Dogwood Quilting Pattern

I wanted to post in a little more detail about my dogwood free-motion quilting pattern, which I used on these placemats that I made for Sew, Mama, Sew. 

To achieve the regular pattern, start with a 2" (or similarly sized) grid of squares. For the placemats and this sample, I drew a grid using a water soluble marker and my quilting ruler. However, this is a perfect quilting pattern for a quilt that is, itself, a grid of squares, like my Snapshots or Tokyo Subway Map quilts. 

I've also quilted this pattern on a large lap-sized quilt that was not a regular grid pattern (pictures coming in the Spring). In that case, I marked the quilt after I had sandwiched it, but before I pin basted. For something small like the placemats, it was easier to mark the tops before sandwiching.

Marker tips:

• Look for a marker that is "water soluble," not "disappearing ink" or "air soluble." The latter two may disappear before you're done quilting! Water soluble markers are often blue. 
• Choose a thick marker for this task. Marking a lot of lines with a fine-point marker can be tedious.
• Always test your marker on scrap fabric to make sure it will actually go away.
• When marking on your project, mark as lightly as possible. You want to be able to see your lines, but you don't want to have to drench your project in water to get them to disappear.

For this pattern, work in columns, starting at the bottom of a column and working up (pulling the project toward you as you work). On this small sample I started with the column on the far right and worked my way, column by column, to the left. On a larger project, I would have started with a column near the center and then worked out to each side.

Besides working in columns, this pattern makes use of the "margins" of the quilt sandwich that will eventually be cut off. On most projects, that would be the part of the batting and backing that is larger than the top. On my sample, it's the area outside my 2" grid.

Starting in that margin, draw up your bobbin thread, make a knot and stitch to the center of the bottom square in the column. 

From the center, quilt a petal shape in the lower-left quadrant of the square, returning to the center.

Quilt a second petal in the upper-left quadrant, once again returning to the center.

Repeat this process to quilt petals in the upper-right, and lower-right quadrants, returning each time to the center.

Once you have a completed dogwood flower, move to the center of the next square (the square above the one you were just working on). Quilt a dogwood flower in that square.

Repeat the process of quilting flowers in each square, moving up the column until you reach the top. Stitch off the quilt top and into the margin.

Rotate your sandwich 180 degrees. Use the margin to move over to the next column. Quilt to the center of the bottom square in that column and proceed with quilting flowers in each square, until you finish the column.

Continue this process, zigzagging back and forth, up and down the columns, until you've quilted the entire area. As you work, continue to rotate the project 180 degrees at the end of each column. It will be much easier if you are always pulling the project toward you as you quilt! 

Even if you're not doing this pattern, when free-motion quilting on a home machine, I've found that pulling the quilt toward me, rather than pushing it away (as you would have to do if you were using the feed dogs) is a lot easier. It makes it much easier to see what you've just done.  

If you plan to wash your project before using it, the marker should come out in the wash. If you prefer not to wash first, use a spray bottle to mist your project with water. Note: The bottle in the photo is water, not hair product!

It can be tricky to strike the right balance with the water. You want to spray enough to make the ink disappear, but not so much that your project is soaked. Be especially cautious if you have bold, contrasting colors in your project. Even if you're using fabric that wouldn't normally run in the wash, leaving the project wet on a hard, non-absorbent countertop may be problematic. Placing towels underneath can help to soak up excess water that might otherwise pool and cause bleeding.

You may find that some ink lines disappear and then come back. This usually means that they didn't get enough water the first time. If this happens to you, just mist that area a second time. 

Once your project is dry, trim it to the desired size. As you can see in my sample, I've trimmed away the margins, so you can no longer see the places where I moved from one column to the next. 

Here's a detail shot of the quilting on one of the placemats. 

As always, if you use this tutorial, please don't hesitate to show off your work in my Flickr Group.

Comments

[Adrianne (Little Bluebell)]

Your quilting is gorgeous. This peel shape is one of my favorite ever so it's fun to see it as a quilting pattern. Your tutorial is very thorough. You make me feel like I can do this!! I'm definitely going to try it. Thanks so much Elizabeth!! : )

[monica]

thank you! I'll have to try this...

[krista]

Such a pretty quilting design! Thanks for sharing this tutorial.

[Beth]

I must find some time to practice this technique...I love it!! Thanks so much for sharing. Smiles~Beth

[Ashley]

Elizabeth - it's gorgeous!! I'm definitely going to try this on my next smallish quilt! So nice of you to share your method!!

[Marta]

Thanks, as always, for the most clear and easy-to-follow instructions!

[Alli]

This is awesome! Thank you for the tutorial! :)

[Katy]

Oh that is fab, thanks for the tutorial!

[January T]

That is so pretty & you made it look so easy!

[Emilie]

Genius, girl. Genius.

[Megan]

So glad to know I'm not the only one who fills hair product bottles with water for my sewing needs! And this pattern is wonderful.

[NancyinSTL]

Thanks!!! I will be trying this on a future project. You make it look so easy--I hope it is.

[Lynne]

A great tutorial, thank you!

[Patti]

Thanks so much for this great tutorial. I will be trying it as soon as possible!

[Jennifer @ Ellison Lane Quilts]

It is wonderful Elizabeth- love the pattern and appreciate the tutorial. Thank you.

[Lindsey]

Not related to this post, but I just picked up the International Quilt Festival Quilt Scene magazine, and I LOVE your avalon quilt pattern in it. Awesome fabric choices, and I love the layout. I can't wait to finish up some other projects so I can make one for myself!

[Kelly Irene]

As always *thank you*! Your tips are so helpful, and I already have plans to use this :)

[Siobhan Rogers]

Looks so good!

[Suzanne]

While I have seen similar patterns before, I've never seen it done with the connector lines. I hesitate to say it seems easy, but definately easier than the other methods. While I really like it nice and simple, have you ever been tempted to do some microstippling or something in certain areas of it??

[Peggy Grow]

I love this! Thank you so much! I truly hate the quilting part of quilting, but this tute might make it, well, tolerable. :)

[Kari]

This is great! I have to try that.

[Nancy]

I love this. I kind of did this quilting when I did my last OBW following the seams that came together as 8 seems. I just swung out from the seam and came back in. They turned out fairly nice on both front and back. I will have to do what you have done as an all over another quilt. Thanks for the tut.

[Rebecca]

thanks for this great tutorial! i've been admiring the dogwood quilting pattern, and now i can't wait to try it out :o)

[Heleen Groot]

Thank you for the tutorial. You make it look so easy....However, I would not even be able to draw this pattern as neatly with a pencil, let alone a sewing machine.... I am going to practise though!

[Marcia]

You always do the best tutorials. Thanks for another great one.