"Seahorse Samba"

A couple days ago, I shared fabrics for one of my new quilts here. Well, today I'm going to give you a little peak of  that quilt design; and a look at the tools and methods I use to draw my full size patterns for large quilts.

I first start with a rough sketch in my sketchbook, always very small scale.  I find it easier to work small at first.  Then I scan my sketch into the computer where  I then import it into a drawing program. I prefer a vector drawing program...my favorite is Pre design studio II, though many programs will work; including photoshop elements and EQ. both of which I have and use for many things.

Here, I refine my sketch, scale it and then print my appliqué  pieces.  I also now do some of my sketches on my iPad using some of the drawing apps.  Then I can just e-mail the sketches to myself and import them from there to finish them up and print the appliqué  patterns.

My next step is to start an EQ file if I didn't already do so, that includes everything, including  pieced blocks that I want to add. From that , I can determine my final layout and calculate my fabric requirements.  That file also ensures I have an easy way to write a pattern for sale  if I choose to make it available to others.

Other than the computer, here are some of the tools I use in drawing my patterns to scale.



I use grid paper (with a half inch grid) to draw my full size pattern. It comes on a roll 30" wide x 100 yds., and I just tape sections together to get the size I need...the grid makes it easy.  This makes the pattern I use to mark my quilt top.  I also make templates of my appliqué  shapes from the patterns I printed from my drawing program,  using either template plastic or fun foam (the one with no adhesive).  This time  I used the foam. They are useful for lots of other applications too (like sun printing, for one).  I draw the circles for my medallions using Renae's rays...they are the easiest and most accurate way to draw large circles...up to 84" in diameter.  In these photos, the outermost diameter is 35and 1/2"  The final pattern(not shown) has additional circles outside what you see here up to 43" diameter.



Then with Renae's ray  tool, I can divide the circle into segments...I divided this one into 8 sections.  Now,  you also see another set of divisions...those mark  the center of my pattern to the outside corners of my paper pattern.  Since this is a rectangle instead of a square, I need this additional set of lines to line up the other elements outside the circles.



And these are my foam templates



I always find a way to get feathers of one sort or another into my quilts....







And the templates in their places to complete 1/8th of the inside portion of my center medallion. After setting them in the positions I want, I  transfer them using an ultra fine  sharpie marker to the paper pattern itself.  The starfish outside the circles is enclosed in the next set of circles that were added after these photos were taken.

There is much more to this design, including pieced blocks, but you'll have to wait for next year's show season to see the entire piece.



So, that gives you a little insight into how I create my designs.  There are many ways to accomplish the design/pattern process, this is just what works for me.

And while you don't get to see the entire piece for a while, I will give you a glimpse of the progress  now and then . :)