The Spirograph Sun-A Free Motion Quilt Tutorial
Good Morning, Quilters! Welcome back to Tutorial Tuesday!
Do YOU remember Spirograph?
Today’s free motion quilt tutorial, The Spirograph Sun was inspired by one of my favorite toys…
I hope YOU have fun with this, too!
THE SPIROGRAPH SUN FREE MOTION QUILT TUTORIAL
This sun pattern would make a gorgeous border on any quilt and it would be easy to adapt it to a full circle to fill any square block.
Draw any size rectangle. For the practice piece below, the rectangle is 3 1/2 inches wide by 2 1/2 inches tall.
Make a little mark in the center of the bottom line–just estimate, don’t measure!
Begin stitching on the bottom line. Stitch past the center mark and then stitch a curved line from right to left…
Stitch two stitches to the left, then echo stitch back to the bottom line.
Stitch to the right three or four stitches, then curve back over to the left–looks like a little rainbow.
Next, stitch a triangle out to the left border of the drawn box and back. Stop before you reach the “rainbow”.
Stitch several triangles around the “rainbow”. (NOTE–Try to make the center triangle a bit taller than the other triangles–this gives the sun a nicer shape.
Continue stitching the first row of triangles.
Stop near the bottom line.
Now reverse direction.
Stitch triangles from right to left, in between the first row of triangles.
Continue bisecting each previously stitched triangle.
NOTE-In the diagram below note the white chalk dot. Aim for this point in each triangle when stitching the second layer of triangles.
Continue all the way around to the bottom line…then stitch under the entire Sun to begin the next motif in the border (Not shown here.)
I hope you will have time to doodle or stitch this fun pattern…
We will be modifying this basic sun to create some really spectacular patterns… sure to fit YOUR next quilt!
Get practicing so we can have more Spirograph Fun!
I”m off. I need to check my bid on Ebay! (not really–though I was tempted)
Lori
NOTE-This tutorial was stitched on Kona cotton fabric with Aurifil 50wt cotton in the bobbin and Sulky 40 wt Rayon on top on my domestic sewing machine–A Bernina 820 without a stitch regulator.
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 reblog, pin, tweet, share with attribution to The Inbox Jaunt. For all other purposes, please contact me at lckennedy@hotmail.com. Thanks!
This is really a cute design, thanks for sharing! I already drew it out several times on paper….now to do it on fabric!
Thanks again for another wonderful tutorial!
Thank you so much for giving me the inspiration to try Free Motion Embroidery. I have always wanted to see if I could achieve this type of sewing as I am not so good at drawing. Could you possible tell me what size needle you use when creating this effect. Thank you once again you make all your sewing look Fabulous.
I LOVED Spirograph when I was little !!! and spent hours and hours playing on the thing! Santa even brought me a Super Spirograph that had a hundred wheels. The pens always ran out to fast and the pins would get wiggly holding the ring…lol! Thanks for the memories and the cute sun pattern. Very cute tute!!!
Me too, Ness. Spirograph was one of my favorites. I also had this Barbie outfit maker which was a paper-coloring craft. There were plastic pieces you put under the paper and rubbed to make the clothing shapes. My niece wants one and I can’t seem to find them anywhere. It doesn’t help that I can’t remember the name of it. Does anyone remember these?
I think my little sister had one of those but I don’t remember the name…designed Barbie clothes is all I remember 🙂
My daughter had at least one of these. They were called Fashion Plates.
Leslie
I used to use Sulky rayon before I discovered Glide. It is even smoother than rayon. I do remember Spirograph. My sister received one for Christmas one year, and over 50 years later she still find it very relaxing.
Isn’t Glide wonderful?
Oh, thank you. You make it so easy.
Terrific design. I’ll give it a try. Thanks for sharing.
You are one crazy talented lady!!!!!!! Hugs………………….
now how about “good evening Quilters”. That’s when I quilt the most!
Thanks for the great tutorials. Always inspirational!
You make this look doable. I think I can. I think I can.
I loved Spirograph – one of my favorites for several years! Thanks for another wonderful tutorial – always inspiring!
I love this one, but then I love all your designs. Thank you for hosting such a wonderful sewing blog Lori! I look forward to it every day, even when it’s just a photo you shared. Have a wonderful week! Yours in stitches…
Thanks so much, Shane! So glad you’re here and you like The Inbox Jaunt!