I hope you’ve been following along with the blog posts chronicling Diane Harris’s adventures in machine quilting. If not, be sure to scroll back and read some of the previous posts. This week, Diane posted on the HQ Stitch blog,”Houston, We’ve Turned a Corner“. Diane says, “I quilted another UFO and for the first time I do not feel like I totally messed it up. I think I have turned a corner. ” Aren’t those happy words?!!

If you’d like to know about the quilt Diane was working on and how it came together you can read about it here on the original post.

Here is what Diane had to say about her corner turning experience:

I’ve been practicing machine quilting a lot recently. I have the HQ Capri stationary longarm. Companies used to call them “sit-down” machines, but the Capri can be used while sitting or standing, so “stationary” is an apt description because the machine does not move on a carriage like we think of longarms doing.

It sits still on its Insight table (with stitch regulation!) and you move the quilt freely in its 18″ of throat space. Heavenly.

I may not need a therapist after all (see previous post) because this time I had a plan! Tomorrow I’ll show you how I decided to quilt this UFO.

I’m so Happy that it’s not a UFO anymore!

MB: Can’t you just hear the joy and  excitement in her words? That is what finishing your own quilts does, it fills your heart with joy. Turning the corner after a few initial struggles and some practice time, and getting to a place where you feel you really can do it yourself, fills you up with pride. A genuine sense of accomplishment! Yay Diane!

She followed up with another post about how her plan can together:

Turning the Corner, Part 2

I kept the quilting simple but that’s because Mary Beth Krapil, my tutor in all things machine quilting, has taught me to ask an important question.

How will the Quilt be used?

You don’t need to put heirloom-level quilting on a piece that will be drug through mud puddles by a toddler.

A giving or community quilt (more appropriate descriptions than “charity” quilt, I think) can be something on which you try a new technique or explore a quilting idea. As they say, “The babies won’t care.”

MB: Quilting giving or community quilts is an excellent way to practice. It is quilting with a purpose. The quilt is actually going to be used, not wadded up and tossed in the corner or used for an animal shelter quilt. Since it will be given to someone, you try harder. You try to make those straight lines straight and those curved lines just the right amount of curvy. It’s quilting “for real”. If you belong to a guild that makes quilts for those in the community that need a bit of comfort, be sure to sign up to quilt a few. The quilt police won’t show up if you cross over on your stipple and that baby in the hospital won’t care a bit!

I used the Handi Quilter Skinny 2″ x 10″ ruler to quilt about 1/4″ outside the daisy petals. I did the same 1/4″ inside and outside the flower centers. It felt like enough.

I used a medium pink Superior Threads Omni and it looked great on all the colors in the quilt.

I used to want to hide my quilting at all costs because I thought it was horrible. But I’ve learned that practice and some help from an experienced pro have made all the difference. I’m starting to dream about the day I will want my quilting to show!

Yes, Diane, you have definitely turned the corner and I am standing on the corner jumping up and down and waving pom-poms!

by Mary Beth Krapil

My friend, Diane Harris, is learning how to quilt with a stationary longarm machine, her HQ Capri.  Diane is an ambassador for HQ Stitch sewing machines and writes the blog over on the HQ Stitch page. In recent posts she has been sharing her lessons in machine quilting, and I have been sharing her posts with you. She is learning some wonderful lessons!

This week she writes about figuring out what to quilt and about getting stuck. I’ll share her thoughts and my words of wisdom as a seasoned quilter.

Lessons in Machine Quilting

By Diane Harris, HQ Stitch brand ambassador

Comments by Mary Beth Krapil, Handi Quilter National Educator (MB)

I’m learning so much about machine quilting each day. The lessons apply whether you’re quilting on a domestic like HQ Stitch or on a stationary longarm like the HQ Capri. Some of them would also be useful if you’re longarm quilting with a machine on a movable carriage.

I wrote about quilting My Christmas Album in the last post, and today I want to dive deeper into some big lessons I learned on this quilt and talk about how hard it can be to know what you should quilt.

