Friday, December 12, 2014

Friday Chat with Grandma Print Tracking and a giveaway!!

Earlier this week I shared about my Makiko ironing board from my new book Free Motion Quilting for Beginners.  I told you I would be back with Grandma today to discuss more about how I quilted that ironing board, and the dog bed in my book too.... a little thing I like to call Print Tracking.  Print tracking is where you follow the lines created by the patterns in the fabric, you can get as detailed or keep it as simple as you like, but weather you outline a floral or novelty motif, or follow along with the pattern lines in a geometric, print tracking is a great way to build skills and highlight the beauty of a fabric you love. 

One of my very favorite print tracking projects was a handbag I made for Angela Walters Legacy booth at quilt market last year.  Art Gallery fabrics used it (and several of the other samples I made) to make this awesome promotional video~ check it out!  I tracked all the tiny but awesome Angela designs and used chain of pearls to move from one motif to another, just like I teach in the book.  
I asked Grandma what she thought of print tracking and here is what she has to say....


Print tracking is a wonderful practice tool but also a great skill for FMQ. When I am making a quilt that has a pattern fabric in it I save the extra pieces and make a practice sandwich. This gives me the chance to practice print tracking and learn what I need to do to accomplish the skill. Print tracking takes a bit more precision than something like stippling or random quilting. Trying to follow the outline of a design you need to determine what speed in your machine and hands need to work at in order to keep the outline clean. Practicing this develops the brain memory of how to follow a pattern whether it is a design you have marked on your project or whether you are FMQ feathers or other designs that have to be exact.
Another place where I have used print tracking a great deal is when I am making a baby or child’s quilt. Most often these quilts are full of design fabric and print tracking allows the design to really stand out. Do a practice piece first to get the feel of the rhythm and then go for it. Print tracking adds so much dimension to a project. Like all things we do it just takes practice. 

Grandma Pat

Grandma sure does have it right, and her advice is right on too.  Print tracking takes a bit of practice, but if you have ever tried to trace a design before you know how that goes... just slow down and take your time and you will find that you end up with gorgeous highlighted fabric, and the back of your project will be perhaps as beautiful, if not more, than the front!  It will also help you get the feel of designs that may be more complex, or movements that might feel to foreign to start with freehand.  I say that print tracking is an excellent skill builder, and looks fantastic too, a win/win.  I hope you'll try it out for yourself.   In other news I have some VERY EXCITING news to share with you all next week... here is a hint... Grandma and I took a special trip this fall and got to meet someone very special in the sewing industry.... got any guesses?  Leave your guess in the comment below for a chance to win my new book Free Motion Quilting for Beginners.  I can't wait to share the big news, so be sure to stay tuned!



25 comments:

  1. Somebody from the Singer Sewing Machine Company!?

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  2. A favorite fabric designer? crystalbluern at onlineok dot com

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  3. Someone special - Nancy Zieman?

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  4. Maybe Angela Walters? I would love to meet her myself. I will have to try this technique soon. I like the way it looks. Thanks for sharing.

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  5. My guess would be a fabric designer also!

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  6. Was it Angela Walters at Quilt Market??

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  7. The Autifil man? (Sorry, forgotten his name)

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  8. Awesome blog, you two are amazing, I already know the answer so since I am a relative I won't be a spoiler.

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  9. Was it Angela? I don't know but would still love to win your book. Thanks for the chance. (debbie at wowilikethat dot com)

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  10. Hmmm, maybe a fabric designer that you love?

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  11. I love the idea of print tracking. It would be great practice,

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  12. Hmmmmmm........ It could be anyone:-( I pick a favorite designer

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  13. Hiya!!! I have no idea---still too new to the quilting world to guess, but would love to have that book, lol. Thanks for having the giveaway. Blessed be, hugs!!! Pam
    pamspretties57 at gmail dot com

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  14. Alex & Ricky? are you going to be on the Quilt Show? Thanks for the great giveaway. I would love to have your book.

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  15. I guess Angela Walters too, love her fabric and her amazing FMQ abilities.

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  16. I have absolutely no idea! My guess is a fabric manufacturer person but I'm not sure of their names. Let's guess the person behind cloud 9 fabrics :)

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  17. Oh, I think I remember a post from you about meeting somebody at a convention, but now I can't remember who it was. She had glasses I think!

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  18. World famous for her beautiful quilting style Angela Walters?
    Oh my gosh print tracking sounds like something I could do. FMQ is a class I'm committed to take in Jan at a local quilt shop andI can't wait.
    This book is to die for! It's on my wish list too just in case:)

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