help for planning free motion design
 

While watching a video on one of the sit down quilting machines, I saw a mention of a roll of plastic sheeting that they used a sharpie pen to draw quilting designs on. You lay the plastic on your quilt block and draw stitching lines. I liked the idea of being able to ‘audition’ the quilting before actually stitching it on the block but I did not like the idea of using a fresh sheet of plastic each time. So I came up with a ‘green’ alternative. I’m using plain clear vinyl and dry erase markers. Not happy with the design you came up with? Just wipe it off and try again! I put a border around the edge with the ever useful duct tape so that I would not go off the edge and mark my quilt. Then as I was cleaning today, I came across this piece of plexiglass that has little holes drilled in the corners. I pinned it on the design wall over one of my orphan blocks and it worked great! I have some fine point dry erase markers but they are packed in a box for moving into my new room so bear with me using the wide one.
Please pay no attention to my horrible drawing! I was trying to take ‘action’ pics with one hand while drawing with the other….but you still get the idea, at least, I hope you do!

Oow, I like the plexiglass idea! I've used vinyl occasionally, but I can see how plexiglass would be much easier to handle. Great idea, thanks for posting! (And you are so right about taping the edges so they are easily visible...)

I've used both with good success. Just be very careful when you wipe off the markers that you don't get any of the marker dust on your fabric as it could stain.

thanks for the terrific tips

This was one of the tips I was taught in my longarm training. The tape around the edges is very important so that you don't forget where the edges of the vinyl are. I've tried several types of markers, and so far they all seem to be erasable on vinyl.

Thanks for the tips! I've heard of the vinyl idea but not the plexiglass.

I use plexiglass for my drawings and I really like it.

I like this, even though I mainly do lines and wouldn't need this. But I want to start practicing other fmq and this seems to be more "green" as you stated , then drawing on lots of paper.