Often students in my quilting classes ask about how to decide what quilting patterns to use for a particular quilt.  I have been thinking about how I decide to use particular patterns and how I can better answer the question.  I don’t have any great answers yet, but I’m still working on it!

Recently I visited Pacific Fabrics in East Bremerton.  It happened that my visit coincided with their (free) monthly craft presentation presented by Chris Groce.  I have seen a couple of her presentations before – they are always fast paced and packed with ideas using the latest products and patterns Pacific Fabrics has in their stores.  I decided to stay and listen.  A number of the products and patterns she featured were related to “Modern Quilting”.  The presentation made me think of the need for free motion quilting patterns that fit well with modern quilts.  I quickly sketched a few ideas on one of the handouts.  I can’t remember if these ideas came from actual quilting on some of the projects she showed, or if they came from the prints on the fabrics.  I just remember wanting to draw the basic forms so I wouldn’t forget.  Here are my initial sketches:

Jotting down ideas so i wouldn’t forget!

I sketched bigger versions of these in my sketchbook and then stitched some of them out this morning.  I think I will be able to make these even better with more practice, but they aren’t bad for first tries.

Here is a double loop pattern, as sketched out and then stitched out.

Double Loops

Double loops stitched out

And now the rounded squares.

rounded squares

Rounded squares stitched out

And finally, triangles.  I sketched several versions of these before I finally stitched out the large double triangles.

Single triangles

Open double triangles

Larger double triangles – fills the space better

Larger double triangles stitched out

These patterns were pretty quick to stitch and add nicely to my “library” of free motion patterns.  Do try them out!