Today’s Topic: The Quilting Sweet Spot
Good Morning, Quilters!
Quilting habits can be your best friend or your worst enemy. This month–(where did January go?)– we are focusing on creating good quilting habits.
First, we discussed being prepared to quilt. Then we considered the importance of maintaining a clear work space.
Today, let’s think about hand position and quilt control. There is only a small area of the quilt where you can control the quilt well enough to stitch a well-formed designed. I call it the Sweet Spot for Quilting. Let’s begin by finding YOUR personal sweet spot
The Quilting Sweet Spot
Prepare to quilt by laying your fingers gently on the quilt with your thumbs approximately 2 inches apart. Let your fingers rest naturally on the quilt. The position of your fingers will be determined by your anatomy. Some quilters find their fingers naturally turn in a little, while others find their fingers point straight ahead. The area within your fingers is your quilting sweet spot.
Your quilting sweet spot is the area where you have the best control of the quilt. When you are quilting within the sweet spot, you will be able to create smooth quilting lines. When you move either above or below this space, you have much less control and you should stop to move your hand position.
Find YOUR Sweet Spot
I have a quick practice you can try right now–wherever you are.
Place your hands on whatever is in front of you, your table, a book, your sewing surface. Position your thumbs one inch apart and let your fingers follow naturally.
Take a good look at this space. It’s probably a heart or square shape. This is YOUR Sweet Spot. Now visualize your sewing machine needle in the middle of this space. Move your hands, in tandem, up and down and in circles while maintaining the shape of Your Sweet Spot.
Now, extend you arms as far as they can go, and then draw your elbows back, tucking them close to your body. I think you will notice that at the far edges of your arm position, you don’t have very good fine motor control of your hands? In other words, when you are in your sweet spot, you control the quilt well, When you are beyond your sweet spot, you have less dexterity and less control of the quilt.
Be Mindful While Quilting
Stay in YOUR Sweet Spot!
The next time you have 15 minutes to quilt, be mindful of Your Sweet Spot.
Keep the needle within this shape for best results.
Check out this video on BERNINA We All Sew blog, It’s a good example of maintaining the sweet spot while I quilt the Lucky Dog.
The Lucky Dog BERNINA WeAllSew
Remember, small habits make good quilters.
YOU can do this!
Please Share!
What is your biggest quilting challenge?
Is there a quilting topic you’d like me to cover?
Do YOU have a lucky motif or a favorite pattern?
We’d LOVE to hear!
Your Mindful Quilter,
Lori
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!
Check out my books on Etsy: LoriKennedyShop
