Good Morning, Quilters!
Are YOU a long arm quilter? Do you stitch on a domestic sewing machine like me? (I stitch on the beautiful BERNINA 770QE)
Do YOU quilt on a treadle machine? (Yes, you can create gorgeous FMQ on a treadle!)
Whatever machine YOU have (assuming it’s in good working order….) You can stitch any of the tutorials offered here at The Inbox Jaunt, including today’s Bricks and Blocks machine quilting tutorial.
BRICKS AND BLOCKS
Today’s machine quilting tutorial is a great background fill motif. Stitch the motif in a matching color to create a whimsical background or use a contrasting color thread to create a really fun fill.
This motif is easy because of the hand-drawn quality. We will draw a few guidelines to keep our major lines straight and then toss the ruler aside as we stitch this fun design!
Don’t worry about less than perfect lines. There are plenty of places to stop and think or move your hands (at any corner). And if you get stuck somewhere-just echo stitch any line and begin another block.
MACHINE STITCHING BRICKS AND BLOCKS.
Use a ruler to draw several straight lines to keep things relatively straight or use a stencil to draw a grid. (I have been playing with a chalk pounce pad from Hancy--more on that soon!)
Begin stitching on the first line. Add a rectangle or a square, stopping one stitch before the first stitch.
Stitch an angle to the right upper corner.
Stitch a horizontal line from right to left-echo stitching the top line.
Stitch a diagonal line to the lower right corner and stitch out of the block.
Stitch another rectangle.
Complete the next block.
To begin another row of Blocks and Bricks, echo stitch the right edge of the lower block, then begin a clockwise brick on top of the previous row.
It looks best to offset the rows –like bricks–so the “mortar lines” don’t all line up. To create the brick look, begin the next row with a square block instead of a rectangle.
To add more visual interest (and more stitching fun) , occasionally add other design elements like spirals or stars or leave a block plain.
Another way to add interest is to stitch a few tall blocks.
Fun!
They almost look like packages!
Wouldn’t this be fun on a holiday quilt!?
Or on a boy’s quilt?
Or a military inspired quilt?
Or…
Where will YOU stitch Bricks and Blocks?
We’d LOVE to hear!
Rum-pa-pa-pum,
On my drum!
Lori
BOOKS MAKE GREAT GIFTS!
If you like this tutorial, you will love my book, Free Motion Machine Quilting 1-2-3—61 designs to finish your quilts with flair!
Signed copies (with a little surprise inside–just like Cracker Jack) available from my Etsy shop HERE
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!
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