Good Morning, Quilters!
Welcome back to Tuesday Tutorials! I thought a Ghost would be the appropriate motif–since I’ve “ghosted” YOU lately! SORRY!
(In the vernacular of the day…ghosting someone means disappearing without explanation…) My explanation: EXHAUSTION–following my daughter’s wedding!
JOAN’S GHOSTS
This motif was inspired by an adorable border created by my friend, Joan…
I will always think of these as “Joan’s Ghosts!” Thank you, Joan!!
HOW TO MACHINE QUILT A GHOST BORDER
This EASY motif can be large or small and is stitched in two “passes”, in other words, two trips along the border are required to create each motif.
Begin by drawing two parallel guidelines to keep the motif straight.
THE FIRST “PASS” OF THE QUILTED GHOST
Begin stitching on the bottom line. Stitch a wavy line–some of the waves can be tall, some short, some skinny, some fat…just like “normal” ghosts–they come in all sizes!
THE SECOND PASS OF THE QUILTED GHOST
Stop at the edge of the border and then work in the opposite direction to complete the Ghastly Ghost Motif.
Add jagged lines–some pointing to the right and some to the left for each ghost.
Overlap the lines if necessary…ghosts are see through so it is normal!
That completes the machine stitching of the Ghastly Ghost.
CREATING GHOST EYES
My friend, Joan hand embroidered black French Knots to create the eyes.
In the samples here, I marked the eyes with chalk and plan to do that later.
I’m also going to experiment with a small dot of bleach to see if that works…
A permanent black marker would work as well. 
MORE DETAIL
After completing the ghosts, you may want to add The Spooky Fence (p.92 of More Free Motion Machine Quilting 1-2-3)
Add the fence then closely echo stitch over each ghost to continue the fence line.
I like the back of this mini-quilt, too!
PLEASE SHARE!
Here’s a photo to share on Pinterest–I always appreciate when YOU share on Pinterest!
BACK TO ROUTINE
It’s been a busy year…
Hopefully the rest of the year will be strictly “routine”!
What about YOU?
Are YOU ready for a little Halloween Fun?
Are YOU working on any Halloween projects?
Do YOU have a costume to wear?
Do YOU stay home to pass the candy?
We’d LOVE to hear about your Halloween “routine”!
Signed,
YOUR-no-longer-invisible-friend,
Casper Kennedy
PS…For more Halloween and Fall-inspired motifs, be sure to check out MORE Free Motion Machine Quilting 1-2-3...and get a free “trick or treat” with every purchase!!!
PS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of Lori Kennedy 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!
24 comments
Lu Ann
Just seeing this… I love the ides of using a marker for the eyes rather than beads or french knots, seems more ‘ghostly’. Love your work!
Teri Coha
Those ghosts are the best! Halloween is my favorite time of year. Cane wait to make a table topper
Donna Belisle
Just happy to see you, and the “white-eyed-ghosties, back.
Carol
Just thinking about your recent schedule is exhausting and I, anyway, am just happy to see whatever you create with no expectations of every week, etc. so grateful you are sharing … please do rest
Mich Ke
I spent a couple hours whipping up a Pokemon “Dartrex” owl costume for my 5 year old grand daughter. She was very particular about the details. It coordinates with another Pokemon I made for her big sister last year.
Karen
I’m not that much into Halloween, but my daughter and son in law are big time. This motif is just darling. And you break it down for us to make it look so simple. Thank you for your inspiration
shoshana
what a great reason to be exhausted!!!! mazel tov, enjoy every second.
shoshana
Joan
Thanks Lori, for using my little ghosts in your blog. You’ve elevated them way beyond my original concept and it’s thrilling to see the final result! I’m keeping my fingers crossed that you’ll have a calm and peaceful respite now before all your holiday preparations begin and things get hectic again.
Kerry
Awww they are such sweet little ghosts – who would be scared of those! Lovely quilting Lori.
Jane
Lori, please do not feel that you have been ghosting your readers! Between your mom, your daughter, and the rest of life you have had a full plate this year! I’m reminded of the “mind over matter” adage variation: those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind. This year, as I have dealt with losing two family members (Mom in February from Alzheimer’s and older brother in August from COPD), I have repeated this mantra when receiving occasional snarks and snipes about my pulling back from otherwise usual activities. I dare say most of your readers are happy to see your posts when you are able to do them.
The ghosts and fences are great! Depending on the project the eyes could be drawn, stitched, or sewn-on items including beads, sequins, buttons … Mom’s button stash had some little pearl buttons that would give the ghosts a real wide-eyed appearance.
I am also seeing possibilities for other themes and holiday seasons including bells and pine trees for our December holidays, slight modification to the spikes under the ghosts could become octopus legs for a sea-critters vibe, … oh, the inspirations are flying now!!!!
Granny G.
Eloquently said Jane, I’m certain we all agree.
You have my sympathy. Although 17 years ago, I’ve been there too, having lost my mother and my sister a year apart. May you know the Lord’s comfort, compassion and healing.
Granny G.
Exhausted?!! ONLY exhausted after 2 weddings within a year or so??? I’d be a “ghost” of myself (sorry, I couldn’t help that).
Those little ghosts are just about the cutest thing I’ve ever seen! I love the bleached eyes and the pointy fence behind them. It’s a wonderful motif. I may have to make a Halloween wall hanging with them on it. I’ll need to squeeze it in between the 4 UFO’s I have going but it sure would be fun!
Even though I’m in my late 60’s, I still LOVE Halloween; carving pumpkins, putting up spooky lights, scary decorations and waiting for the “witching hour” when children come around. I love seeing their costumes and their cute faces. One year a brother and sister came around dressed as vampires and they even had perfect vampire teeth! They told me their dad is a dentist and he put temporary crown fangs on them. They were adorable.
Unfortunately in the past few years the neighborhood has changed and we no longer have any children coming by – just none and I miss it. But that’s life and since it’s cyclical, who knows? Perhaps a few years from now there will be a new generation of little ones out trick-or-treating.
Oh well, back to the sewing machine!!!!
Lori Kennedy
We used to get more than 500 trick or treaters–in our new, more rural neighborhood we average between 5-10. I miss it so much!
Hope you are carving pumpkins still!
Granny G.
Oh yes, carving is great fun!
I’d like to apologize for not mentioning your mother in my first comment. It was thoughtless of me and I’m sorry. You’re a very strong woman to deal with so many stressful life events so close together. God bless.
Teri
A bead would look cute too.
Lori Kennedy
Great idea!!!
auntiepatch69
Too cute!
Pam Straub
wondering about using more rounded “bottoms” on the ghosts instead of pointed ends.
Lori Kennedy
Love your thinking! Share a photo when you make yours!
Joy Summers
I like the ghost with the soft white eyes, to me they look more ghost-spooky.
Lori Kennedy
I thought so too–that’s why I think bleach might work!
gladquilts
Love those friendly ghosts. You could use a drop of white acrylic fabric/craft paint for the eyes, too. Thanks and Happy Halloween!
Linda Clark
Re eyes: a small ” circle dot” of white glow in the dark” thread.
Lori Kennedy
LOVE this idea!!!
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