Complex quilting patterns
 

I love all the quilting variations that I see on the board but I need some hints from any LA's on how to remember what you are doing. My system is totally manual and short of drawing out all the motifs I'm going to use I am not confident about tackling complex designs in my customer quilting.
How do you remember what you did, where?
MaryKatherine

I take pictures with my phone and then delete when done. Sometimes I sketch them, but the pictures are much faster.

A picture is great, but sometimes you need more information, like measurements, so the motifs will be the same size or will meet in the middle the same way. For that I think you need to sketch it out with notations.

I had trouble remembering border quilting designs from one end when I got to the other. I use a combination of pictures and what I call a 'road map'. I note a sketch, measurements (like from one motif to another or the size of a swag, and even what template or measuring tool I used for each quilting design. Its not perfect and from time to time I have to unroll the quilted quilt off the take up bar to see what I quilted at the beginning!

Good question. I don't quilt with a LA, but I do machine quit on a frame. There have been times (especially when I first got my set up) that I would forget the scale of my quilting when I was getting towards the bottom half. This mostly happened after I had stopped & then started again the next day. I started drawing it out for reference on paper. So, I will be following your question to see what answers you get.

My quick go to method of remembering what I rolled up while L/A is using a child's magna-doodle......draw it on. Continue quilting. When I get to ??? Place. I just look over at m/d and there it is........ This works for quick reference... But if it is very complex pics or drawing on paper is better...JMHO

Pictures are good, and a sketch is great!

I am a quilt marker. I will premark an entire quilt, especially if the motif exceeds the size of my quilting space as is very common in wholecloth. My most favorite of all markling tools are the blue water soluble markers. For dark fabric I like my white ceramic mechanical pencil because the marks are very easy to remove for both products.

Motifs that repeat and need to be the same size, if I have not premarked I make a template from my final sketch or design source out of watercolor paper or card stock and trace around it with a water soluble blue pen as I go. Border motifs, I will photograph or sketch so I have it available to me by the time I get to the bottom bit. I am also big for marking registration dots, especially when doing ruler work. 90% of all client quilts that hit my frame have a minimum of 2 to 5 hours at the "drawing board". I do a lot of sketching before I start quilting and that sketch pad is up in my LA studio with me when I start quilting so I can refer to it.

This is a serious question. If a person can't draw (Me!) is there any hope of them becoming a decent quilter? I can barely sign my name legibly let alone draw a motif!