More Machine Quilting Design Tips

January 12, 2021

Today’s Topic:  More Machine Quilting Design Tips

Welcome to Week Twenty Four of The Better Machine Quilt-a-long based on my book 25 Days to Better Machine Quilting.

Find all of the previous Lessons HERE.

Sign up for emails of the class HERE.

Join the private Quilting with LKQ Facebook Group HERE

Claire’s Peony and Split Peony from book, Free Motion MQ 1-2-3
Good Morning, Quilters!

Yesterday, in How Should I Quilt This?  we discussed a few machine quilting design decisions.

First, choose Custom or Allover quilting.

Choose a motif or two and start doodling.

Create thread samples.

Today we will review a few quilt design principles for machine quilting.

Quilt fail–Oak leaves barely noticeable
Design Tips for Machine Quilting
Prints Conceal, Solids Reveal

While choosing motifs, remember prints conceal machine quilting, while solids show off machine quilting.  If you are not confident as a quilter, choose a print backing fabric, on the other hand, when you want to show off an elaborate quilt motif-be sure it is on a solid fabric.  Don’t waste your quilting effort where the motif won’t show well.  Keep quilting lines simple where the quilt top is heavily patterned and where the fabric is a busy print.  Create more interest on solid blocks by designing more elaborate motifs.

Lacks sufficient, color, shape and/or density contrast for full effect
Contrast

Contrast creates focal points.  In quilting, there are three types of contrast:  Density, Color and Shape.

Place dense quilting around more open motifs to create good contrast.

Stitch curvy shapes near linear shapes for shape contrast.

Use thread in a color that contrasts well with the background fabric for more focal interest.

Density, Shape and Color Contrast
Focal Point

Stitch less on focal points within a quilt. Stitch densely around the focal point.

Dense stitching around unstitched colored squares makes the squares more prominent
Repeat and Vary

Choose just a few motifs and repeat them with slight variations to create a cohesive quilt design.  (Bonus–you don’t need to learn a lot of motifs for any given quilt.)

Full size “Claire’s Peony” in the center of the block

Claire’s Peony variation–half motifs quilted in the border
Scale

The scale of the motif is also important.  When free motion quilting a large quilt on a domestic sewing machine, the scale is usually smaller than if the quilt is completed on a longarm.  We quilt smaller, because it is hard to move a large quilt in large sweeping motions.  However, there is a range from microquilting to medium quilting possible.  Audition a variety of sizes for each motif using a vinyl overlay. 

And be sure to do a test drive to be sure you can quilt in the desired scale.

Use a vinyl overlay to test scale
Doodle Your Design

I haven’t been harping on doodling lately…

Doodling is essential for better machine quilting.  (This reminds me-I should return to weekly doodle lessons–yes? no?)

Here are two doodle lessons you might find helpful this week:

Doodle Large Scale

Doodle Negative Space-to Create Focal Points

This week’s project

This week we will work on a table runner.  Details tomorrow.

In the meantime, look at your table and choose a width and length.

Choose a solid fabric for the top and a print for the back.

We will also need two threads: one contrast, one matching the fabric on top. (And two 50 wt bobbin threads to match the threads.)

May your day be filled with creativity,

Your quilt designer,

Loredna Mode

 

 

 

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!

Visit my Etsy shop: LoriKennedyShop for all of my books!  They are ALL bestsellers!

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16 comments

  • Love your doodles, the potential book of whole cloth patterns and all your great help as I take baby steps in this wonderful world of quilting. Among all my emails yours is the one I look forward to!!

  • Cathy B

    What a great series this was! Of course I am still behind but gaining on it while learning so much! Thanks so much, seeing the series is a wonderful add to your lovely book. What’s next! I can’t wait! Yes, definitely more daily doodles, they really loosen up the look of the chosen design. Can’t believe I can finally do this, thanks to you! Cathy B

  • Hi! I also just discovered you… Such great information! Weekly doodles – yes please!!

  • Vicki

    Hi Just ‘discovered’ you – my head is still spinning. Love the inspiration. Weekly doodles – yes please!

  • Edna Khalifeh

    I really want to get a little organized so I can finally start on the 25 days book 🙂 So funny you have Edna E Mode there, my name really is Edna E, wasn’t able to convince DH to change our last name to MODE, hehehe

  • Alice

    I have all your books and m all the time. I would love an entire book devoted to your whole quilt theme designs like the drawing in this column. I love all of them and think a book devoted entirely to your process using reference to designs in previous books would be great.

    • WordPress.com Support

      Hi Alice, Thank you for this suggestion. I’ve considered a book of whole cloth patterns but wasn’t sure people would be interested. I will revisit the idea!

  • Marianne

    Thanks and yes, I would like you to return to weekly doodles.

  • Jenny Garcia

    I love Edna…she’s my screensaver. Only difference between mine and yours is that mine says “Sewing is My Superpower”. 🙂

    Yes, please, to weekly doodles!

  • Yes please to weekly doodles.

  • Yes to weekly doodle lessons. I have gotten out of the habit!

  • Jan. Tarasovic

    Edna! y fave character from animated movies! So glad you’ve adopted her!

  • Mary J Honas

    You asked if we’d like you to return to weekly doodle lessons. YES! Please. 🙂

  • Vicki

    My book “25 Days to better machine quilting”. Arrives tomorrow!! I can’t wait to get started.

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