Self-published quilting patterns are all the rage. This is because individuals are given much more creative freedom to be experimental with their designs than those working for a large corporation. It is because of this sole reason that large scale designs tend to become monotonous and lack flavor for individuality that many quilters took to creating their own stencils, even going as far as making a living from selling them. With a drive for design and the initiative to publish DIY quilt patterns, it is possible to get into business with a few simple skills and basic tools like a sketchpad and a camera. As the process becomes easier, or perhaps a clientele is established, it is possible to upgrade to design software.

The first step to creating designs is to learn from the masters. Research readymade quilting patterns and look through online tutorials. Keep a list of all the information that these sources provide including the level of skill needed to complete the project, the size of the finished project, type and quantity of fabric for each project and the supplies needed. Once the type of quilt patterns you like has been sorted out, you can start creating your own ideas on paper. Having a dedicated notebook for sketching ideas and taking progress pictures will really help with the thought process.

Once the process is set to go, the inspirations are endless. Muse on daily objects and nature and convert it into quilting stencils. Look at famous abstract paintings; their straight lines and clean look are easier to reproduce for a beginner. Keep in mind that all your stencils will suit all the quilts you make. Take a look at the fabric and choose a stencil that best shows off the fabric’s print. Sketch the idea on scarp paper before transferring it to graph paper or digitalizing it.

Danny Sirmon November 23, 2016

Organising Your Hoard Of Quilting Patterns And Stencils

Creating Patterns

Tags: Quilting Patterns

Quilting pattern

Most people start off with a manageable portion of patterns. However, like most hobbies, quilting can take over our life and house and before you know it, there will be boxes of patterns under the bed, in the garage and on the floor of the living room. Quilters mostly start this collection of patterns from magazines, and free samples they may have obtained. Sometimes, if word gets around that someone is a quilter, there may be a sudden influx of used quilting patterns from friends and family, thus leading to a silent implosion in the number of patterns one possesses.

Since older patterns come in their own little pockets and are considerably more delicate than homemade ones, care should be taken to store them in a clean damp-proof condition. Some people store them in boxes while others use a file cabinet system to store them. Moths tend to favor the soft papers and tossing in a few mothballs will keep them at bay. It might also be a good idea to keep them individually wrapped in protective plastic covers that are typically used to preserve vintage comic books. Not only will this keep the patterns inside visible and at the same time separate, but it will also prevent them from exposure to atmospheric moisture. They will also need to be kept without creasing. A sturdy backing cardboard can be inserted along with the pattern into the sleeve for this purpose.

If you want to go all the way, there are apps for mobiles and PCs that can help catalog and label each individual pattern so that you will know exactly where it is. This will help you keep track of all the patterns and stencils you have and prevent purchasing duplicates. There are always better, more organized ways to take care of your quilting stencil collection but in the end, it lies entirely on individual taste.

Danny Sirmon June 1, 2016

The Best Quilting Patterns Are The Ones You Make

Organising Your Hoard Of Quilting Patterns And Stencils