Good Morning, Quilters!
We have lots of FREE quilting today!
CRAFTSY ALL YOU CAN VIEW DAY
Today is Craftsy’s FREE All-You-Can-View Day! Members can watch as many videos as they want–all day–for FREE! Sign Up HERE and get access to Craftsy’s entire 1200 course catalog--ends tonight at 12:00PST.
Be sure to check out my machine quilting classes:
Divide and Conquer: Creative Machine Quilting
Creative Free Motion Techniques: From Doodle to Design
“I LOVE HOME” BLOCK OF THE MONTH GIVEAWAY
Win! Win! Win! a fat quarter bundle of this gorgeous fabric by Sarah J. Maxwell!
It is time for our September “I Love Home” Block of the Month giveaway–and time to start quilting Block 2.
BLOCK TWO PATTERN
Pop over to Jacquelynne Steve’s Art of Home to download the pattern.
For my quilt, I changed the color way so I can add the house pattern in free motion quilting.
TIME TO DOODLE
The best time to begin planning the machine quilting is while you are piecing the blocks. I like to draw the shapes to be quilted onto a note pad and doodle quilt ideas while I’m watching TV.
It’s a great way to try out ideas before stitching.
DOODLE IDEAS
I recommend you draw the basic house and then look at different motifs to decorate. (HINT: There are a wide variety of motifs available in Free Motion Machine Quilting 1-2-3: Easy Loops, Scallops, Hearts, Tulips, Dizzy Daisy, The Basic House, Trees…. Get a signed copy (along with a little surprise) from my Etsy shop HERE
SLEEP ON IT
It is best to doodle on several different days. The first design is rarely the best design and by working over several sessions, you allow your subconscious to work on it as well!
WIN! WIN! WIN!
To win the fabric bundle,please leave a comment. Tell me…Do YOU doodle before you machine quilt? Has YOUR subconscious ever solved a problem or helped you with a design? Do you do your own quilting? Or just say “Hi!”
(To leave a comment, click on this comment symbol next to the blog post title…It looks like this: (it may have a different number)
MORE CHANCES TO WIN
See more about Block Two and earn more chances to win by visiting these fabulous quilters:
- The Crafty Quilter
- Designs by Sarah J
- Farmhouse Quilts
- Penguin and Fish
- Podunk Pretties
- The Quilting Nook
- The Sewing Loft
KEEPING BUSY
That is a lot of quilting to keep you busy!
Speaking of busy…I’m off to Madison, Wisconsin for The Quilt Expo! Please join me for a little machine quilting. I will be demo-ing (is that a word?) a variety of machine quilting motifs each day at 11:30. Hope to see YOU there!
Signed,
The Happy Home-Doodler,
Lori
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!
314 comments
Ellen
Perfect timing! I haven’t seen all summer because I have been busy moving….now it’s time to get back to quilting 3 quilt tops that are ready and almost ready! I’m a little rusty, so the practice will be helpful. I like the idea of drawing the pieces block and practicing on it. And the fat quarters are whetting my appetite for my next project!
Joni Keskey
Yes, I doodle often before quilting. I also keep a notebook of fmq designs. Helps when I’m stuck, wondering what to quilt sometimes.
Evelyn
Just purchased a bound sketch pad so I can keep track of my doodles – need to be less critical of my doodles – it is better to finish than to wait until it is perfect!!
shoshana vogel
yes i try to doodle, but i can’t draw at all and it always looks so not good that i just go ahead and quilt the idea and it looks much better! thank you for all your great ideas and help every day.
shoshanas
Deb Kienow
I am not a doodler. I have a hard time letting go and playing I guess. I have tried to practice with a small white board and a marker. I am getting a bit better, but definitely not something to write home about. I do lots of problem solving with my subconscious. The best solutions come to me in the middle of the night or in the shower. Love how that works sometimes. Thanks for the give away! Can’t wait to see your FMQ of the houses!
Bridget
I feel hopeless at planning an overall quilting design , although your ideas help me so much! (and my friends don’t complain about the quilts…) I DO wake up planning quilts, and solve construction problems in my sleep. And I so love home — in every way. The fat quarter bundle is darling!
