Lifted Logic Web Design in Kansas City clock location phone play check_box_outline_blank check_box chevron-down chevron-left chevron-right chevron-up facebook instagram google plus pinterest linkedin radio_button_checked radio_button_unchecked twitter youtube arrow-up send
Connect
Lori Kennedy Quilts
  • QAL
    • 2021 QAL
    • 2020 QAL
  • About
    • About Lori Kennedy Quilts
  • Shop
  • Motifs
    • All
    • Animals/Bugs
    • Background Fills
    • Easy/Beginner
    • Fan Favorites
    • Seasonal/Holiday
    • Patterns/Shapes
    • Illustrations
    • Flowers/Leaves
  • Machine Quilting
    • Basics
    • Quick Tips
    • Sewing Machine
    • Thread
    • Batting
    • Design
    • Ruler Work
    • Misc
  • Projects
    • Applique
    • Organization
    • Quilt
    • DIY
    • Doodles
    • Paper Piecing
    • Sewing
    • Uncategorized
  • Inspiration
    • Gallery
    • Watercolor
    • Creativity
    • All
    • Seamstresses in Fine Art

Tuesday Tutorial-The Squiggle Square

October 22, 2013

Squiggle Square Free Motion quiltingGood Morning, Quilters!  It’s time for another Tuesday Tutorial and we are glad you are here!

Squiggle Square Free Motion quilting  Welcome to all the new followers from The Quilting Board-and thank you to Tartan and Sparky’s Mom who both posted photos of their projects on the Quilting Board.  Tartan used The Oak Leaf Tutorial to stitch this gorgeous table topper.  (See tutorial HERE)

Oak Leaf
Tartan from The Quilting Board

And Sparky’s Mom made this adorable Mug Rug with The Perfect Pumpkin tutorial.  (See the tutorial HERE)

Pumpkin Mug Rug
Sparky’s Mom from the Quilting Board–Mug Rug

Thanks to you both for sharing your photos and your lovely projects!

Today we have another easy and fun free motion quilting tutorial for you to try either on your domestic sewing machine like I have– ( I stitch on a Bernina 820 or a Bernina 150 Quilter’s Edition) –or on your long arm.   Today, we will be stitching The Squiggle Square.   The Squiggle Square can be stitched as a border or as a fill pattern on any quilt.  It can look modern or it can look sweet depending on its placement within the quilt and the scale of the square.  I recently stitched on the back of a modern pillow-in a large scale and it looked great!  Try it on your next quilt–I know you will have fun with this one!

Squiggle Square Free Motion quilting

Begin by drawing two (or more) lines.  In the sample below, the lines are one inch apart.  Then draw perpendicular lines the same width apart.  (For the sample below, the perpendicular lines are also one inch apart.)

Begin stitching in one corner and stitch a squiggly line on a diagonal.

Squiggle Square Free Motion quilting

Continue “squiggling” back and forth until you fill the square.

Squiggle Square Free Motion quilting

Squiggle Square Free Motion quilting

Once the square is filled, “scoot” into the adjacent square and begin “squiggling” in the opposite direction to fill the box.

Squiggle Square Free Motion quilting

Continue this process until the row is complete.  This makes a great border pattern and pairs well with curvy motifs like the Oak Leaf or the Spiral.

Squiggle Square Free Motion quilting

If you’d like to fill a larger space or make a double border, simply add another row on top of the first row.

Squiggle Square Free Motion quilting

By adding a second row, a complex secondary pattern develops.

NOTE:  In order to see the secondary pattern, it is important that you completely fill each square by stitching all the way to the edges of the drawn lines.

Squiggle Square Free Motion quilting

Doesn’t this look like fun–especially now that you can see how easy it is?

Try this in large squares, too.  It looks very modern in a six inch or larger size.  In the smaller scale, it looks like a snowflake.  Wouldn’t it look great on a Christmas quilt–white stitching on red background???

Squiggle Square Free Motion quilting

On Open Line Friday this week we’ll be discussing marking and marking tools--bring your questions–and your favorite marking pens/pencils and tools!

Tomorrow–I have a Halloween project to share on Work in Progress Wednesday!

