-3!)

 

Honeycomb, Machine Quilting Tutorial

Continue to stitch tapered scallops to create a wavy line.

Honeycomb, Machine Quilting Tutorial

At the top, stop and stitch back down–stitching the mirror image.

NOTE–If you have trouble seeing the mirror image as you stitch the whole line, try to think and stitch this as individual tapered scallops that are connected.

Honeycomb, Machine Quilting Tutorial

Depending on YOUR quilt, it may be easier to stitch this from right to left and left to right rather than from bottom to top and top to bottom as shown.

Continue in the same way to fill a large area quickly!

Honeycomb, Machine Quilting Tutorial

 

Try stitching the Honeycomb motif in different  widths!Honeycomb, Machine Quilting Tutorial

Once you get stitching, you won’t want to stop!

Of course, now that you have a honeycomb, you might want someone to help tend it:

Find The Bumblebee machine quilting tutorial HERE:

The Bumble Bee Free Motion Quilting

And if YOU thought that was fun!  Wait till you see what we add to The Honeycomb next week!!!

YOUR Busy Lori-Bee

Happy Stitching!

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

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