STENCIL MAKING
01-26-2011, 06:58 AM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 547
Originally Posted by moonwork42029
Don't laugh, but I am seriously thinking of trying to make a right angle type holder for a pointer that will stick out past my sewing machine arm so I can use it to invisibly "trace" a pattern that I will tape to the rolled up portion of the quilt.
Did any of that make sense?? I can see it in my mind but would have a heck of a time explain it to my husband.
Did any of that make sense?? I can see it in my mind but would have a heck of a time explain it to my husband.
I'd consider trying this for an overview of what you're thinking to see how it would work: You can take a yard stick, tape it on top of your machine, and then see how you'd position a laser on it. Tape it? Drill a hole just big enough to hold the laser, padded with tape/fabric if necessary? What if you have to attach it to the back of your machine? (I'd sure make it temporary/removable!) Maybe attach it to one of the tall cone holders? One thing I would think about in advance is the size of the pattern you'll be wanting to trace...6" or 12" or 16"? This means whatever holds your laser must stick out at least this far...just something to consider. You can do this!
Go for it! Just a little time invested, and very little money if you have stuff around the house. I've done this on my longarm, to use a pattern from the front with a laser. It works just fine!
Let us know how it goes!
Debbie in Austin
01-26-2011, 07:01 AM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 547
Originally Posted by nativetexan
long ago I bought a double blade holder to do stencils. I never made any though.
I think sewing through paper and making a pattern you can 'pounce' on is pretty easy - so is marking with a water-soluable pen. I simply never found an easy method to make stencils for me - but I have weakened hands due to an illness, so I'm sure this is a factor.
Debbie in Austin
01-26-2011, 07:36 AM
#14
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Clearwater, FL
Posts: 2,328
Originally Posted by jaciqltznok
FMQ means just that..FREE motion quilting...there is NO stencils, pantographs, or lines to follow....if you use stencils, goldenthreads paper, press-n-seal, etc. then you are just machine quilting. Meaning you followed a pattern and did not free motion(free style quilt).
There are many ways to do this, including making REAL plastic templates that you use to trace the design onto the quilt. Sort spendy, especially if you are not going to use the design over and over!
many prefer the papers though.
There is some already preprinted basic designs, or you buy the Electric quilt companys CD's and print off thousands of designs in hundreds of sizes, you can buy books from Laura Lee Fritz and trace the designs onto your quilt, you can get golden threads paper and trace the designs onto that and then sew over them.
so many ways....
Press-n-seal was thought to be great, but in the end many found it gummed up their needles, dulled the needles, did not play well all thread types, etc, etc...best to use a product that is meant for this purpose and save yourself some frustration in the end!
There are many ways to do this, including making REAL plastic templates that you use to trace the design onto the quilt. Sort spendy, especially if you are not going to use the design over and over!
many prefer the papers though.
There is some already preprinted basic designs, or you buy the Electric quilt companys CD's and print off thousands of designs in hundreds of sizes, you can buy books from Laura Lee Fritz and trace the designs onto your quilt, you can get golden threads paper and trace the designs onto that and then sew over them.
so many ways....
Press-n-seal was thought to be great, but in the end many found it gummed up their needles, dulled the needles, did not play well all thread types, etc, etc...best to use a product that is meant for this purpose and save yourself some frustration in the end!
01-26-2011, 08:03 AM
#15
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Lake Wales, FL, USA
Posts: 1,554
Are you wanting to make a permanent stencil to then chalk or somehow mark the lines onto the quilt? Or are you just wanting to follow a line on a quilt? For permanent stencils you could just cut a design in some form of plastic or even use freezer paper or construction paper which you can run through some printers to make it even easier. Then a sharp small exacto type knife to cut the marks or run an unthreaded sewing machine over it to make the holes to pounce or mark through. If you're trying to stuff an entire quilt through a sit down sewing machine--only mark a small section at a time.
You can also just print or trace your design onto a very light weight stabilizer (Sulky Solvy mentioned above) or even thin paper and just rip it off later.
The Press 'n' Seal stuff didn't work well for me. It didn't all come off and little bits get stuck under the thread. I prefer to use the tissue paper for gift wrapping and then just pin it on or use painters tape. Vellum will also work & can run through a printer but is expensive. I got the tissue paper at the dollar store in a bundle.
You may laugh but even toilet tissue or kleenex would work for smaller designs. Oh, and I prefer to use a green ballpoint ink pen to trace the design because it's much easier to wash out if it somehow gets transferred to the quilt. Something about the composition of green ink makes it unstable so it never really bonds to whatever it's on.
You can also just print or trace your design onto a very light weight stabilizer (Sulky Solvy mentioned above) or even thin paper and just rip it off later.
The Press 'n' Seal stuff didn't work well for me. It didn't all come off and little bits get stuck under the thread. I prefer to use the tissue paper for gift wrapping and then just pin it on or use painters tape. Vellum will also work & can run through a printer but is expensive. I got the tissue paper at the dollar store in a bundle.
You may laugh but even toilet tissue or kleenex would work for smaller designs. Oh, and I prefer to use a green ballpoint ink pen to trace the design because it's much easier to wash out if it somehow gets transferred to the quilt. Something about the composition of green ink makes it unstable so it never really bonds to whatever it's on.
01-26-2011, 08:15 AM
#16
Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: west branch michigan
Posts: 15
Just found "how to make a stencil" in one of my quilting mags. Trace design onto blank paper........put bridal tulle into an embroidery hoop.........trace design onto tulle with a permanent marker............leaving tulle in hoop place in desired position on quilt.............trace design onto quilt with a washable fabric marker of your choice.
This seems to work on all but the darkest fabrics. So much easier that cutting out plastic.
This seems to work on all but the darkest fabrics. So much easier that cutting out plastic.
01-26-2011, 08:25 AM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 701
Originally Posted by rosalind
Just found "how to make a stencil" in one of my quilting mags. Trace design onto blank paper........put bridal tulle into an embroidery hoop.........trace design onto tulle with a permanent marker............leaving tulle in hoop place in desired position on quilt.............trace design onto quilt with a washable fabric marker of your choice.
This seems to work on all but the darkest fabrics. So much easier that cutting out plastic.
This seems to work on all but the darkest fabrics. So much easier that cutting out plastic.
01-26-2011, 08:36 AM
#19
Banned
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Enid, OK
Posts: 8,273
Originally Posted by janebo
Okay, then how would you do a free style pattern over your quilt in FMQ?
meaning you will never really have a very clear "pattern" going on, but more of a random doodling in a way!
Perhaps you can understand what I am trying to say by watching this
http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com/
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