Related

Share Article

Please share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Categories

All Machine Quilting Motifs Patterns/Shapes

Tagged

fmq free motion quilting Long Arm Quilting Tutorial patterns Squiggle Squares Tuesday Tutorial Tutorial

35 responses to “Tuesday Tutorial-The Squiggle Square”

  1. Julie S. says:
    October 22, 2013 at 10:53 am

    Very cool!

  2. billiemick says:
    October 22, 2013 at 11:07 am

    I just found your blog about a month ago. I really like your way of teaching the FMQ. Do you have a book out?

    1. Lori Kennedy says:
      October 23, 2013 at 9:06 am

      I am so glad you found us! I am currently exploring a few options for publishing the quilt motif tutorials. Another work in progress about which I am very excited! Stay tuned!!

  3. Raewyn says:
    October 22, 2013 at 11:39 am

    Another great design, thank you!!

    1. Lori Kennedy says:
      October 23, 2013 at 9:04 am

      Raewyn, How did your birdhouse class turn out?

  4. Pat (Sparky's Mom) says:
    October 22, 2013 at 11:45 am

    Very cool! I’ll have to try that one.

  5. Linda says:
    October 22, 2013 at 11:52 am

    These tutorials are great. I know that I can go back and look at them and your teaching style really makes me feel like I “CAN” do this.

    1. Lori Kennedy says:
      October 23, 2013 at 9:04 am

      I am so glad the tutorials have given you confidence. We are all Fearless FMQers!

  6. Katell, Quilteuse Forever says:
    October 22, 2013 at 12:24 pm

    It is such a lovely quilting idea again Lory, thanks!

    1. Lori Kennedy says:
      October 23, 2013 at 9:03 am

      So glad you like it! It’s so easy and yet can look so complicated.!

  7. Lorie bugaiski says:
    October 22, 2013 at 12:26 pm

    Cool! I will give it a try tonight. I have a question on the stitches. Is the tension wrong on it! And which tension do you adjust to fix it! When I fmq it looks like that on the bottom!

    1. Lori Kennedy says:
      October 23, 2013 at 9:02 am

      Lorie, Are you asking if the tension is wrong on my sample photos? I think the tension looks pretty good in the Squiggle Square photos. I always adjust my top tension when free motion quilting. On my Berninas, I lower the top thread tension–a lot! If you would like to send me a photo-I will try to help you adjust your tension. What is the easiest way for you to take a photo of your quilt? Cell phone? Camera?

  8. Kitty says:
    October 22, 2013 at 1:21 pm

    Love the Squiggle Square! I found your blog a week ago and I’m so glad I did: your tutorials are great!!

    1. Lori Kennedy says:
      October 23, 2013 at 8:57 am

      Hi Kitty, So glad you found us. Spread the word–we’re trying to build a community of fearless FMQers!

  9. ipatchandquilt says:
    October 22, 2013 at 2:03 pm

    Love love love it! It is so beautiful this FMQ pattern! Thank you for this inspiration!!!
    Esther

    1. Lori Kennedy says:
      October 23, 2013 at 8:56 am

      Esther, Glad you love it–and thanks for chiming in today!

  10. LauraBC says:
    October 22, 2013 at 2:15 pm

    Oh that is perfect for a project I am just finishing off. I did an art quilt of my grandson and I messed up the background, so I just ripped out all the background stitching, and will use this instead. I’ll post a pic once I get it done. It’s exactly what I was looking for.

    1. Lori Kennedy says:
      October 23, 2013 at 8:56 am

      Laura, Can’t wait to see your grandson’s quilt!

  11. Lynn Mc says:
    October 22, 2013 at 4:16 pm

    What a great design this is. It looks easy enough for me- a new FMQ’er – to do with just a quick practice. I love your tutorials. Thanks so much for doing them.

    1. Lori Kennedy says:
      October 23, 2013 at 8:55 am

      Hi Lynn, So glad you are enjoying the tutorials. Practice on paper first, then get to it!

  12. Linda Swanekamp says:
    October 22, 2013 at 6:43 pm

    I just tried the squiggle square on a border of a comfort quilt I am finishing. It is very imperfect, but am posting it on my blog right now, artinsearch.blogspot.com
    How do we post on your flickr page?

    1. Lori Kennedy says:
      October 22, 2013 at 6:55 pm

      Search the groups for The Inbox Jaunt Quilting Guild. Can’t wait to see it!

