The Sand Dollar-A Free Motion Quilt Tutorial

January 13, 2015
The Sand Dollar, Free Motion Quilting

The Sand Dollar, Free Motion QuiltingGood Morning, Quilters!

With temperatures dipping below zero in Minnesota, and schools closed because of extreme weather, perhaps a little “Sea Shore” Quilting will help warm our thoughts (if not our tootsies!)

For the next few weeks we will be working on a variety of sea shell inspired motifs.  Each of these patterns, are pretty enough to use on any quilt-not just Nautical or Summer Quilts.

The Sand Dollar free motion quilt motif can be used as a border (see below) or as an all-over or fill pattern.

The Sand Dollar, Free Motion QuiltingTHE SAND DOLLAR FREE MOTION QUILT MOTIF

If stitching the motif as a border, draw two lines or “rails” to keep the motif tidy.  (Or use the seam lines of the border as guidelines.)

Stitch a spike at an angle and echo stitch back.

The Sand Dollar, Free Motion QuiltingStitch two more “spikes” at an angle into the Sand Dollar.

The Sand Dollar, Free Motion QuiltingStitch along the bottom line several stitches beyond the spikes.

Curve up around the spikes.

The Sand Dollar, Free Motion QuiltingStitch up two stitches:

The Sand Dollar, Free Motion QuiltingThen echo stitch back to the bottom line.

The Sand Dollar, Free Motion QuiltingStitch over a few stitches, then add three more spikes for the next Sand Dollar.

The Sand Dollar, Free Motion QuiltingKeep adding in this way to create the border.

To create a Fill or All-over pattern, echo stitch over the Sand Dollar to the next layer and add a Sand Dollar in the groove between Sand Dollars.

The Sand Dollar, Free Motion QuiltingAdd a third echo stitch line over any of the Sand Dollars to change directions…

This will make more sense as you stitch.

The Sand Dollar, Free Motion QuiltingThat’s it–The Sand Dollar-the first of our Sea Shell Series.  Each one will stand alone–or we will be able to combine them for a very interesting and complex design.

THE MYSTERY QUILT-A-LONG CONTINUES 

Last week was Week One of the Mystery free motion quilt-a-long.  Read more HERE.

Tomorrow–we begin stitching!  (We’ll be talking about thread before we start tomorrow…)

See you then!

Signed,

Lori and Sally      (Sally of seashore fame)

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, tweet with attribution to The Inbox Jaunt.  For all other purposes, please contact me at lckennedy@hotmail.com.  Thanks!

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19 comments

  • I am so excited to take this journey with you!

  • sharon mirzai

    I love it and you make it so easy!!

  • jessicak

    These are beautiful and a pattern I can do by hand vs a sewing mac mhine. Thank you for sharing!

  • I love this pattern. I tried it. Doesn’t look too bad. I have to go slow. You have a great web site.

  • Martha Cook

    Thank You!

  • mzdaisee47

    This series is just perfect for the beach themed quilts I am just starting. Great timing! I already love the sand dollars.We find lots of them on our beach.

  • I love your quilting, and although these are done on as a freemotion, sewin machine vs long arm design, I have been able to do some of your designs on the Longarm. I don’t always comment, but these are just TOO CUTE>

  • Susan

    I love this theme already. Sand dollars are one of my favorite seashore specimens.

  • Judy Buzby

    I wait with bated breath for Tuesday’s tutorial and now I am so excited about the Mystery!!!! I have everything waiting…

  • I just love your sand dollars. I am so happy to have found your site! You keep me so pumped to quilt! Can’t wait to start this series, and your Mystery!?

  • This is such a pretty motif Lori! I pinned it! In fact half of my pins on that board are from you. Maybe I should rename the board “Lori Kennedy Quilting”. LOL

  • Your timing for these motifs (this and yet to come) is perfect, as I will be making an “ocean” colored/theme quilt in the coming weeks and was already thinking of possible stitching patterns!!!!! Perfect!!!!!!

  • Diane Bartow

    I love the sand dollars! Thanks so much for sharing. Can’t wait to see more……Off to start doodling so I can add this to my quilt!!!

  • I can’t get over how easy you make it look. I’ll keep practicing! Thanks for all your tutorials.

  • Love it as a border: lemon wedges!

  • Rosemarazzle

    Rosemary B here:
    Lori, this is just beautiful. I love this idea and can imagine very well the application of this design.
    Thank you for sharing this today
    Stay warm.

  • Cute sand dollars! I like the piled up ones especially! Will definitely get used. 🙂 Nice work!

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