Tuesday Tutorial-The Double Loop Vine

Welcome Quilters!  Today is Tuesday, and hopefully your Monday chores are complete:  paperwork filed, laundry tucked neatly in drawers and the garden watered.  Well, even if it’s not all done…let’s sneak away and do a little stitching in our sewing rooms…Today’s tutorial is the Double Loop Vine (I’m open to renaming this one if anyone has any suggestions???)  There are two variations to this pattern to test drive today.  The Double Loop Vine is pictured in the image above and Variation 2 is in the photo below.

This pattern is a little different than the motifs we have stitched so far.  In this pattern, we will introduce a “wavy” rail.  (Note:  A “rail” is a drawn line used as a guideline and is erased after the stitching is complete.)  For this pattern, draw two straight line “rails” to serve as top and bottom guidelines- two inches apart.  In between, draw a third, slightly curvy “rail”.   Simply, free -hand draw this line.  The curvy “rail” should be a gentle wave.   If you like, draw another wavy rail a scant 1/4 inch away from the first line.  I usually draw the first wavy rail and just “eyeball” the second line as I stitch it.   Do whatever is easier for you.

We will be stitching the first vine directly on the wavy rail.  The second vine will be just off the first vine.

Begin stitching on the wavy rail a short distance, then stitch a small loop.  Try to keep the loops perpendicular to the top and bottom rails.  

Next, stitch a second loop around the first loop and stop.  Stitch along the wavy rail.

You are ready to begin your second “leaf”.   Try to keep the double loops or leaves the same size for The Double Loop Vine.  This will create a little space within the top and bottom rail lines.  Also, try to keep the spacing between each set of loops on the vine consistent.

Once you have completed the first row of the vine, begin the second row.  For best results, try to keep the spacing between the two lines as even as possible. (Drawing the second wavy “rail” might be very helpful–see above.)

In Variation 2--the entire space between the top and bottom rails is filled by the vine.  As the vine dips, the loops get larger.  Each loop touches the top or bottom rail.

Both patterns have their own character.  Cousins you might say…

I stitched these motifs on my domestic sewing machine… a Bernina 820, but they would work quite well on a long arm sewing machine.

Later in the week, I will be posting readers’ questions for everyone to help solve…Tomorrow is Work in Progress Wednesday...can’t wait to show you what I’ve been working on…and to hear about YOUR current projects!

Stitch Away!

Lori