In other words, do you need geometric shapes or should you outline the patches, can you quilt right on top of the applique, should the quilting be dense or sparse, and so on.

As I considered the blocks, there didn’t seem to be a lot of space for quilting. I stippled a couple of the blocks but I wanted to be more creative on the rest.

The gingerbread men got outlined loosely.

I meandered a large stipple over the trees.

A smaller meander worked between the poinsettias.

I curled in and out of the snowflakes. These ideas aren’t horrible but they’re not great, either. I am hoping that knowing what to quilt will improve with practice.

MB: Knowing what to quilt is a HUGE topic. Of course personal preference plays a big role, but how does a person know what their preference is if they are only just getting started? The answer, my friend, is STUDY. Study is a word that carries memories of forced memorization and poring over boring books. Luckily, the type of study you will be doing is nothing like that! Here’s how you study: you will look at quilts and pay particular attention to the quilting. Go to shows (someday soon I hope), open Pinterest, look on Facebook, browse Instagram, page through quilting books. Find quilts that appeal to you and make note of how they are quilted. You will soon develop personal preference. It might be modern, geometric, angular, flowing, flowery, feathery; there’s really a lot of styles. So first of all…

#1 Know what you like

Then, think about the quilt you are about to quilt and ask some important questions. These will help determine a lot about the quilting.

How is the quilt going to be used? – I will quilt a wall hanging much more densely than a bed quilt. A wall quilt must be stable to keep it square as it hangs and resist sagging of the fabrics. A bed quilt, on the other hand, needs to be soft and drape-able so that it will be cuddly and lay nicely over the edges of the mattress.

What kind of batting will I use? – The package of batting will have a suggested minimum distance for spacing of quilting lines. It’s important to follow these guidelines if you plan to wash the quilt and want it to hold up.

Who is the quilt for? – Man, woman, child, someone playful, someone more formal, modern, traditional? This will be important for the tone of the quilting design. You might put dinosaurs on a kid’s quilt, but might want to stick with feathers on a quilt for the Queen.

Second of all…..

#2 Consider the Quilt

Once you know what you like and have figured out what the quilt needs, it is time to choose a design.  

We are quilters. We all have a stash. Don’t even try to deny it; I know you do. You have more fabric than you could ever hope to use. And when you become a quilter (as opposed to a topper), you will also develop a thread stash. Those of you who have been quilting for a while are nodding your heads. You need one more stash: a design stash. A place to go when you are trying to come up with some idea of what to quilt on your quilt. I started my design stash with books of quilting designs. I have a few. This is only a small portion.

I suggest taking photos of quilting that you especially like. Sketch designs that you have seen on quilts. Add these to a notebook. As you study quilting on social media, save photos to a special file on your computer or tablet. All of this becomes your design stash. Then when you are stumped as to what to quilt, browse your stash and the ideas will start to flow.

Thirdly….

#3 Keep a design stash and know how to use it.

Let’s go back and see what other lessons Diane learned.

One other problem presented itself. I made a plan for quilting loosely around the gingerbread men.

However, I hadn’t planned for how to travel from one to the next. You can see on the left above my wiggly line as I tried to travel. And under his arm, you can almost feel the panic as I ran into a roadblock and didn’t know where to go.

MB: Once you’ve settled on a design choice, figure out your path. One way of doing this is to use your Quilter’s Preview Paper and draw the design without lifting your pen. You can also simply finger trace the design over your block as if you were stitching it. It is great practice for when you are actually quilting, and you’ll find your quilting looks nicer when you take the time to finger trace before actually stitching.

Lesson 4

Trouble comes when I don’t know where I’m going.

I must have a plan for what to quilt, but also for how to travel around the quilt.

And that leads into another lesson.

Lesson 5

Stop. STOP! Sooner, not later.

I tend to blunder forward, adding bad quilting and making the problem worse. The more I blunder, the more quilting there is to remove later. I’m learning to stop as soon as I sense trouble.

