doodlebug Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 i do all free motion quilting and when i'm explaining to a customer my ideas they always have trouble seeing what i see, so this is my solution: i have that mylar template plastic that you can iron without warping (well it DOES warp) and i put masking tape around the edges. when a customer and I are discussing quilting designs, i pull one out and draw right on it with it laying on the quilt so the cust can see exactly what my idea is. also, when i'm adutioning ideas i can see what they look like directly on the quilt without having to frog any stitching. a word of caution: make sure you always draw on the same side. the dry earse dust can transfer. so in the corner of the sheet i put a little star so i know what side is 'up' . then when you're done, wipe it off with a scrap of batting. A picture is worth a 1000 words: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doodlebug Posted December 7, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 also, since i don't panto, i store all my sheets under the plastic of the table. then i always know where they're at and they don't creased. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra Darlington Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 That is a great idea. I do almost the same thing...great minds think alike:) I had to cut my pattern grid down because I have an 11 foot frame, so I use the extra piece to do the exact same thing. I am using "wet erase" markers, as they do not have the dust. I just spray them with water and wipe with a paper towel to clean them. There is no dust. Also, the Pattern Grid piece has a grid to help with lining up the design. I think I will use your idea and put masking tape around my edges, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeAnn Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 No wonder you call yourself "doodlebug"! Great idea! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindasewsit Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 ok,,,, call me dense.... I'm not sure what the mylar stuff is and where do you get it and is that a frame around it or is that just the tape you were talking about. Is the mylar stiff? Thanks for answering my silly questions!! linda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witha'K'quilting Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 Boy, are you good! I love the idea. Thanks for sharing. I am like a sponge...soaking up all the good ideas. I am only quilting for myself...but need inspiration. I love your name BTW! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra Darlington Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 Hi Linda, I don't know where doodlebug (what a cute name!) got the mylar, but the framed edge would be the tape. By framing the edges you are less likely to write on your quilt by mistake and it also will help protect the edges from tearing. It really is a very useful quilting tool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizziesgirl Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 Perfect idea. Thanks for sharing. Add that one to my list of to do's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindasewsit Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 Sandra, Do you know where to get mylar? I am clueless! linda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindasewsit Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 oh....sorry, i just read your post again and you said you didn't know where she got it..... linda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramona-quilter Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 Shannon, what a great idea. I'm with the other Linda, where did you buy the mylar? when i'm adutioning ideas i can see what they look like directly on the quilt without having to frog any stitching. and without having to remove chalk. I use school chalk alot. It comes out by rubbing the fabric with other fabric, but it does slow down the creative process. I love your idea. Thanks so much for sharing with the photos too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doodlebug Posted December 7, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 here's the kind i used: http://www.quiltinaday.com/shoponline/notions_display.asp?i=2089 the 'frame' is the masking tape. we have a SchoolBox store in marietta GA and they have different colors of masking tape. i chose orange for it's visibility. make sure it's the smooth kind of mylar, the slight roughness of the other kinds won;t let the dry erase be erased. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracey Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See? you girls are amazing. I love that idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindasewsit Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 Thanks Shannon!! That is a neat way to show what you might do on a quilt!! I tried some clear plastic table cloth stuff I got at Joann's but it was very flimsy and kept sticking to itself. I like this idea. I will get some! Thanks again!! linda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoleneK Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 I have a 18"x18" piece of plexi-glass that is the same idea. I also use it to practice a new idea/freehand pattern. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltmonkey Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 Great ideas! When I was taking classes from Myrna Ficken last year she showed me how she uses floralthane (the stuff the florists wrap flowers in) and it's nearly a yard wide! She buys it by the roll. It's huge. You can roll a giant piece of it out over the entire quilt and audition quilting designs. One note of caution, however, be sure you do not go off the floralthane with your dry erase or wet erase markers because if it gets on the quilt top's fabric you can not get it out. Keep these great ideas coming. I love hearing great tips! OK speaking of tips: I don't do pantos very often but this weekend I did a few and you know it really sucks when you are quilting away on the panto and realize that about a yard ago your ran out of bobbin but continued to quilt? Well, this is what I did and it works! We all have peripheral vision so while I'm looking down at the pantograph and quilting, at the same time, I train my right eye's peripheral to keep a look at the thread spooling off the cone and if it stops spooling then I know I've run out of bobbin thread. It works wonders! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barbm Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 I use a clear acrylic sheet - $5 at Home Depot or Lowes - wrapped the edge in blue painter's tape, wrote "front" on the edge of the tape. I use it just like the rest of the ladies - audition designs for customers, practice new designs, etc. But another tip: when I come up with a design I like, I either take the board down to my studio with me and prop it behind my work table, or I lay it up against a white wall and take a digital photo of the design - that way I have it archived and can print it off on paper for later use or practice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catsigler Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 Great tip. Thank you, Shannon! I do have some of that mylar but mine is not as translucent as yours appears to be. I love that you freehand everything. That's what I aspire to. Thanks Shana and Barb too. Keep those tips coming! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primitive1 Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 Hi, I like your ideas, I also do the same but got a yard of plastic laminated at a local office depot, cost about $4.00 and put blue tape around the edges...also love to use it to see what looks good on a quilt before I start the stitching... I use the dry erase markers too and they just wipe off with a paper towel or dry erase eraser... Vicki Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renae Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 I use Quilter's Preview Paper to audition different designs on quilts to show my customers just what I have in mind to do. It is clear and comes on a roll......20" wide by 25' long so you can cut a piece any size you need. It is only $9.95 a roll and I use my dry erase on it so there is no powder residue. It also has a blue trim on 2 sides so you just have to put painters tape on the other 2 sides to keep from going off the edge. I have been using it for 2 yrs. and just now bought my second roll. I love it and my customers do to. Renae Gamel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Sew Simple Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 Yall are just all too smart! What great ideas!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBQuilts Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 Thanks for the great ideas! I aspire to be more "free" with freehand quilting. Pantos, no problem. But freehand, that's another matter. It's not so much doing it, it's coming up with the designs, especially if it's putting something different in various places. If I can do the same design all over the quilt, no problem. But that custom designing is not there yet. But, I am definitely saving this very good idea. Thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramona-quilter Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 I think that pantos are great practice for drawing. I never used to be able to draw a lick. But now I do just fine. Pantos can show you good scale and rhythm, which way to turn coming out of a leaf and how to make a smooth curl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinneaMarie Posted February 1, 2009 Report Share Posted February 1, 2009 Hi y'all! I usually just lurk, but these ideas are just too wonderful; not to comment! I have just this week put in my order for a new Millenium! Yahoo!!Finally, after playing with the idea for 2 or 3 years! I finally 'bit the bullet", as they say. And may I say all you people are great? Ok I said it! I can get over the warmth and friendly vibes that come throughNot to mention all the FREE advise. I mean, you could charge for all this stuff!! :P Love you all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roberta Posted February 1, 2009 Report Share Posted February 1, 2009 Thanks, I just ordered me some. Now if I could just order up some cute doodle quilting like yours it would be great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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