Try This Easy Handwriting Design!

Today’s Topic: EASY Handwriting Design

Welcome to the Better Machine Quilt-a-long based on my book 25 Days to Better Machine Quilting.

(Find all of the previous Lessons HERE.  Sign up for emails of the class HERE.)

Good Morning, Quilters!

Today, we are going to q-u-i-l-t, but first…

I was sorry to hear more sewing machine run-in stories yesterday! OUCH!  Thank you for all the interesting tips, too!  Good habits make quilting easier and safer!

(Light) Housekeeping

First, I have modified this weeks lesson schedule to add this bonus project.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE all the quilts and doodles YOU have posted in our private Facebook group, Quilting with LKQ!

YOUR quilts have inspired me!

If you are not ready to stitch just yet, don’t worry–I will be guiding you through nearly twenty projects in the next 22 weeks.

Most of the work in Lessons One and Two are preliminary work-basic information before we take the deep dive into quilting!

LIVE Video?

While I never planned to create any live videos or Q&A sessions, there seems to be a great deal of interest in this form of learning.  Faye and I are hoping (no promises) to give it a try late next week.  Fingers crossed we can get all the technology set-up . (YOU all know how I like all things technology–argh!)  I will keep you informed about the schedule!

Today’s Project:     q-u-i-l-t

Let’s try an easy handwriting design! Writing phrases is a great way to add personality to quilts, but you can also use individual letters to create great designs.  Because your handwriting is well-established in your muscle memory, quilting will be EASY!

Watch the quick doodle video,  q-u-i-l-t Letters Doodle and Design

To create the above quilt, I drew a rectangle (with chalk)  and subdivided it with wavy lines.

Add a single letter on each line: q-u-i-l-t.

Design Options

Another option is to divide a large rectangle into quadrants. (Don’t be rigid about straight lines for this project!)

Then add wavy lines in each of the sections.

Fill in with one letter per block.

Because we are using handwriting as the design, it is best to stitch the pattern from left to right.

Rotate the quilt to orient each block so you can stitch from left to right. (We will discuss directional stitching in another lesson.)

Either knot off at the end of each row, or travel under the row of letters to begin a new row. (See quilted example above.)

Try Other Letters!

Doodle a variety of options before you stitch your quilt.  See which are YOUR favorites!

I can’t wait to see what YOU create!

h-a-p-p-y-s-t-i-t-c-h-i-n-g

l-o-r-i

PS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of LoriKennedyQuilts 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.  Thanks!

You might also enjoy my motif books:   Free Motion Machine Quilting 1-2-3 and More Free Motion Machine Quilting 1-2-3

Try this design here!