Liz Wingler
I doodle all the time and save the ones that are quilt worthy. Therefore, I have quite a stack of scrap paper that looks like trash but is really important!
Regina Harris
I am beginning to doodle on paper to decide on a machine quilt design — I find it helps work out the best pattern. Once I decide on a doodled design on paper, I add arrows so I know the best path for machine quilting.
doni boyd
Please enter me for the fabric bundle – I’ve been using my ‘text’ fabrics and have created a little corner in my bin for MORE!! Tee-hee! When practicing my free motion quilting I use a white board. It gives me the approximate size and motion. And it’s easy to erase. The one draw back is no record. Although one could take a quick picture and save that!! doni @ smokey Oregon coast
Louise Haddon
I need to doodle more but I do pratice first. Decideing on a quilt design is the problem. Thats why I have more tops then completed quilts. Looking forward to seeing you on Sat!
susanstitch
Yes, I doodle, but not with as much detail as you! I have to play around a LOT before I can finally decide what pattern to put on the quilt itself. Heaven forbid I get it ‘wrong’ — when of course there IS no wrong….
Wendy
I do not do my own quilting. I haven’t gotten into the doodling mode yet but I love what you have done. Can’t wait to see your finished project! Thanks!
Martina
Oh I love doodling and such a great idea to use this instead the applique!
Mary Stewart
Yes I doodle. I’m not good at it but it’s fun. I do mostly straight line quilting. I’m going to be brave and try using some of my doodles. Wish me luck! lol
Laura
I haven’t doodled, but I have Zentangled with FMQ. Sure hope I win the text fabric so I can put my thinking cap on and use it for fun.
Debbie
I love your doodling!!! Hadn’t thought of quilting the houses but that’s a great idea. Might be fun to try that with the leftover fabric.
Judy Chastain
I do doodle before I quilt! Love your doodled houses.
Esther Grimes
I have only ever done FMQ stippling. I keep checking out your blog, hopefully soon will venture out to something more creative.
Jan Christine
I usually do a combination of doodling and working with the patterns that emerge on the quilt as it changes. Sometimes the design becomes the movement of the blocks and colors. The thread color also works within the design as shadow and light.
Diane Mahoney
Yes I doodle to get a design into my head. Have your book and your classes and would love to win this fantastic fabric. Thanks. Your tips give me courage.
Rochelle Wiese
I like to research sayings that go along with the quilt and use those for my overall machine quilting design. It’s fun for the recipient to read them and see what my thoughts about them are!
Sandy May
Definitely not a doodler. I can barely do a wavy line, but I like to follow your thought processes.
swalker287 (at) aol (dot) com
Betty M
Love block 2 also. I too plan some variations like doing more free motion quilting than embroidery. Wish I could join you in Madison but alas not this year. So sad about Nancy, made me cry.
Pam Jolly
I do quilt most of my quilts. I still need to learn how to machine quilt a large quilt on my domestic machine.
WordPress.com Support
Definitely a challenge. I am working on a Craftsy video to help with this problem.
Cathy L Wilson
I try to doodle but get discouraged when what’s in my head doesn’t match what comes out of my pen! I just have to keep trying!! I often get subconscious solutions to quilting problems, especially in dreams.
WordPress.com Support
Yes–keep doodling and dont judge your doodles! It gets better every day!
Carol
Lori, I do all my own quilting and I doodle all the time. I have been told that I even “air” doodle in my sleep! I rarely decide on a quilting motif quickly. It takes many doodles and trial and errors, reviewing books and You Tube videos before I finally decide! I love your blog, BOMs, and tutorials. Thank you for all of your hard work!
Jane
I’m definitely a doodler! I have a sketchbook, but will also doodle on whatever is at hand, including envelope, junk mail, notepads, and the notebooks I take to guild meetings and support group. Those latter doodles usually get torn out and stapled into the sketch book. I’m not sure if it’s my subconscious, but like others who have already posted, some of my best ideas occur in the shower, doodling in the steam on the glass. I also enjoy doodling on orphan blocks, and often use the results for mug-rug or hot-pad gifts. So far I have done my own quilting except for a very large Christmas tree skirt, which was quilted by my neighbor / friend / favorite teacher. Fabric selection and quilting are my two favorite parts of quilt-making. With the first part anything is possible. With the last part I get to complete the story the quilt is telling. Thank for the continued inspirations and encouragement. (janeherbst at roadrunner dot com)
Terri
I love your blog. I made a quilt for my granddaughter using motifs from your blog. I absolutely love how it turned out.