MB: This is very common. Quilting is a continuous line, so we want to keep going, continuously. I always tell my students that when you get in a bind and are not sure where to go next, remember: the machine has an OFF switch as well as an ON switch. Take your foot off the pedal, or in the case of a moveable machine, hit the stop button, then take a breath and figure out your next path. No one likes to get that seam ripper out, and what is it about removing stitches? What takes 3 minutes to quilt takes an hour and a half to pick out. So stop before you get into trouble and let the dust accumulate on that seam ripper.

As for this little quilt, while I struggled mightily, it is finished. And in my book,

Finished is better than perfect!

MB: That is a good attitude to have, Diane! We are our own worst critics. We are so close to our work that it is sometimes hard to stand back and just take it in as a whole and appreciate the quilt. You enjoyed the process of making it and you learned a few things along the way. What could be better?

And now because machine quilting is finally FUN, I’m off to quilt the next one!

MB: I can’t wait to see what you tackle next, Diane. There is one more question you have to ask when you are deciding how to quilt something:

What is my skill level? – Maybe you really want to quilt feathers on a quilt, but you’ve never quilted a feather. There are 2 paths here: practice your feathers until you feel ready, then proceed; OR pick a different design.

Remember how you all committed to practicing 15 minutes EVERY day? You did! You raised your right hands and promised! Here is what you will practice: the design you want on your next quilt. Whatever that may be—feathers, ribbon candy, stipple—practice until you feel confident. Then GO FOR IT.

We are so lucky to have a second guest post from And I Quilt personality, Vanessa Clark. She’s a Grandmother, she’s a volunteer, and she Quilts!  She loves to interact with her grandchildren and what better way than to share her love of sewing and quilting? Vanessa is sharing her method of teaching young children how to sew.

Teaching Children How to Sew

A common question frequently asked is, “How soon can children sew?” Well with an aid from this product that I found, it may be sooner than what you would think. I first saw this product used in kids camp at my favorite quilt shop. Perfect for children in first through third grades. My first grand son, Hudson and I love doing crafty things together. One day when I was watching him while his mom and dad were out of town, we went to the sewing room to make a project.

The product we used is from HelloSewingWorld.com. It is printed fusible interfacing for making a nine patch block.

Using scissors, Hudson cuts out the nine patch block. We really enjoyed selecting the fabrics for his project since Halloween was just around the corner, we were able to find the perfect selection of fabrics. Hudson finds my stash of fabrics fascinating.

Next was cutting our fabrics into 2 1/2 inch squares and with the Accuquilt fabric cutting system the squares were cut accurately.

Finding the right placement of squares for our nine patch was lots of fun too. We placed our fabric squares with the wrong sides on the fusible side of the interfacing and ironed them into place. Next we were off to the sewing machine using the Handi Quilter Stitch 210. The Stitch 210 is the perfect first sewing machine for beginners but also perfect for travel and to take to sewing retreat.

By folding the fabric with right sides together, you can see the stitch lines marked for the 1/4 inch seams. Do all the vertical and then all the horizontal. It looks so good when finished. We added solid color fabric for the back, placing front and back with right sides together, stitched and turned inside out.

It was sensational, a mug rug for mommy. Hudson was so proud of himself and even more so when he presented his gift to his mom.

Hudson is eight years old. Loves to play baseball and games with the family.

I love being a grandmother, making cherished sweet memories that I do not take for granted.

Thank you Vanessa! It’s so important to pass along our sewing skills to the next generation.

If you would like to learn more about Vanessa and meet our other And I Quilt personalities please visit here.

Getting started with longarm quilting can be fun, intimidating, exciting, and scary all at once. There is a LOT to learn. Even if you have been sewing and using sewing machines all your life, there’s something a bit different when it comes to quilting.

