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The freemotion design Chain Link works well for domestic machine quilters and longarmers. This grid design resembles a bicycle chain and chain links. The pattern is based on a simple loop that is repeated twice per row. This freemotion pattern will look great on ...

Get your marking pen out, I have a nice grid pattern for you! The shapes that make up this design are pretty easy, but the stitch path can become confusing. Please mark the stitch path too! It takes less time to mark than to undo your work! So, take your time, and go slow!

I have selected this Busy Bee design on purpose for this week. I know that for many of us Monday is ‘ back-to-work-day’ and ‘busy-busy-busy-today’ and it may feel like you never even had those vacation days off. Maybe try this fun design to counterbalance that? You ...

Before we delve into this weeks design, I wanted to draw your attention to a website called Create Whimsy. This site is a treasure trove of interesting quilty resources and a fabulous series of interviews. These interviews are with quilt designers, textile artists, pattern surface designers and various other creative professionals. This week I was asked to participate in this series of spotlight interviews. You can find my interview on the site. Do you have any additional questions you would like me to answer? Would love to more for you.

It is time for a cosy and nostalgic design this ...

Are you going to be spending more time on our sewing machines now that the weather is getting colder? I know I am! That means we have some time for a bit more in-depth learning with this week’s pattern. The pattern Twist will probably be familiar as it has been around for a while. It is basically an orange peel variation, but instead of an arch shape we are using a shape that resembles a gentle wave or a hill / slope.

The asymmetry in that shape adds so much movement in your quilt! I know that the design is ...

Get out your bright threads, especially the neon colors. I suspect you don’t use those very often. Here is your chance! This grid design Diamante is a fabulous one tot stitch out with a thread that really shows up on your fabric. Its whole purpose is to create a dazzling design.

Pattern Tutorial

The pattern is based on a diamond or triangular grid . You can use square grid instead. In general, they give the same result. The diamond grid is visually easier because you can’t get confused by the lines on your fabric.

The design is stitched out ...

The clematis plants in my garden are blooming their socks off! Big and bold blooms in lavender and magenta and tender bell-like shapes in yellow which also have fabulous seed heads. The white variety already started flowering in March and those flowers have long gone.

The clematis flowers always remind me of a grid quilting design that I shared in a blogpost from 2017. This quilting design Clem is based on the zentagle drawing tutorial from 2016 by the designer Erika Kehlet. You can find pictures of her fabulous work on her Instagram account and all over Pinterest.

Zentangle designs ...

Did you see the Northern Lights two weeks ago?

I have to report there was nothing to see where I live, because dawn came too early for us. There was just too much light in the sky to be able to see the pretty colors. I live in a pretty densely populated area anyway, so even looking at the regular night’s sky to see the stars is a bit of a challenge. I can see some constellations with very bright stars, but that is about it.

I am making up for missing out on all the celestial events of ...

Last Friday was World Water Day and this next Friday is Mermaid Day, so this week’s free motion design just fits in!

The Mermaid’s Tail design is based on the clamshell grid. This design can be quilted pretty densely, but stitch it out as big as you want. You could even use a ruler to help you create the semicircular arcs. The clamshell gird is used upside down, making it look like scales. Scales on a mermaid’s tail!

Fill the clamshells with teardrops that fan out from the centre. Use as many teardrops as you like.

There ...

Lemon, lime, oranges or mandarin oranges.

I adore the scent of citrus! Cleaning products, candles, bath products, you name it! I love a wedge of lemon in my coke and add in all the ice cubes!

Do you have a scent or flavor that you adore?

The design Lemon Slices is based on an orange peel grid, and it creates a lovely texture which keeps your quilt nice and cuddly. The design can be stitched out with a quilting ruler if you want to. It depends on how smooth your curves turn out and what size grid you are using ...

Most of the grid-based designs I have shared with you are stitched out horizontally. I have a vertical one for you today, which makes it more suitable for domestic machine quilters compared to longarm quilters. If you want to use this on a large project on a longarm, you would have to advance the quilt after stitching just a few hearts. That would take up way too much time. So, if you would like to use this design on a longarm, maybe consider turning your project 90 degrees and stitch it out on its side???

The Row of Hearts design ...