Yes, I doodle before I quilt. I do my own quilting. It’s a journey in improving my quilting and using stippling very little; besides I’m hopeless at stippling! That why I love you so much!
Jayne P
I’m just starting so I will take your advice and use a sketch pad first to get a feel for the movement. I love your blog. Thank you for all your advice and encouragement
Elaine
I don’t always find that my doodling and quilting look the same. I like to make copies of a quilt pattern after I finish piecing the top to doodle over the pattern. I can audition different designs without any worry about ruining the quilt. So, I guess I doodle before I quilt, but I hope one day my quilting will look as neat as my doodles.
Tara A
I do my own quilting. I do doodle if I’m going to try to free motion.
Anna
I try to doodle to begin with, but I usually do it on a scape fabric sandwich rather than with pencil and paper. I admit it isn’the always the best idea.????
bookboxer
I’ve never done machine quilting except for quilting in the ditch … and I’ve done that only once!
Karen A
I doodle all the time. It really helps me for free motion quilting.
Ellene
I doodle before I quilt a new design. It definitely helps with muscle memory. Also “sleeping” while trying to come up with how to quilt a quilt top really unlocks my creativity. Usually if I wait long enough the tincture of time produces the perfect design to quilt!
Cari Janssen
Enjoy doodling BUT usually trying to replicate your ideas..thanks so much! Hope to see you at Madison.
Katherine K Morvay
I don’t often doodle and I let others finish my big quilts. It’s the quilt design, color selection and piecing that I enjoy the most. I will be finishing the “I Love Home” quilt myself, though.
Joanne Adkins
I often solve through my subconscious, but if I wake up with the solution, I have to write it down or I’ll forget it!!LOL.
Fireside Quilter
I almost always hand quilt and my doodling is very simple but I do doodle.
Linda Copas
I always doodle,but I am still a hand quilter. I find it so relaxing, and in the cooler weather, it’s so nice to have in my lap!
Carolyn Dell
I do wake up in the middle of the night with a solution to my quilting problem. It is a good solution most of the time. ha ha !!
auntiepatch69
I’m a new quilter and I have 3 quilt tops ready to be quilted. I just haven’t “stepped up” to quilt them.
Doreen Thompson
I am trying to let my mind go and doodle, but it seems to be locked up! Still practicing!
Karen
I do my own quilting and mostly, so far, have done free motion on my Viking. I am trying to learn how to make better use of my long arm machine – like getting better at setting the tension right, etc. so as not to break threads or get loopies on the back side. I find it helpful to doodle a few different patterns to choose the most appropriate design before I start quilting. I prefer not marking the quilting design on the quilt, but on the long arm have issues keeping the design size consistent.
Nancy R
I doodle the pattern I think I want to see how hard it is and whether it might look good. And then I try another. I also start trying to envision how to quilt a quilt as I am making it. I do my own quilting. I rarely do just doodling for the sake of doodling.
Joyce Swift
I doodle and then I also practice quilting on a prepared piece of fabric with batting and backing. It is interesting to see how things change along the way.
Nancy Goeben
I doodle, but my fmq looks better than the doodles. Large quilts I get quilted by someone. I keep a notebook with the doodles so when looking at a project I can look for something that might go with the project.
Mary Grass
Yes, I love to doodle. I save all kinds of quilting ideas in a folder and also take pictures of quilting motifs on my iPad. I first doodle on paper and then I move to practice on mini quilts.
Laura Hambleton
I am glad that I found you ! I found you on Craftsy and thought I’d try your class. I enjoyed it so much that I ended up taking both! I started doodling and I believe it really helps. I look forward keeping up with you on the blog. I love the bundle of fabric, it looks so fresh and Yummy! And the BOM is neat, I love houses, they are fun!!
carolejm
I do! Not every time but some things just call for it!
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