Scribble Quilting is a wacky fun way to quilt. Are you stuck in stitch-in-the-ditch? Are you a bit bored with straight line quilting? Maybe it’s time for you to try Scribble Quilting. It is not hard at all. All you need to get started is a walking foot, a quilt sandwich ready to quilt and different colors of thread.I developed this technique because I was bored with other ways to quilt.Looking for a wacky fun variation to your quilting? Try Wacky Fun Scribble Quilting.
Artful and Interesting
First of all,Scribble Quilting is a colorful, artful and an interesting way to quilt. For example,the quilting thread lines cross each other; creating positive and negative space. The sewing lines are the positive space. However,the negative spaces are the shapes created by the lines. Similarly, Lines undulate, curve and wave. Do the lines you’ve made draw your eye in and keep your interest?
By Accident
Like many great ideas, Scribble Quilting was discovered by accident. Once while making a baby quilt,I decided to quilt curvy lines with my walking foot instead of straight ones. Furthermore, I used one of the built-in stitches on my sewing machine which made regular, gentle curves. Soon, I wanted to make the curves wider. Switching back to my usual straight stitch, I began gently moving the quilt from side to side by hand to make wider curves than my built-in stitch had allowed. It was fun, and the lines looked more interesting. I kept quilting, experimenting with contrasting thread colors. Subsequently,I currently finish many of my art quilts this way.
Scribble Quilting
In addition,I named this technique Scribble Quilting. After art lessons were cut at in my elementary school classroom, I noticed that some students showed their frustration with what they considered unsuccessful art projects. After that, they would scribble all over them with four or five different crayons. It caught my attention. However,it looked like a party with confetti falling all over. As I quilted my pieces, drawing lines with multiple colors and crossing over them repeatedly, it reminded me of scribbling.
Fun with Thread Color
Take this opportunity to have fun with thread color. Be aware that the thread color can appear different depending on what colors it is on or near. Free yourself from perfectly matching the thread to the top fabric. I found that even slight variations in the color of the quilting threads added subtle interest to a quilt top.
More color is more interesting. For example, I bought a spool of wacky fun chartreuse (yellow green) thread at a flea market several years ago. I never wear this color and had not tried it in quilting. But this thread has become one of my favorites because of the way it plays with other colors. It brightens green or black fabric.Yet, it often reads as yellow. I encourage you to play with the thread to see how it changes, depending on the color of the fabric. Updated- Sometimes I use just one color of thread instead of more than one.
More Color is Better Except
More color is more interesting, with one exception. Thinking that variegated thread would be fun and wacky, I tried to use it. However, I personally was not satisfied with the results. I had no control over when the colors changed. It wasn’t fun when the bobbin thread didn’t match the top thread. Maybe this is just a personal choice on my part. Each quilter can make their own decisions.
Are you ready to start Scribble Quilting?
Begin each project by quilting straight lines about 5 inches (12cm) apart using a walking foot. Stitch-in-the-ditch works well to hold the quilt sandwich together. Remove the pins to avoid sewing over them. After you’ve finished straight-line quilting to secure the quilt sandwich, change to another thread color.
Next,quilt several lines in one color. Spread the stitiching lines out across the quilt top. As you sew from one edge of the quilt to the other,gently moving the quilt sandwich from side to side. Change thread color and continue quilting. Make wider curves so that the quilting lines cross. Keep quilting until the quilting is evenly space. Are happy with the way the lines cross each other? if not, then do some more.
Instructions
1) Prepare a quilt sandwich by pinning together the backing, batting and top (step 1).
2) Decide where to start quilting. In the beginning, it’s easiest to start on one side and go to the opposite side.
3) Begin by using a walking foot to make straight lines of stitching about 5 inches 12 cm apart. Stitch in the ditch if you want. (step 2).
4) Now begin sewing curved lines of quilting, still using a walking foot. Begin curved quilting on the edge of the quilt, near the middle of one side. Pull the quilt taut with both hands as you quilt. Gently move the sandwich from side to side as the machine stitches. Use your needle down position in case you have to stop. Stop quilting to readjust the quilt sandwich. Avoid jerky movements. The quilting thread should form a smooth, flowing line (step 3).
Problemsolving
If your line of stitches moves abruptly to one side, stop immediately. Remove stitches until you have enough to thread a needle, then bury the threads in the batting. Continue quilting, starting at the end of the line of stitching. If you don’t want to stop or don’t notice the mistake until later, stitch another line of quilting which crosses the first line at the point where the mistake occurred (step 4). This will make the mistake less noticeable.
5) As you quilt, check the back of the sandwich to see if some areas need more quilting. The quilting lines should be balanced from one area of the quilt to another (step 5). Keep quilting until you like the way it looks. If you’re not happy, add wavy lines in contrasting colors, crossing more lines of quilting.
6) Bind the quilt using your favorite technique.
Welcome to the joy of Scribble Quilting! I hope that you enjoy using this wacky fun technique as much as I do.
You may also be interested in these articles.
https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2020/01/creating-movement-in-abstract-art-quilts/
