This week I am working on a few colorful projects. This stencil, from The Stencil Company, is called “Geranium“. However, if I stitch it on green fabric, I think it will pass as a shamrock for St. Patrick’s Day.
I like this stencil because it can be used in six ways:
- It can be stitched as is-with a cross-hatch center and leafy outer border
- It can be stitched with the cross-hatch center and your own “doodle” design in the outer border.
- The outer leafy border can be quilted around a pieced or appliqued block.
- This stencil can be used to draw just the inner and outer square–leaving a blank slate for doodles–easier than using rulers.
- Individual leaf/flowers can be repeated in a row to make a geranium border.
- Finally, the cross hatch pattern can be used as the “rails” for other designs…again much easier than using a ruler. I will add a tutorial on this in an upcoming post.
After I draw the stencil as it is cut…I trace over the lines and fill in the gaps. This makes the lines easier to follow while free motion quilting. Also, it helps plan out the stitch order and understand the design.
Once I finish drawing the stencil, I will make the “quilt sandwich”. Finally, I plan to audition a few thread/needle combinations.
Now for THE BEST part…sharing with YOU! The Stencil Company is going to provide two “Geranium # SCL-513″ to TWO lucky readers of The Inbox Jaunt!
Here’s the deal: In order to be entered into the drawing–simply answer the following three questions in the Comment section. Entries will be accepted through Saturday, February 9th and the winners will be announced on Monday, February 11th. (If you are not a quilter–don’t worry, we’re offering a Shamrock Doodle Quilt giveaway before St. Patrick’s Day!)
The Questions:
- Do you know how to set your machine for free motion quilting?
- How many total hours have you spent free motion quilting: Less than 20 hours, Between 20 and 100 hours, more than 100 hours.
- What is the hardest part of free motion quilting for you?
That’s it! There are several more stencil tutorials to come, and The Stencil Company will be offering several more giveaways through The Inbox Jaunt...so check in often!
You might also like this post on stencils.
29 comments
Carmen
That is a beautiful stencil!! Now on to your questions.
1. yes I do know how to set my machine up for FMQ.
2. I would say between 20 and 100 hours
3. the hardest part of FM for me, is wrestling with the quilt, since most of my quilts tend to be king size or larger.
Virginia
I know how to set up my machine but sometimes I still stuggle with getting the proper tension. As for machine quilting, I’m still new & have spent 20 or so hrs. I stuggle with quilting large quilts on my domestic machine and not being so critical.
CJ
Just found your blog via Pinterest and I am going back thru all of your posts – so many lovely creations and photos.
1) yes I know how to set my machine to FMQ
2) guessing between 20 and 100
3) most difficult is being fluid/smooth/consistent, especially on a large piece.
WHICH machine do you FMQ on? I see that you have 3 Berninas, are any of them being used on a frame or are you manipulating fabric rather than machine?
theinboxjaunt
So glad you found us and so glad we had this opportunity to cross paths! I use the Bernina 150 Quilter’s Edition and Bernina 820 for free motion quilting. The “150” is a standard sewing machine size and it sews very well. I purchased the 820 –which has a larger “harp space” so that I could work on much larger spaces more easily. Unfortunately, that machine has required a lot of repairs/tweaking and is now in Chicago at the Bernina USA repair shop… So to answer your question, at this time, all of my stitching is done by manipulating the fabric roll in a standard machine or my Bernina with extra harp space.
I agree that it is difficult to be fluid on a large piece. Choosing the quilt design is trickier–I generally choose motifs that are fairly small…and I quilt heavily! I will be doing more posts on that as it is a problem for everyone–and perhaps we can all brainstorm!
hueisei
1) Yes, I know how to set my machine up .
2.) Probably more than 100 hours.
3.) The hard part: Being consistent when stippling.
beags50
Yep, I know how to free motion quilt.
I have FMQ over 100 hours (not all that successfully, but over 100 nevertheless!!)
Trusting my judgement. It’s hard to just doodle, I find I need to practice the muscle memory before putting it all together.
What a wonderful blog. I know I’ll be back !!
Rose
1. yes I know how to free motion quilt.
2 I have probably fmq over 100 hours
3 even stitiches, I do not have a stitch regulator on my domestic home machine. I use a frame and making sure the stitches are all even is difficult. Practice makes perfect.
Great site.
Teri
Yes,I know how to set my machine for free motion quilting.
I have free motioned quilted between 20 & 100 hours.
The hardest part is deciding on a design and then getting over the fear of ruining my quilt top and starting. Once I start, I will keep going.
Carolina
1. Yes, but it’s still tricky. 2. in 12 years–over 100 hours. 3. The hardest part is figuring out which design to use to fill the space.
Life on a Dirt Road
Yes I do know how to set my machine. I even modified the foot so it works better. 🙂
Less than 20 hours currently. 🙁 Life, you know.
