Quilt as Desired: Advanced Free Motion Quilting Designs in Chapter 8
Chapter 8 of Quilt as Desired focuses on advanced free motion quilting designs, and it marks the final chapter of quilting instruction in this class. This chapter pulls together everything you have practiced so far and invites a little more creativity, flexibility, and personal style.
These lessons are less about learning brand-new movements and more about using familiar motifs in new ways. This chapter is where confidence really starts to show up in the quilting.
If you are following along in the class, Chapter 8 is now available and ready for you.
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Chapter 8: Advanced All-Overs and Creative Variations
Chapter 8 includes five lessons that explore all-over designs and creative variations. Each lesson encourages you to think about how designs fill space, how to move out of tight areas, and how to combine motifs in ways that feel natural.
Lesson 25: All-Over Toothpaste and Tornadoes
This lesson introduces all-over toothpaste paired with tornadoes. Tornadoes are especially helpful for moving out of tight crevices and awkward spaces, which makes them a very practical design.
This is also a great option if swirls, feathers, or floral designs are not your style. Toothpaste and tornadoes create movement and texture without leaning into anything floral, and they work beautifully as an all-over fill.
Lesson 26: Swirl Flower
Swirl Flower is a lesson for quilters who enjoy floral designs. This lesson focuses on flowers built from swirls, and several variations are included to show how small changes can create different looks.
While multiple options are explored, the traditional swirl flower still stands out as one of the most useful and adaptable designs. It fills space well and adds a soft, decorative texture to a quilt.
Lesson 27: Feathered Toothpaste Swirl
The Feathered Toothpaste Swirl combines the look of feathers with the movement of a swirl. Instead of placing plumes along a stem, the plumes are added directly onto a swirling path.
This design is popular for good reason. It is visually striking, takes up space efficiently, and creates a flowing, elegant texture. It is also a helpful stepping stone for quilters who enjoy feathers but want to try something slightly different.
Lesson 28: Botanical Vine
Botanical Vine builds on the vine designs introduced earlier in the class. The main difference here is that this lesson brings together everything you have learned so far.
Instead of sticking with a single motif, multiple elements are added along the vine. This creates a design with more openness and movement. Vines naturally leave more space than densely packed designs, which makes this lesson a great contrast to earlier all-over fills.
Lesson 29: Build Your Own
The final quilting lesson in the class is Build Your Own. This is your opportunity to stitch any design you like using the skills you have developed.
For this block, I chose a centered flower that radiates outward, but there are no rules here. This lesson is about trusting your instincts and enjoying the process of designing as you quilt.
Wrapping Up the Quilting Portion of the Class
Chapter 8 brings the quilting portion of Quilt as Desired to a close. These advanced free motion quilting designs are meant to feel freeing rather than intimidating. The goal is not perfection, but confidence and comfort at the machine.
If you are following along, Chapter 8 is ready for you now. Photos of each design are included above so you can see how these ideas translate onto the block.
Happening Now
Free motion quilting, taught step-by-step
In Quilt As Desired, we’ll work through 25 FMQ designs together and create a soft rag quilt filled with your progress. You can join through QuiltyClub or purchase the class on its own.
Let’s make quilts…
A Note on Combining Designs
Learning to combine free motion quilting designs is one of the most useful skills you can build. It allows you to adapt to different spaces, change direction when needed, and create texture without relying on a single motif.
Chapter 7 encourages experimentation and curiosity. These lessons are about practicing transitions, trusting your instincts, and letting the quilting develop naturally.
If you are following along inside Quilt as Desired, Chapter 7 is ready for you now.