My friend and colleague, Diane Harris, is the brand ambassador for HQ Stitch, Handi Quilter‘s line of domestic sewing machines. (Yes! Handi Quilter has sewing machines too!) There are 3 models for all kinds of sewists. You can check them out here. I do my piecing on a HQ Stitch 510 machine. I thought I was a good piecer before I got this machine, but it has made a marked improvement in my piecing. It sews SO straight and FAST!

Diane and I have had lots of conversations about quilting. She has struggled with machine quilting on domestic machines, with all the usual complaints: hard to maneuver a quilt in a small throat space, hard to keep stitches consistent, etc. I have finally convinced her to join the ranks of longarm quilters. She wanted a stationary machine, so the HQ Capri was perfect for her. Diane writes the blog over at HQStitch.com and she will be sharing her adventures in longarm quilting on her blog. I thought it would be fun to share some of her posts here. If you’re new to quilting you can empathize with her learning curve and if you’re more experienced you can share your tips with Diane.

Drinking From A Fire Hose by Diane Harris

For the past few years, I’ve been using Handi Quilter’s HQ Stitch sewing machines, and loving every minute. I share what I learn, make and explore with you here and on other social platforms. It’s always great fun.

Now I’m adding another Handi Quilter tool to my studio: The HQ Capri stationary longarm. I’ve only had it for a few weeks and I am learning so much. It feels like I’m drinking from a fire hose.

I am new to longarm quilting, so I have all the questions that any beginner would have. Together in this space we will answer those questions. We’ll learn from experience and also from seasoned Handi Quilter educators. I’m excited about both.

We’ll get into the nuts and bolts of machine setup and getting started in another post, but today I want to whet your appetite with the quilts I’ve worked on.

My Christmas Album is a Tina Curran design on which I used fusible raw-edge applique because I wanted it done quickly. The patch edges are secured with a machine straight stitch and matching or neutral thread. I used my HQ Stitch 710 and it was especially handy because I could automatically secure the beginning and ending stitches—a great timesaver.

Everything went smoothly—until I got to the quilting—a couple of years back. I couldn’t figure out what to quilt around all that applique.

I’ve had machine quilting on this quilt no fewer than three times, and I ripped it out each time. I was pretty frustrated with it, and it’s been sitting in timeout for a long while.

Lesson #1

Learning what to quilt is as challenging and as important
as learning how to quilt it.

What to quilt has been the stumbling block for My Christmas Album. I’ve rarely done applique and I didn’t have many ideas for how to quilt it. We’ll talk more about this in an upcoming post.

Now I’ve moved on to quilting Wild Garden. I started this quilt at a retreat with Mary Lou Weidman. We learned improvisational piecing techniques and it was so much fun. Later I added more flowers and leaves with fusible applique.

Are you getting excited to learn with me all about machine quilting and the HQ Capri? I have a hundred questions, have run into a few roadblocks, and I’ve made some major mess-ups.

You just haven’t lived until you’ve quilted a corner of the quilt to the back of the quilt by accident.

Lesson #2

Check regularly to be sure there is nothing extra under the needle.

In addition to the many lessons I’m learning, I’m going to start a list of

Things I Love

1. 18″ of throat space  (Note from Mary Beth: I TOLD you!)

It is such a luxury to have this much room for the quilt. I knew it would be more generous than a domestic sewing machine, but I am blown away every day by how roomy that throat space actually is.

Read more about the HQ Capri stationary longarm. I’ll be back soon.

Diane

Here at Handi Quilter we are all about finishing more quilts. Our And I Quilt personality, Vanessa Clark, has written a guest post about an important finishing touch, the label. Take it away Vanessa…

The Finishing Touch

The label

The one thing most of us forget to do is put labels on our quilts. We work so hard and are so anxious to finish our quilts we forget all about the label. Let’s face it, by the time the cutting and piecing is done, all we want to do is get that quilt top on the longarm and do what we really love doing.  I like to plan the back of the quilts. Sometimes I use a coordinating fabric for the back or a solid colored back so I can really see the quilting motif. With a solid back, it is a perfect opportunity to label the quilt with some embroidery as seen here:

I often embroider the butterfly, which is like my logo (or identity) for me, and the year I made the quilt. You can also add other sweet labels like the ones here:

I got them while attending Handi Quilter Academy.

