Quilting Along With Leah Day - Week 36

I am loving the Flowing Line series of quilting patterns Leah has us working on this month. In this incarnation the eye shaped gaps are filled with Pivoting Paisley. This turned out to be the perfect pattern for my current WIP (work in progress) that involves a series of blocks of different sizes showcasing shells.

Full View of Scallop Shell Block
Quilted with Flowing Lines and Pivoting Paisley

So many of Leah's lessons have proven useful as I created this 15" H x 12" W block. For example how to execute a pattern in quadrants and then in rows or to work my way around a motif. The only time I have to break thread now is when I change colors or come to the end of a spool or bobbin. What a treat to not have a bunch of thread tails to tackle.

Detail of Scallop Shell Block

Then there are Leah's tips, such as the fact that she uses a Quilter's Dream mid loft poly batt. That is what I have been using for this series. The quilting stands out well enough that there was no need to photograph the backside. This piece has been soaked and blocked to remove the starch and water soluble marker. I did not iron it any time.

Quilting Along with Leah Day - Week 31

Front Side of Lava Paisley

Is this gorgeous fabric, or what? I just love vegetation, batiks and chartreuse, so couldn't resist buying this gem when I say it. I used a variegated King Tut thread of a similar color way that blended beautifully with the fabric but makes it very difficult to pick out the quilting on the front side. The downside is that I occasionally crossed over a stitch line because I just didn't see it. The upside is that if you don't know where the crossovers are you can't find them.

Backside of Lava Paisley

This is the second in Leah Day's series based on echoing and pivoting paisleys. She titled this Lava Paisley, her husband had another, much funnier name and I have christened it Wiggling Paisley. I'm not sure whether it was executing Pivoting Paisley or allowing the paisley to develop from a wiggling tear, but I found this much easier to stitch than last week's exercise. I also prefer the overall look.

The Detail Allows You to See the Stitching

Although Leah suggests that there is a fair amount of traveling stitching with this pattern, I actually found the travel stitching minimal. It is most noticeable on the back side.

Back Side Detail Shows Some Travel Stitching
and Filler Work

Quilting Along with Leah Day - Week 30

Good-bye stippling. Hello paisley patterns. Our first assignment in the pivoting paisley family could be described as echoing a tear drop. I am used to paisleys looking more like either Yin or Yang. This pattern doesn't curl or have a tail.

Full View of Pivoting Paisley - Mid Scale

Working on a new to me pattern is a humbling experience. This was particularly difficult because I opted to follow Leah's lead and try to execute the pattern in a larger scale than my usual small scale style. I did fine with the inner tears but when I tried to echo them 1/2" or so out I really struggled to keep swooping lines. By the time I reached the outer echo my lines tended to undulate instead.

Detail of Pivoting Paisley - Includes Travel Stitching
and Filler Lines for Odd Gaps

How do you do it, Leah? How do you keep your echo lines so evenly spaced with such perfect arcs and swoops? I can imagine that practice is beneficial, but do you have any other tips for large, even very large free motion quilting?