Good Morning, Quilters! Welcome to all the new quilters who have joined us and to all our long-time friends!
We have almost 5000 followers of The Inbox Jaunt…That’s a lot of quilt experience in one place!
Today we have a new Free Motion Quilt Tutorial: Pebbles!
But first…
STITCH REGULATORS
Last Friday, we had a very interesting conversation about Stitch Regulators. (As SewCalGal points out–the stitch regulators on long arm machines are different than on domestic sewing machines…) Some people LOVE them, some of us do not…
The “Take Home” Message:
- Find what works for YOU…
- Stitch Regulators are not perfect–they will not solve all your FMQ issues. YOU still need to practice, practice, practice…
- You CAN get even stitches without a regulator–so if it’s not in the budget right now…forge ahead and learn FMQ anyway.
THE HUMBLE CIRCLE
For the last several weeks we have been using the Humble Circle to create several lovely free motion quilt motifs.
If you have been working through each of the previous tutorials, Pebbles will be easier.
First, we learned to stitch clockwise and counter-clockwise circles by stitching:
Next, we used Dots and Dashes to create The Race Car:
Then we stitched the String of Pearls. This tutorial worked on circles of different sizes, spaced closely together…
All of these skills lead up to Pebbles!
PEBBLES-The Free Motion Quilt Tutorial
Pebbles are a background fill pattern and do not require any “rails”. They look great in any (maybe every?) quilt!
I love how Pebbles look when tucked into other background fills. Every so often just add a small area of Pebbles.
I rarely fill an entire area with Pebbles…I think they lose their effectiveness…and for ME–they require a high level of concentration.
(See the Tea Cups Quilt in the post, When You’re Not Quilting…)
(See Eight Steps to Free Motion Quilting Applique)
BEGIN STITCHING
Begin stitching just like The String of Pearls...
Get in the rhythm of clockwise, counter-clockwise…
Instead of stitching 1-1/2 times around each circle, stop at any point to begin another circle…
This may be 1 and 1/4 revolutions or it may be 1-7/8 revolutions and anywhere in between…
Keep adding circles of different sizes…
Unlike other motifs, circles look great with over-stitching–stitching over a previous line of stitching.
Use Pebbles to outline any shape…or create a shape–using negative space and Pebbles…
For another look, stitch a normal Pebble, and then add a spiral into the center of it and stitch back on the spiral to the edge of the Pebble to continue to the next circle…
This has a “Bubble” effect and is quite fun!
Pebbles can be varied by add The Wind or Waves among the Pebbles.
Isn’t that fun?!
I thought we were finished with The Humble Circle…
But some new flowers have been appearing in my doodles…Developing…
May your stitches be happy this week!
Lori
PS…This tutorial was stitched on my domestic sewing machine, a Bernina 150 without a stitch regulator, on Robert Kaufman Kona cotton with Aurifil 50 wt cotton in the bobbin and Sulky 40 wt Rayon on top with a Universal 90 Schmetz needle.
PS…All tutorials, information and images are the property of Lori Kennedy at The Inbox Jaunt and are intended for personal use only. Feel free to share with attribution to The Inbox Jaunt. For all other purposes, please contact me at lckennedy@hotmail.com. Thanks!
28 comments
Eugenia Lopez de los Mozos
Te agradezco muchísimo el esfuerzo de haber puesto estos tutoriales a nuestra disposición y gratis, aprendo mucho con ellos. Deseo que seas muy feliz y sigas enseñándonos muchas cosas.
blewbird1031
Found you via Pinterest…..what a great blog. Lots to see and do here. Thanks!
Raewyn
I love your ideas and tutorials Lori! Thank you so much for the inspiration.
dot mainz
i do so enjoy the drawings, helpful and make we want to venture out of my box. dot
Heather
Can we use your designs in quilt tops that we are putting in hilt shows
WordPress.com Support
Yes!
Dorian
Lori, I need to talk to you about your blog button. But can’t find your email address. Can you please contact me. Thank you 🙂
Mary Jo
Your efforts to teach and share your skill are really appreciated. You break it down to where it seems possible. Even for us who may not have the natural artists eye or coordination. Thanks!
QuiltDude
I agree with Ana Perna – using pebbles to outline a letter is genius! Your “L” looks awesome and I am going to ‘permanently borrow’ that idea. As usual, you have inspired me. Thank you Lori!
Lori Kennedy
So glad to hear you are inspired! Now pay it forward!
debbiegram
Today’s lesson has me so inspired, I want to forget about my job and hole up in my sewing room and play all day long.
Lori Kennedy
Thrilled to hear you are so inspired. We can all relate to wanting to ditch the world and just stitch. For now, doodle! When you get home, you’ll be ready!
treadlemusic
A fave of mine!!! Flowers…..hmmmm….me, too, wishing that the next season was Spring not Autumn!!!!!! (I’m so NOT a winter person!!!!! But it’s now referred to as “Quilting Season” around here!!!!!)……Hugs…………………
Ness
LOVE all of them!!! Nice work! Thanks!
sullivancj
I havea noah’s ark themed fabric that I have made a BB quilt out of. I think I would like to use the pebbles, and the wave, but really hadn’t wanted to use that much quilting on it. Any suggestions?
Lori Kennedy
Try making the circles and waves very large–play with scale for the same effect with way less quilting. It would look very modern and very nice.
sullivancj
That was what I was thinking. I need to get some of these done b4 the BB’s come (1 down, and 3 to go, w 3 more due in Dec-Jan) Larger swirls, wave like motion,
Cindy
Sometimes your stitching gives an appearance of hand quilting – having a stitch, then exposure of fabric, then stitch again. Is this a stitch setting? How do you achieve this? I love it!!! (ex: The wind or waves – above)
Terry Sheldon
Cindy, your question is just what I was thinking, how to get that look that Lori has, almost like hand quilting. Thanks so much for asking!
Lori Kennedy
I often use a bobbin thread that matches the background fabric and white on top. In this case, the bobbin was blue and the top thread white. It’s very subtle…so I’m surprised that you are picking up on it…Give it a try!
karen bennick
Great lesson! I love the look and will practice with this.
Gail
I love the little swirls added in with the pebbles.
Lucie the Happy Quilter
The humble circle is so versatile. Thank you for reminding Lori.
Ana Perna
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I can do pebbles reasonably well, but I had not thought that they can be used as “negative space” to make letters (and now I can imagine other designs…) stand out.
Marjorie
Very interesting
Comments are closed.