And hey, if you forgot and have completely finished the quilt, just hand sew a label on the back.

Watch the HQ Live video on memory quilts for some awesome ideas. Oh, and be sure to note how my fellow And I Quilt inspiration squad members made labels for the back of our memory quilt. The back of the quilt was just as special as the front. Yay squad! I just love our team.

Now, my quilt is ready to be gifted. For this tip I give credit to my daughter, Lori, who has the gift of hospitality and always makes things so special. It is linen spray.

I lightly spray some linen spray to give the quilt a fresh clean smell. This product is Olivia Blake, Anjou Pear and Jasmine. Check your boutiques or home goods store for linen sprays.

Close your eyes, inhale, awe, cozy!

Tie your quilt up with a bow, write a sentimental note and this gift is off to my Aunt. Making her feel special is important to me. Giving a quilt is like giving a great big hug.

I hope I have given you some ideas for your next gifted quilt.

Until next time,

I am Vanessa Clark.

A grandmother of four little cuties.

A volunteer.

And I Quilt!

Thanks Vanessa! We all need to remember that all important label, it’s like signing your artwork. Keep finishing more quilts and stay healthy!

I love going to quilt shows. I love getting inspired by looking at the quilts. I love shopping the vendors and I love to take classes to learn a new thing or three. I’ll bet you do too! Right now we need to keep our distance from one another, so quilt shows have had to cancel or re-schedule. In an effort to keep our quilting community close (is that a bad word?) and keep the inspiration flowing, Handi Quilter is hosting the Cyber Quilt Show.

At the Cyber Quilt Show we can do all the things we love doing at a quilt show and still keep ourselves healthy and do our part in keeping our country and the world safe.  Join us for a special online event complete with show discounts*, education events, and inspiration galore! It’s the next best place to find great show deals and longarm education. Looking for inspiration or have questions about our longarm machines or accessories? Just ask. We’re here to help you find the tools and resources you need to create beautiful quilts finished with craftsmanship and care.

Learn

Take advantage of the FREE classes available on the website with more to come during the month of the show, great quilting education provided by our talented Handi Quilter educators.

Spark

AQS QuiltWeek – Fall Paducah 2018, Janome America Best of Show Winner, FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS by Kathy K. Wylie

Looking for some quilty inspiration? Scroll down on the home page to see the quilts in the show, then post your quilts on social media with the hashtag #cyberquiltshow and you just might see your quilt “hanging” in the show on the website. What a great way to inspire one another!

Save

If you’ve been wanting to purchase a longarm machine and have been waiting for a show to take advantage of show special pricing, now is the time to act. During the Cyber Quilt Show we not only have super special prices* but you get FREE shipping* as well! All Handi Quilter longarm purchases come with the assurance of local training, education, and support. We will connect you to your local authorized HQ retailer and that retailer will get credit for the sale, just as if you walked into their shop and bought your machine there. They will train you on the operation of the machine to make sure you will know your machine and have fun finishing your quilts. That training and education is the hallmark of Handi Quilter’s outstanding customer service reputation.

“See” you at the quilt show!

by Mary Beth Krapil

* Show pricing valid through April 25, 2020 only. Discount available for new orders only. Offer is valid only at participating U.S. and Canada Handi Quilter retailers and on the Handi Quilter website. Contact your local retailer for participation details. Free shipping on select machine packages for the 48 contiguous states only. Shipping to Alaska and Hawaii receive a discount toward the total cost of freight charges. May not be combined with any other offers, discounts, or promotions.

Last week we saw some great examples for stipple and pebbles on the quilts at the AQS Quiltweek Show in Daytona Beach, FL. This week we’ll explore even more fill designs and get an idea how they can be used effectively. So let’s dive right in.

