I’ve just finished free motion quilting the Dilly Dally quilt, and I’m so excited to show you the texture and detail that went into this project. This quilt was a long, rewarding process. I took the time to quilt each part with intention, from custom motifs in every block to playful texture in the sashing, and a border that let me try something completely new.

Let’s walk through the quilting choices I made and how everything came together.

Custom Quilting the Blocks and Sashing

Once the quilt top was finished, I jumped straight into quilting each block individually. I used a mix of ruler work and tiny free motion quilting motifs, so every block has its own personality. Some designs are structured and geometric. Others lean more organic and flowing.

In the sashing, I added soft squiggly lines. These give the quilt a sense of movement and create that irresistible crinkly texture after washing. The variation between the controlled block quilting and the loose sashing adds contrast and keeps the eye moving across the quilt.

Play

A New Feather Border Technique

For the borders, I wanted to try something I hadn’t done before. I created a snaking feather that curved gracefully around each corner of the quilt. I didn’t use a pattern or stencil. Instead, I took a dinner plate and a washable marker and freehanded a winding vine directly onto the quilt top. This became the stem of my feather.

Once I loaded the quilt, I followed those markings to stitch the vine. Then I added the feather plumes by eye. Each plume is different, giving the feather a soft, organic look. The stem keeps the flow consistent. It’s imperfect in all the right ways and adds a playful, handmade charm to the border.

• Dilly Dally Pattern
• Foreground: Jelly Bean Meadow fabrics
• Background: Kona Snow
• Borders: Pure Ginger + Tiny Terrazzo accents

Want to Learn How to Free Motion Quilt?

If you’re looking to learn or build your confidence with free motion quilting, I’ve got you covered:

🧵 Join the Finish It class – This class walks you through quilting your own quilts from start to finish on your domestic machine.

🎥 Watch free quilting tutorials and demos – Visit the Tutorials section on my site for helpful guides and real-time stitching demonstrations.

Quick Overview of What I Did on the Dilly Dally Quilt

• Custom quilted each block using ruler work and small motifs
• Added squiggly free motion lines in the sashing for movement
• Drew a winding feather stem with a dinner plate and marker
• Freehanded a snaking feather border that wraps around all four edges
• Combined control and creativity for a cozy, crinkled finish

Final Thoughts

This quilt really pushed me creatively. Dilly Dally is full of tiny blocks and lots of visual variety. I wanted the quilting to honor that effort. Adding a hand-drawn feather border was a risk, but I’m so glad I went for it. It’s the kind of design that doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.

If you’re quilting a sampler, I hope this gives you ideas and confidence to try something new. Even if you’re just winging it like I was.

🛍️ Get the Pattern Your Way
There are three ways to get Dilly Dally, depending on how you like to learn and create:

📕 Buy the Printed Pattern Book → Shop the Book
🎥 Take the Standalone Class (lifetime access) → Enroll in the Class
🎁 Join the Membership to access all pattern demos + download the book → Join the Membership

Let me know which quilt version is your favorite in the comments! Have you tried fussy cutting in your own quilts? Or made a scrappy background before? I’d love to hear about your experience. 💬