Free-motion quilting with marking? Follow the patchwork!

Sometimes—maybe more often than not—it’s a quandary choosing a quilting pattern for a quilt top. An all-over pattern with curves, loops, or circles? A combo design of swirls and feathers or double-circles? What to do? 

With this scrappy wreath block quilt top, I decided to “follow the patchwork.”

How to quilt this top? Follow the patchwork!

Free-motion quilting without marking the quilt top

I admit it. I am a “lazy quilter.” If I don’t have to mark a design on a quilt top, I don’t have to 

1. take the time to mark the top, and 
2. I don’t have to remove the marks once I’m finished with the quilting. 

“More free-motion quilting time, less mark time!” is my philosophy for finishing quilts, especially charity quilts.

So, by examining this quilt top, I determined the patchwork was a wonderful candidate for mark-free machine quilting. The wreath blocks were well-defined and the solid setting (no sashing between the blocks) offered an opportunity for a continuous quilting path around the quilt.

Wreath blocks.

A continuous line quilting path: the blocks

For continuous line quilting, first you have to determine a way to quilt each block without tie-offs and having to quilt each block individually. For each wreath, a continuous line of loops could get me around the block. I started in the ditch with the lower part of the loop and continued quilting loops clock-wise (or counter-clockwise) around the block until meeting back at the starting point (see black line below).

The loop pattern (black line) around the wreath and the spiral pattern (green line)
in the center of the block.

Once the stitching line met back at the beginning of the pattern, I stitched in the ditch to travel to the center of the block—the hole of the wreath (see green line above). A spiral of straight lines (rather than circular) started at the perimeter and then spiraled inward to the center. Another stitch-in-the-ditch allowed for a path out of the center and on to the next block.

A continuous line quilting path across the quilt top

Then you have to figure out a way to get from one block to the next to make your way around the quilt.  Working from the middle of the quilt outward, I dropped the needle at the block in the second row in the center column (see black line below). At the bottom of that column, I took a turn and quilted the blocks on the one side of the quilt. Once at the top, I took another turn, quilted across the top and then quilted the remaining side.

Mapping a continuous line quilting path.

Any unquilted intersections (where the corners of four blocks met) were quilted with another pass (green lines above).

Back side of the quilt showing the quilting.

Quilting the borders

The borders were quilted with a continuous zigzag pattern. At the corners, a loop (similar to the loops in the wreath blocks) allowed for the change in direction (quilting path) to the next side. It was another continuous line of free-motion quilting around the perimeter of the quilt.

Quilting pattern at the coreners.

Taller zigzags stretched into the unquilted spaces when needed.

Varying the height of the zigzags around the border.

So, with four quilting passes—three in the center plus the border quilting—this scrappy wreath quilt top is quilted—with no marking needed. The free-motion quilting took 45 minutes!

Quilting view from the back.

Trimmed quilt.

The binding is prepared and will be attached by machine.

Binding for the wreath block quilt.

Take a little time to examine the patchwork and layout of your next quilt top. With a little analysis, a map for the quilting path(s), you can free-motion quilt without marking the quilt top. Just follow the patchwork!

Making Wreath Blocks with scraps and a specialty ruler

 My pile of make-do wreath blocks has grown!

Wreath blocks for scraps.

Using the Hatchet Block specialty ruler

The original “make do” blocks that inspired this project were made with scraps and strings, pieced on the diagonal of a square. 

I used a Creative Grids Hatchet Block specialty ruler to gauge the fabric length for the center section of each unit. Red fabric squares were cut in half diagonally for the corner triangles. The Hatchet Block ruler was designed to be used with 5” charm squares, but it can be used with scraps, too. Quiltmakers love tools that are multi-use and versatile as well as making the patchwork process efficient!

The Hatchet Block specialty ruler and a 6.5” square ruler were used to make units for the wreath blocks.

Four Hatchet units were needed to make each Wreath block. Trimming a few of the Hatchet units also added to my collection of HSTs (half-square triangles).

Scraps and trimmings contribute to half-square triangle [HST] units.

12-block layout

My individual Wreath blocks came to 9.5” square. They needed to be trimmed down to 9” to match the three “make do” blocks—the impetus of this project.

Squaring up Wreath blocks to 9” [unfinished size].

Twelve blocks make up the layout of this little quilt top. I opted to set the blocks solid (without a sashing). This allowed the diamond shapes—created by the intersection of four blocks coming together—become apparent. This echoes the diamond shapes in the center of each wreath block.

Wreath blocks on the design wall.

If you “spin the seams” at the block’s center (all in the same direction, mind you—either clockwise or counter-clockwise), the seam allowances will nest at the sides, making assembling easier and reducing bulk.

Spinning the seams reduces bulk and aids in nesting the seam allowances.

A simple red border finished the quilt top.

Finished quilt top. 31” x 39.5” 

Making these scrappy blocks were fun and stress-free. And I’m pleased that three orphaned “make do” blocks have found their home.

Wreath blocks inspired by “Make Do” string blocks

These string blocks resurfaced during a recent therapeutic patchwork session. They were from a “Make Do” quilt guild program from several years ago.

Scrappy string blocks from a “Make Do” quilt guild program.

Inspired by the easy patchwork and the use of fabric scraps, I pulled a few fabrics off the top of the scrap pile to make a few more. I’m calling them wreath blocks.

Wreath blocks made from fabric scraps. 9.5” (unfinished size)

With the addition of a few more, these blocks will eventually turn into a charity quilt of some sort. The fabrics reflect the changing of seasons from the last blooms of summer, to the golden harvest colors of fall and Thanksgiving.