Straight Lines

I think the next most popular fill design is simple straight lines. These create great contrast with anything curvy and it is easy to get the right size contrast with straight lines by their spacing. This quilt by Claudia Scheja uses straight lines in multiple places for a great effect of contrast with the circular applique and curved piecing.

In the border:

Spring Thing
by Claudia Scheja
of Werne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

And within the piecing:

detail Spring Thinng
by Claudia Scheja
of Werne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Congratulations!

Varied spacing of straight lines can create some quite interesting texture.

detail Sheer Joy
by Shirley Gisi
of Colorado Springs, CO

Sheer Joy
by Shirley Gisi
of Colorado Springs, CO

Straight lines create a beautiful contrast and make the trapuntoed quilting motifs really pop.

detail Paradise of Flowers and Fountains
by Naomi Ootomo
of Todashi, Saitama, Japan

detail Paradise of Flowers and Fountains
by Naomi Ootomo
of Todashi, Saitama, Japan

Paradise of Flowers and Fountains
by Naomi Ootomo
of Todashi, Saitama, Japan

Congratulations!

Hatch

Straight lines can also create hatch fill designs. Hatch fills are a classic fill. Think of all the Sun Bonnet Sue quilts you have seen. What is quilted behind Sue? Cross hatch. This triptych quilt is much more modern but uses hatch fills to great advantage.

detail Respite
by Sandy Curran
of Newport News, VA

Respite
by Sandy Curran
of Newport News, VA

The double lines of this hatch fill makes for nice texture.

Chocolate Fantasy
by Linda Fleschner
of North Fon du Lac, WI

Chocolate Fantasy
by Linda Fleschner
of North Fon du Lac, WI

You saw this quilt by Marilyn Badger last week. It has some nice cross hatching that follows the lines of the plaid fabric. A very nice quiet design choice for a kind of loud fabric. There’s contrast!

detail Christmas in St Andrews
by Marilyn Badger
of St George, UT

Christmas in St Andrews
by Marilyn Badger
of St George, UT

Basket Weave

A bit of a take-off on hatch designs are basket weave fill designs. Basket weave can create interest in an otherwise dull part of a quilt. This is another gorgeous Marilyn Badger quilt.

detail Midnight in Morocco
by Marilyn Badger
of St George, UT

Midnight in Morocco
by Marilyn Badger
of St George, UT

Congratulations Again!

This design looks kind of like a basket weave to me. Maybe a “modern” basket weave? This quilt was one of my favorites of the whole show. I love how Cindy used circles to create her self-portrait.

detail My Big Face
by Cindy Stohn
of Chandler, AZ

My Big Face
by Cindy Stohn
of Chandler, AZ

detail My Big Face
by Cindy Stohn
of Chandler, AZ

Geometric Grids

Some of my favorite fill designs are grid designs. I love the symmetry and the texture. This one creates an almost optical illusion.

detail Venus
by Rosani Ganc
of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Venus
by Rosani Ganc
of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

A unique combination of grid design and stipple. Love! I’m sorry to say I do not know the name of this quilt nor the maker. My apologies!

maker unknown

The diamond geometric grid fill pattern has the spaces filled with radiator fill. A fill in a fill, how about that?

detail Dangerous Liaisons
by Cristina Arcenegui Bono
of Alcala de Guadaira, Spain

Dangerous Liaisons
by Cristina Arcenegui Bono
of Alcala de Guadaira, Spain

Random Geometric

The variegated thread color and random geometric fill adds so much to the background of this fun quilt.

detail 15 Warthogs
by Marilyn Smith
of Columbia, MO

15 Warthogs
by Marilyn Smith
of Columbia, MO

Margaret Solomon Gunn is the master of fill designs. She combines them artistically to create her wonderful quilts.

