How I Plan My Free Motion Quilting Designs
Before I start free motion quilting, I always make a plan.
Rather than sitting down at the sewing machine and figuring it out as I go, I like to sketch my quilting ideas first. It gives me a chance to experiment, make changes, and see how the quilting will work with the piecing before I ever stitch a single line.
In this video, I’m taking you behind the scenes as I plan the quilting for my Swayful quilt using my iPad. We’ll talk through the overall design, where I’m placing the swirl flowers, how I’ll use matchstick quilting, and why I chose these motifs for this quilt.
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- Browse Freebies for free patterns and downloads.
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No matter where you are in your quilting journey, there’s a place to start.
Why I Like to Plan My Quilting
Every quilt tells you something different.
Some quilts need simple quilting that lets the piecing shine. Others invite more detailed quilting that becomes part of the overall design.
Sketching first helps me:
- Visualize the finished quilt.
- Balance different quilting motifs.
- Decide where dense and open quilting should go.
- Feel more confident before I start stitching.
Even a quick sketch can make the quilting process feel much less intimidating.
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The Quilting Plan for Swayful
For Swayful, I’ve chosen a combination of swirl flowers and matchstick quilting.
The swirl flowers add movement and softness, while the matchstick quilting creates texture and helps the woven design stand out. Together they create a finish that’s interesting without competing with the quilt itself.
In this video, I walk through the entire plan before any quilting begins.
Resources Mentioned
Looking for more quilt patterns?
Browse our 8 most popular quilt patterns →
Ready to Quilt Along?
If you’re making the Swayful quilt, this video will give you a look at exactly how I approach planning my quilting before I begin stitching.
I hope it encourages you to spend a few minutes sketching out your own ideas before you quilt your next project. A little planning can go a long way toward making the quilting process more enjoyable.
Come Quilt With Me
No matter where you are in your quilting journey, there’s a place to start.
Happening Now
Swayful Quilty Class – BEGINS JUNE 29
A new quilt is beginning inside Quilty Class. Swayful features a woven knot design created from rotating blocks and simple snowball construction. The pattern is fat quarter friendly for the foreground fabrics and includes a unique border that carries the movement all the way to the edges of the quilt.
We’ll begin on June 29 and work through the quilt top together step-by-step as new lessons are released.
If you’re planning to make quilts with us throughout the year, Quilty Club is the easiest way to follow along and access each class as we go.
