Overall quilting design for Birds in the Air

[View My TQS Profile Margo]

OK...PhotoShop Elements is one tool. Another tool, that you may already have on your computer is MicroSoft PAINT. I used that program to create this tutorial!

Here is how I would stitch the curves I drew. I think of each quarter of the design as a leaf shape. the spine of the leaf is stitched twice (backtracking) then the soft "S" shape is stitched to get to the next corner. I repeat in my head "arc out, arc back, swing out, swing in" to get the rhythm of the lines.

1, 2 and 3: arc out, arc back

Rita's quilting 1.jpg

4 and 5: swing out, swing in

Rita's quilting 2.jpg

Repeat the shapes. Arch out, arc back:

Rita's quilting 3.jpg

[View My TQS Profile Margo]

Swing out, swing in:

Rita's quilting 4.jpg

Arc out, arc back/ swing out swing in:

Rita's quilting 5.jpg

Arc out, arc back/ swing out swing in:

Rita's quilting 6.jpg

If you practice this on paper, it will be easy to stitch it out! Have fun!

[View My TQS Profile Zarah]

I'm with Margo here. Take those classes and you are on your way. I can't say that it was difficult for me to learn PSE because I have worked with the big Photoshop for years, but for other things than quilts. PSE can be downloaded for 30 days trial and it is cheap when you buy it.
I have a Intous4 tablet which works on Windows but it has some buttons you should be able to program with often used commands. Keystroke commands just don't work with Windows, grrrr!
Rita, I know you have a Mac so you could profit from that. Look at Wacom's website and see what it is about.

[View My TQS Profile Reetzbobeetz]

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[View My TQS Profile loise98]

Rita, I am jealous! But also happy for you!

Margo, Thanks for the info. I am going to have to find a way to get these tools and time to learn to use them.

[View My TQS Profile Reetzbobeetz]

Lois, don't be jealous, I really don't know how to use it - yet! I also discovered that it had a DVD bundle with Photo Shop Elements 4, Corel Draw and Efex something or other! I will be all set up as soon as I figure out how to do it all. Time for an online tutorial me thinks.

Meanwhile getting back to the quilting design, I have been drawing those twirls Margo and i think I might be able to manage them. I suppose I should stitch in the ditch around the blocks first to stabilize and that will give me a little more confidence. If I make a decent fist of it I will post a photo. Thanks for the tutorials and I really appreciate the time you took to walk me through it.

[View My TQS Profile PosyP]

You could SiD with the washable thread or monofilament (or combination of both) if you want to remove it after the quilting. I just used the monofilament for the cable area and outwards on my SoTTTs quilt and then unpicked it afterwards - boring but much easier to unpick than cotton!

[View My TQS Profile Reetzbobeetz]

Yes I would probably use invisible thread. But unpick it afterwards? Nooooooo! It can stay in there for posterity!

[View My TQS Profile Margo]

Good for you Rita! I find using the stylus to draw with is much easier than trying to draw with the mouse!

I often use monofiliment on the top for stitching in the ditch, especially when there is a marked difference in the value (light vs. dark) of the fabrics, and I like to use MasterPiece in the bobbin.

And, I really like using Superior's VANISH to stabilize everything, and it just washes away the first time through the washer! Luv that stuff!!

[View My TQS Profile kmitchel]

Margo, thank you so much your description on how to make the swirl, and I had completely forgotten about stitching in the ditch with monofiliment thread.

Kathy in No. Calif

[View My TQS Profile Patchworkjill]

Ditto Kathy and thanks Margo

[View My TQS Profile ClaraLawrence]

Rita,

I have an idea. It may be out there, but possible. Since there is such a dramatic diagonal pattern here and the name Birds in the Air caught my attention. Why not play off the name. There are large half square triangles and then others that have one part full of smaller half square triangles. What about putting in silo silowets of birds flying upward in the large squares (large half square triangles-one bird per) and the rest could have a swirl motion that is playing off wind. You can get several photos and trace the outline (simplify) and enlarge to almost fill the space. Might want to leave a half inch or quarter inch all around in the space. Pick a few shapes 4-5 and trace them onto freezer paper. Iron them down and either quilt around or trace off with a marking pen. Change bird for the next one and repeat the process. You could even go over that line a few times or use a thicker thread. Have fun.

Clara

[View My TQS Profile Reetzbobeetz]

Great suggestion Clara, thanks! Unfortunately, I finished marking the quilt last night and only saw this thread this morning. But it is in the brain for the next one!

[View My TQS Profile susandvorak]

I have had a finished Birds in the Air top in my UFO pile for several years because I wasn't sure how to quilt it. Thank you for all the ideas, especially Margo's great diagram. I am not the best machine quilter, but I think I can manage that!
Thanks for the motivation!
susan

[View My TQS Profile loise98]

I have had a finished Birds in the Air top in my UFO pile for several years because I wasn't sure how to quilt it. Thank you for all the ideas, especially Margo's great diagram. I am not the best machine quilter, but I think I can manage that!
Thanks for the motivation!
susan

Hurrah for the Formum. I love how this site works to inspire us all. We will be looking forward to you posting your Birds in the Air.