not so curvy curves

[anniemueller]

What's the trick to quilting a wavy line nicely? I thought it would be easy, jumped into it and voila, not good. Clearly, I could have planned the intersection better! Is there a good ruler technique for this? I ended up marking the peaks and midpoints, which helped, but is still not good.

Thanks

[quiltmonkey]

Using temporary registration marks (purple pen, or blue pen) will help. You can take a long strip of adding machine tape and fold it into increments to measure even distance along the sashing and then mark where the creases are.

Also going slower might help. You could also temporarily add a wedge of batting under the length of the leveler bar to slow down the movement of your machine on the carriage. This gives you more control.

Another option is to use rulers to help guide you. Depending on the arc you want to make you can use an oval or the edge of a larger circle template

[quiltmonkey]

PS: I think you did a fine job!

[TerriVB]

There are some nice wavy rulers from Off the Edge.

Another thought would be to come back over your lines a second time, but slighty offsetting them--making it look like a wavy ribbon--that way the bumps wouldn't be quite so noticeable. They would then look like they were supposed to be that way.

[JoAnnHoffman]

What you did is not easy to do freehand. I don't even try to do that. To get it near perfect you would have to premark all those curves with a ruler and used a ruler to follow the lines when sewing. You should take a Sue Patten Class on sashings. She has plenty of easy alternatives that look fantastic. She should be at MQS. I've seen her handouts and they are wonderful.

[sewlinzi]

I think you did a good job! You either have to make it super neat OR... super casual!!

[Quilting Heidi]

I use Pam Clark's stencils to mark off into the sections I want. I love those things and I would be lost without them. Then you just aim for the targets. You did a good job!

[meg_marsh]

I generally use the dividing the paper method to determine the size first - then I find a circle ruler that matches up to that. I couldn't do those well just freehand - love my rulers!!

[anniemueller]

Thanks everyone. I had a really good experience with the circle rulers, so I think I'll try them next time. I like the idea of using the paper to get the right size, then matching up to a ruler. And marking the targets of course!

[Bekah]

Annie, I really like your little heart feathers. they are unique and lovely and fun

[hollyc]

using Sherry Rodgers Harrison's apple core ruler also helps.

I like to use a chalk marker for lines, they don't come off easily, it is a red pencil like device that you can put different colored chald "lead" in.

[LinneaMarie]

I think hollyc is talking about the Bohin pencils??

I use Clover Chaco liner in white and it bounces right off, or brushes off. It's got a little wheel in it and it looks like a fat marker. The wheel is like the wheels for tracing wheels we used to use for tracing paper on patterns. You know, back in the stone age!!:P

[LinneaMarie]

Yeah, and Annie, everyone is right! It looks great! Don't be so hard on yourself! Remember no one else will have their nose 2" from it!

[anniemueller]

Originally posted by Bekah

Annie, I really like your little heart feathers. they are unique and lovely and fun

thanks Bekah. I recently took a microstippling class from Sharon Schamber. She taught us to do the heart echo'd twice on a 45 degree path. It was easy in micro-size on my Bernina, a little trickier on Millie because the space I wanted to fill was bigger than the machine's stitching space.

By the way, there are a lot of simlar stippling designs on www.daystyledesigns.com/365project