Jul 14 13
Borders on the Chrismas Wall hanging
The narrow inner border and the 2 short gold sections were made by stitching an inch worm in one direction and then going back in and stitching an inchworm in the opposite orientation:
The light green sections were the largest and the places where I had fun experimenting. I created this section by using acrylic templates that are used with long arm quilting on a frame system, except that I used them on my HDSM using the push-through method. I started by drawing 2 design options on paper:
I decided to go with the top drawing only because it seemed more unexpected. The tool I used to push my foot against as I worked is called the 6 1/2 inch Fine Line Continuous Curve Template. The design is created in 3 steps and this is the first step:
In this next shot, I’m creating the channel and you can see how this system works. Notice that the free motion foot is right up against the template:
(That template is not there in order to trace a line. It is literally held up against the free motion foot as the quilt is being moved and it allows you to create a very smooth curve.) This curve comes in 3 sizes and this is by far my favorite size. Here’s a shot of what it looks like once all the channels are done:
…and here’s shot of them after they’ve been “filled in” with some stippling. I really like the texture this created:
I’ll do a more thorough blog post on this technique sometime down the road when i have more samples to show. This is not as hard as it might seem and I think it will open up lots of new design opportunities for the sitdown/push through quilter.
is this on a longarm patsy? can you use these templates effectively on a domestic machine? {beautiful patterns}
Hi Leslie,
No longarm and no frame system here! I am using these templates on a regular home domestic sewing machine and quilting just as I normally quilt. I am holding the ruler, moving the quilt across the machine bed, and applying pressure between the ruler and the free motion foot all at the same time. I could never achieve these wonderfully smooth curves by marking a line and following it!
Argh!!!! I just found these rulers online 3 days ago and have been obsessing about them. I really don’t have the spare cash now and seeing what a lovely job you did with these isn’t helping! Very nice.
Patsy – definitely looking forward to the technique posting when you have time. I was always under the impression that these templates cannot be used by the traditional HDSM quilter. I should have known you’ll be pushing the envelope. Would love to see a short vid if possible on how you actually hold the template and push fabric at the same time.
Hi Patsy! I just got circle and melon templates and have been practicing up with them like crazy. LOVE the results I’m getting with them! Thanks for showing your creative ideas. I will keep them in mind for future uses!!!
Pamelyn of pamelynspostings.blogspot.com