The hardest part is trying to figure out why my thread keeps breaking. 🙁 Perhaps operator error?
Thanks for the chance to win! 😀
Judy@grandparentsplus2
Love the stencil and the directions on how to use it. I bought some stencils at a quilt show recently and now I’m inspired to try them.
1. Yes, I know how to set the machine.
2. Less than 20 hours (but watch me learn)
3. It’s the learning curve of being comfortable with letting it flow instead of ride along the 1/4″ line.
Thank you for the opportunity.
Renee G
I don’t know how to set my machine to free motion.
Less than 20 hours
The hardest part is getting started.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(DOT)com
Magical Effects of Thinking
My answers are:
Breakfast cereal
Eisenhower.
I have no idea what you are talking about.
Actually, I wanted to comment on that lovely shade of pink thread. It’s so pretty, like ballet pink. Gets me kind of inspired.
theinboxjaunt
LOL!
sophie
Great Stencil! My answers:
1. Yes, I know how to set your machine for free motion quilting.
2. I’ve probably spent more than 100 total hours doing fmq.
3. The hardest part for me is getting started. I know I still have a ways to go to be able to confidently quilt all the designs in my head.
textiledreamer
Oh, great stencil! Regarding the questions:
1.) Yes, I know how to set my machine up and use it often for free-motion quilting.
2.) Probably between 20-100 hours.
3.) The hard part: Being consistent when doodling, and cleanly backtracking when necessary. But then, only practice makes perfect!
Casandra Friesner
Love the chance to win a stencil, thanks! 1.yes. 2. 20-100 hours 3. My challenge is maintaining flow and rhythm in my free motion stitching after i force myself to take a rest break! I have learned that my body will suffer if I follow a creative urge to sew until the project is complete, 6 to 8 hours later. It’s frustrating to stop stitching when I’m really enjoying myself!
marelizer
Stopping by from WIP Wednesdays, I’m not sure if this giveaway is open to international entries, but worth the try, its a great giveaway!!!
1. YES, I set my stitch length to zero, and replace my walking foot with my FMQ foot (darning foot) and I must for me is to use embroidery needles.
2. I’m certain that I’m very CLOSE to a 100 hours.
3. The hardest part for me when FMQ is to decide on the FMQ designs, and also… know when to stop! I sometimes also have a hard time to keep my scale right…I’m totally addicted.
Rhonda Rannow
Wonderful stencil — that company has great designs!
1. Yes, most definitely and on all my machines!!
2. Way over 100 hours of free motion quilting.
3. Even after all these years, it’s “what quilting do I want to do on this particular quilt?”
gwendiequilts
That’s a really pretty stencil! My answers: 1) Yes, I know how to set up my machine. 2) Less than 20 in free-motion. I usually do straight line on the machine. 3) Controlling the stitch length and making my curves smooth are the hardest parts. I know – I should practice!
Pat
Oh yes, I would love to have a chance to win that lovely stencil.
Answers to questions:
1. Yes, I know how to set up my machine.
2. Total hours- probably greater than 100.
3. Hardest part(s) – on big projects- handling the bulk of the quilt and designing quilting patterns that are more interesting than your standard all over designs – that’s what I love about your blog. ( I also need to find a better foot as the “darning foot” that I use does not allow for easy visibility.)
Happy Wednesday – it is sunny and warmer today (20s) here in Illinois.
mean sarah jean
i just discovered your site a few days ago. love the quilting tutorials!
1. yes, i just started fmq a couple years ago. 2. hmmm. not really sure how many hours i’ve spent. probably more towards the 100 and over. not real good at keeping track when i start. 3. the hardest part – getting out of my comfort zone and trying something new (and intimidating).
MaryBeth
What a pretty stencil. I’m working on one now that I traced onto thin paper and then stitched multiple copies (stapled together) and spray basted them to my quilt sandwich instead of trying to trace each one. It’s a queen size and the biggest thing I’ve done on my domestic machine, but I’m really happy with the outcome. So to answer your questions – Yes, I know how to set up my machine for free motion quilting; I’ve spent more than 100 hours FMQing. The hardest part is being patient enough to go slowly, but I’m working on that, LOL.
Lynette
How cool! (Do we answer all 3 in one comment?) 1. Yes – after having to get a new needle shaft thingy installed on my Sapphire, I learned that I’m supposed to be telling its brain when I’m free-motion quilting. Works like a breeze now! 2. I’ve done right around 100 hours of FMQ. 3. I cannot, for the life of me, make decent-looking freehand feathers! Going to happen one day.
adaisygarden
That stencil is beautiful. My machine didn’t come with a free motion foot, so the quilting I do is by hand. I would like to purchase a sewing machine that comes with many attachments that do all kinds of nice things… maybe this year… 🙂
Comments are closed.