Today we are going to steal a page out of Greek Architecture. The egg-and-dart design motif is found on ancient Greek temples and is common in classical architecture. While it is usually carved in wood, stone or plaster, it looks great quilted as well! The Egg-and-Dart is a perfect quilted border on any quilt. It looks likes a frame.
Here is where we are going:
There are three parts to this motif: The Egg, The Dart, and The Embellishment.
It is stitched in two passes.
Begin by drawing two lines. (The sample lines below are one inch apart.)
The Egg looks like a horse-shoe when it is stitched.
Stitch just above the drawn line a few stitches, then stitch an open oval and continue on the horizontal line a few stitches before beginning The Dart.
The Dart is as quick as a heartbeat…
The first pass of stitching is alternating Eggs and Darts along the border. Do not extend the shapes all the way to the top line–leave a little breathing room…
Stitch the second pass by stitching a straight line under the motifs and adding your Embellishment inside the Egg.
I stitched a three-pointed leaf motif, but if you have the space–try a flower or a fleur-de-lis. (See Tutorial HERE.)
After the two passes are complete, stitch at least one straight line above and below your motif. Use a walking foot if you have one. If you stitch more than one line, a double or twin needle would be useful to keep your lines perfectly even.
I left the corners open. A Rosette would probably be used in classical architecture in the corner, but I will add something that matches the center of the quilt–perhaps a star–as I plan to use this for The Fourth of July.
Have fun with this classical border and let me know how you use it.
I am working on a flag quilt with an egg-and-dart border that I hope to have ready by tomorrow.
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