The Free-Motion Effect: Designing Custom Quilting

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Pair your projects with complementary machine-quilting designs, and give them the gorgeous finish they deserve!

The Quilting Effect

Meet expert quilter Leah Day, then start learning how to quilt a variety of dynamic free-motion designs. Starting with a basic stippling motif, Leah shows you how to expertly control the speed and direction of your stitching. You’ll also discover a simple trick for securing and hiding your thread tails.

All-Over Quilting Designs

Focus on fast and easy all-over designs that don’t require stitching in the ditch! Gain confidence with two spiral variations as Leah demonstrates her process of covering a quilt with a single design.

Design Variations

Transform the look of your patchwork quilts with Leah’s striking sunray motifs! First, practice stitching in the ditch to create an intricate version of this design. Then learn a timesaving technique for quilting an alternative motif with shorter rays. Plus, find out how batting impacts your quilt designs.

Section Quilting

Enhance the look of your pieced quilts using a variety of lovely filler designs. Leah shows you how to plan out your designs to best emphasize the piecing and add visual interest to larger spaces. You’ll also get step-by-step instruction on stitching paisley, pebbling and ocean current motifs in manageable sections.

Breaking Up Negative Space

Quilted borders can add another layer of texture and dimension to your work. With Leah’s guidance, see how to plan and stitch a variety of versatile border motifs that will truly elevate your pieced designs. In addition, you’ll learn how to quilt elegant feather patterns using stencils as a guide.

Free-Form Lines

Perfect your free-motion quilting technique as you learn three more eye-catching patterns: double pebble, heart paisley and swirling water. Leah demonstrates her effective method of adding simple guidelines to the quilt top before filling the space with a combination of these complementary designs.

Quilting in Appliqué

See how easy it is to embellish your appliqué quilts with Leah’s tips and tricks. First, discover three lovely ways to finish appliqué edges using satin stitching, blanket stitching and raw edge appliqué. Then, get detailed instruction on how to quilt patterns inside the appliqué for striking results!

Dynamic Backgrounds & Borders

Finish your appliqué quilts by adding intricate motifs to the background and borders. Leah walks through the process, showing you how to stitch unique and complementary patterns based on the appliqué design. Plus, discover an innovative technique for creating attractive two-toned borders.