Quilt Along #18 – Go Loopy with Loopy Line!

Time to get back to the Quilt Along today with a new…old…new design!  This design is new to the project (wasn’t included in the original 365), but old in the sense that I think every book on free motion quilting EVER written has included this simple variation of Stippling:

I’m calling this design Loopy Line and it’s really quite a simple variation – just add loops to your already wiggly Stippling line to create a slightly different, more tangled texture.

Let’s learn how to break this design down into simple rows, then put all the shapes together to create a complex Loopy Line design:

Learn More About Quilting Loopy Line

Difficulty Level – Beginner.

Design Family – Independent.

Within this video, I basted the little fat quarter sized practice sandwich using Pinmoors.  These small silicone anchors allow you to baste your quilts using straight pins, and best of all, make it much easier to remove the pins as you quilt.  Click here to learn more about Pinmoors.

When it comes to loopy line, the most simplistic version of the design is a row of loops.  These also work a bit like the cursive letter “e.”

The neat thing about Loopy Line is so many of the simple versions look so terrific, you can use them on your quilt as is!  A row of “e” shapes can look terrific in the sashing or borders of a quilt!

You’ll probably find this design easier to quilt this way – with the loop curling upwards.  Now try the opposite and stitch the row with the loop twisting downwards:

A bit more tricky?  It might feel less natural simply because you have a frame of reference and built muscle memory for the letter “e” which curls up rather than down.

Now let’s kick it up a notch and put both forms together to create this lacy design:

Again, this looks good enough to use in your quilt’s sashing!  Just keep the loops evenly spaced and this design will be a big hit!

If we can curl the loops outward, can’t we also curl them inward?  Try it to create this version:

This is a bit more tricky, but once you get the flow of it, it’s quite a nice design to stitch.  You will need to form loops inside tight areas and sometimes this is the only way to do it.

Now put all the elements together and just go loopy!

What Do You Think About Loopy Line?

I’m intrigued to see how you like this design.  A quilter commented last month:

“I never learned to cross my lines of quilting. A teacher taught me to never do that so now crossing my lines of quilting just seems wrong.  I don’t like to do it.”

I have no idea why a teacher would teach that it’s bad to cross your quilting lines, and for the record, no, it won’t damage your quilt in any way.  If anything, it will hold the quilt more securely together!

Think of this simply as a different element of design that will add a slightly different texture.  If you like the texture, stitch it!  If you hate the texture, find a design you do like!

Stippling, Sharp Stippling, Zippling, and Circuit Board are all designs formed with lines that never, ever cross so you definitely have some alternatives to choose from if you decide Loopy Line isn’t for you.

Practice Quilting in a Modern Quilt

Now that we have five awesome designs in our repertoire, it’s time to use them all in an awesome modern quilt project!

Make this Modern Box quilt with me next week!

Next week with Quilt Along #19 we’re going to learn how to piece the blocks to create our modern quilt top.

You will need around 1-2 yards of background fabric that is solid, or reads as solid.  You could also use strips or scraps, but make sure your strips are between 2.5 – 4 inches wide.

You’ll also need anywhere from 15 to 30 squares of some other color.  You can use more solids, or your favorite prints, or hand dyed fabrics.  I cut all of my squares 6 inches.  You’re welcome to cut yours bigger or smaller, it’s totally up to you!

We’re going to focus on this project for the next 3 weeks so if you want to quilt along with it, definitely get some materials prepared and ready to go for next Wednesday.

Let’s go quilt,

Leah Day