Quilting Motif - Contour Lines

I like to finish my own quilt projects myself for several reasons - I can finish projects in time for a deadline, I can save money, and it's fun. There are benefits to taking your quilts to a professional longarm quilter as well - you don't have time to quilt, there are too many projects, you don't like to quilt, or your project is too big to manage yourself. However, I never want you to choose a longarmer because you don't know how or don't have the confidence to do it yourself.

Today's quilting motif comes from a pattern I have been loving on Instagram from some longarm quilter photos. I believe that version is called Malachite which I can understand with the beautiful veining in that green stone, but it reminds me of something else. I am calling this version (completed with your domestic machine) CONTOUR LINES because it reminds me of looking at topographical maps.

LOOK at this texture!! This motif is like a meander and a swirl had a baby (LOL). It is a great edge-to-edge design that you can change up by using more or less bumps in your line or changing the spacing between the lines.

This is a free-motion design so prep your machine by switching feet, lowering your feed dogs, and lengthening your stitches.

1) To make this design I started by making a large-ish wiggly curl. For this design your goal is a flowing organic shape.

2) When you get to the center make a round "turn-about" and wiggle your way back out. It would be good if your bumps mimic the outer ring of your curl, but it's not absolutely necessary.

3) Once you make the initial shape you can add additional wiggly rings around the exterior if you'd like or to travel to the next shape.

I started by making a "mountain" (these are contour lines ya know) in the middle and then filling in the sides with a second a third shape. I think this design works best if you keep your "mountains" similar in size and fill up your space.

I love this motif because it adds lots of wonderful texture but doesn't distract from the piecing.

It is also very forgiving in case you get stuck and have to cross lines to get out of your spiral or run out of bobbin thread or any other mishaps that occur during quilting. Yes ALL of those things happened to me and it still looks beautiful!

This may become one of my new favorites - it is THAT fun!

I hope you enjoyed learning how to make CONTOUR LINES and use it on one of your upcoming quilty projects.

I'd love to see and virtually clap, so share to me here or on social media with any of these tags #quiltingcontourlines or tag me @polkadotpeepquiltsetc on Facebook or Instagram.

Have questions or comments? Please leave them below.

Until next time, have a great day of stitching!

Be blessed,

Tara