how I come up with a quilting motif
03-16-2014, 09:51 AM
#1
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: NY
Posts: 10,590
how I come up with a quilting motif
I find that the most appealing quilting designs are ones that are repetitive. I think that is probably because things in nature are repetitive and we are probably drawn to repetitive designs. Nature is full of fractals which are never ending designs that repeat themselves mathmatically. So when I come up with a motif, I try to figure out a way to break it down and repeat it by mirroring and duplicating. Karen McTavish calls it elemental quilting, she breaks the design into a few simple elements then by mirroring and repeating you end up with a pleasing design that looks really complex. Here is how I do it.
This hand pieced quilt was delivered to me for quilting
[ATTACH=CONFIG]467505[/ATTACH]
I isolated the repeating block.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]467506[/ATTACH]
Then I isloated a unit of the block to get a basic shape to repeat. I chose this heart shaped unit.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]467507[/ATTACH]
I placed a piece of tracing paper over the unit and traced the outside line of the unit then came up with a simple swirly motif for the outer part and a teardrop shape in the inner part. You can also use a clear piece of plastic or plexiglass and erasable white board markers. I am old school and like paper.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]467508[/ATTACH]
And here is what the completed block looks like all quilted up.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]467509[/ATTACH]
Sometimes you get pleasant surprises. In this case the unquilted area coming off the center hexi forms a secondary star pattern. Can you see the 6 star points?
This hand pieced quilt was delivered to me for quilting
[ATTACH=CONFIG]467505[/ATTACH]
I isolated the repeating block.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]467506[/ATTACH]
Then I isloated a unit of the block to get a basic shape to repeat. I chose this heart shaped unit.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]467507[/ATTACH]
I placed a piece of tracing paper over the unit and traced the outside line of the unit then came up with a simple swirly motif for the outer part and a teardrop shape in the inner part. You can also use a clear piece of plastic or plexiglass and erasable white board markers. I am old school and like paper.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]467508[/ATTACH]
And here is what the completed block looks like all quilted up.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]467509[/ATTACH]
Sometimes you get pleasant surprises. In this case the unquilted area coming off the center hexi forms a secondary star pattern. Can you see the 6 star points?
Last edited by feline fanatic; 03-16-2014 at 09:53 AM.
03-16-2014, 10:18 AM
#3
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Lake Elsinore, CA
Posts: 15,182
When I first saw the top, I thought it was just a mish-mash of unrelated shapes. But seeing what you have done with the quilting - wow! It is transformed. You've illuminated the shapes that were there (that I couldn't see) and added more interest as well. Absolutely wonderful! Now you have to show us the whole quilt -- please!
03-16-2014, 10:29 AM
#5
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: SW Missouri
Posts: 2,988
When I first saw the top, I thought it was just a mish-mash of unrelated shapes. But seeing what you have done with the quilting - wow! It is transformed. You've illuminated the shapes that were there (that I couldn't see) and added more interest as well. Absolutely wonderful! Now you have to show us the whole quilt -- please!
03-16-2014, 12:26 PM
#7
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Southern MN
Posts: 2,376
When I first saw the top, I thought it was just a mish-mash of unrelated shapes. But seeing what you have done with the quilting - wow! It is transformed. You've illuminated the shapes that were there (that I couldn't see) and added more interest as well. Absolutely wonderful! Now you have to show us the whole quilt -- please!
03-17-2014, 01:30 AM
#9
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Wills Point, Texas
Posts: 2,543
When I first saw the top, I thought it was just a mish-mash of unrelated shapes. But seeing what you have done with the quilting - wow! It is transformed. You've illuminated the shapes that were there (that I couldn't see) and added more interest as well. Absolutely wonderful! Now you have to show us the whole quilt -- please!
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