      1. Linda Swanekamp says:
        October 23, 2013 at 7:09 am

        Lori, I copied your words exactly and put them into the Flickr search box, and can get no results. Could you post the link? For example, my Flickr page is Flickr.com/photos/artswansatcamp, so if you could post the link, I could get there. Thank you.

      2. Lori Kennedy says:
        October 23, 2013 at 8:40 am

        Hi Linda, Thanks for being so patient. Here is the link (I hope) http://www.flickr.com/search/groups/?w=all&q=The+Inbox+Jaunt+Quilting+Guild

        I will keep checking today to see that it worked. If you don’t mind–I’ll use you as one of my “guinea pigs”. If you are able to post, then I will post about it for others. Thanks again!

  13. Pat Noonan says:
    October 22, 2013 at 10:14 pm

    Your blog is so inspiring. I also found it about a week ago and I’m so glad. Love the squiggle squares.

    1. Lori Kennedy says:
      October 23, 2013 at 8:41 am

      Hi Pat, So glad you found us! I hope you will give all the tutorials a try–and send photos!

  14. Pingback: Halloween–Projects in Progress | The Inbox Jaunt
  15. Rebecca Grace says:
    October 23, 2013 at 12:29 pm

    OOOH, how timely! I was hoping I’d find a good border design and you never disappoint. Back to the machine I go!

  16. Linda Swanekamp says:
    October 23, 2013 at 2:21 pm

    Your link worked and uploaded two photos, used the Squiggle Square on the borders. Thanks!

  17. Sarah Scott says:
    October 23, 2013 at 3:54 pm

    I just started reading your blog and love it so much!! So many awesome FMQ designs!! I am just starting FMQ and love to see what you come up with!! I look forward to seeing every new post and look daily to see if you posted something new!! Thanks for all the awesome inspiring ideas!! 🙂

  18. Debra Mack says:
    January 14, 2014 at 12:12 pm

    This will be perfect for the western fabric donation quilt to fill the four patches. I am undecided about the larger squares? Maybe wagon wheels. The fabric has stagecoaches, horses, wheels, cactus. Whatever is quilted in this area probably won’t be seen to well, so should be simple. The outer border reads a solid so maybe a jagged square shape on point, a southwestern design? Cactus, coyotes? The outer border is 4 inches.Always on the outer border I try to remember to write LOVE in cursive.
    A little accident yesterday, I have been using donated batting from other quilters and some pieces require piecing. I always overlap the edges of the batting and cut a nice neat cut with a rotry cutter so the edge bunt nicely. We instead of sliding the cutting mat along it kept snagging so I moved to the other edge and didn’t get it between the backing and batting. Yes made a nice clean cut for 18 inches. So I folded the backing in half to put a narrow seam..It was a hard lesson learned which I try to prevent. In the future I will layer the top and batting first, then trim and piece, then layer the backing..

    Sew Peacefully Thank you. DEB aka FLO

  19. Hazel says:
    March 11, 2014 at 8:36 pm

    Just learning FM ,your blog is so inspiring ,

  20. Pingback: Turn the Corner-The Free Motion Quilt Way | The Inbox Jaunt
  21. Pingback: Tuesday Tutorial : How to make customized monogrammed couple pillows | Little Mushroom Cap
  22. my studioQ says:
    May 14, 2015 at 1:05 pm

    Thank you for sharing all your fabulous patterns with us! This is perfect for a quilt I’m working on now!!

Comments are closed.
  • Lori Kennedy Quilts

    Lori Kennedy

    Hi! I’m Lori Kennedy, machine quilter, & author from Minnesota. Check out my monthly newsletter & my articles. Machine quilting is my passion. From doodling to quilting, I’m here in my Minnesota studio to help you get quilting.

    Get Your Signed Copy Today!

    Buy Now!

    Subscribe to Blog via Email

    Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

    Join 14,463 other subscribers
  • Related Articles
  • April 2020 •

    All and more

    How to Free Motion Quilt an Egg in a Basket

  • March 2020 •

    All and more

    How to Quilt a Spaceship Quilting Pattern

  • March 2020 •

    All and more

    How to Quilt a Quarter Moon

BERNINA Ambassador Badge round (1)
Lori Kennedy Quilts
Copyright © 2023 Lori Kennedy Quilts. All Rights Reserved.
 

Loading Comments...