The Value of Violet
by Margaret Solomon Gunn
of Gorham, ME

detail The Value of Violet
by Margaret Solomon Gunn
of Gorham, ME

detail The Value of Violet
by Margaret Solomon Gunn
of Gorham, ME

detail The Value of Violet
by Margaret Solomon Gunn
of Gorham, ME

Congratulations Again!

Which fill design is your favorite? There are so many to choose from!

by Mary Beth Krapil

I had the pleasure of attending the AQS Quiltweek Show in Daytona Beach, FL a few weeks back. The weather was a little chilly this year but the sun was bright and a welcome change from our rainy weather at home. Daytona Beach is a fantastic place for a quilt show in February. The beach, sunshine, quilts and vendors, what could be better? As I enjoy the quilts, I love to check out the quilting. I noticed some amazing fill designs this year. I took a lot of pictures so I could share with you.

Fill designs serve a couple of distinct purposes on quilts. They add interesting texture and serve to emphasize the more major elements. That might be applique or embroidery, or pop a quilting motif forward while smashing down the background.  There were plenty good examples of fill designs at the Daytona show.

Stipple

In days gone by, everyone used a stipple to emphasize a motif or applique. And stipple still works today. Here is a masterful example by Caryl Bryer Fallert on her quilt Electric Ellipses.

detail Electric Ellipses
by Caryl Bryer Fallert-Gentry of Port Townsend, WA

Electric Ellipses
by Caryl Bryer Fallert-Gentry of Port Townsend, WA

The name of the game is contrast when it comes to fill designs. Notice Caryl used a contrasting color thread and the size of her stipple is smaller than the wiggly line design. The wiggly line pops thanks to the stipple and the thread color creates extra texture and interest. Almost suggesting piecing where there is none.

Here’s an an example of a different kind of stipple that is accomplished with hand quilting. Wow! Can you even imagine how much time went into this quilt?

detail The Crossing
by Linda Roy
of Knoxville, TN

The Crossing
by Linda Roy
of Knoxville, TN

Congratulations!

Another example of contrasting thread paired with a stipple fill design in Marilyn Badger’s quilt Christmas in St. Andrews.

detail of Christmas in St Andrews
by Marilyn Badger
of St George, UT

detail of Christmas in St Andrews
by Marilyn Badger
of St George, UT

Congratulations!

Stipple is that wiggly pattern that never crosses over itself. Sometimes the stipple is so tiny that you can’t help but cross over. I refer to that fill design as a sand stipple or a scribble. Here’s an example by Margaret Solomon Gunn, who quilts on a HQ Fusion.

detail My Secret Garden
by Margaret Solomon Gunn
of Gorham, ME

My Secret Garden
by Margaret Solomon Gunn
of Gorham, ME

Congratulations!

Pebbles

With the advent of movable longarm quilting machines, more and more show quilts were being machine quilted. The judges got bored with stipple and asked contestants to step up their game with unique fill designs and the pebble (bubble, circles) became wildly popular. So much so, that I think we see more pebbles at a quilt show than stipple.

Remember contrast is important in a fill design so pebbles work well with straight lines. The pebbles on Jodi Robinson’s quilt Plain and Simple really set off the geometric design.

detail Plain and Simple
by Jodi Robinson
of Enon Valley, PA

Plain and Simple
by Jodi Robinson
of Enon Valley, PA

Congratulations!

These pebbles are a nice contrast in shape and size from the straight lines.

detail Tribal Dance
by Jackie Van Houten
of Monroe, MI

Tribal Dance
by Jackie Van Houten
of Monroe, MI

Did I mention size? Size matters when you are going for contrast. Generally, the fill design should be 1/3 or less the size of what it is meant to enhance. Look at these teeny, tiny pebbles! (finger in photo for size reference).

detail Princess Rose Garden
by Naomi Iida
of Tokyo, Japan

Princess Rose Garden
by Naomi Iida
of Tokyo, Japan

I have photos of other fill designs that I’ll save for next week. In the meantime, practice those stipples and pebbles!

by Mary Beth Krapil