FMQ samples – part 4 + tutorial

It is time to revisit the orange peel pattern.

For those of you who would like to know how to stitch the orange peel, there is a great video by Karen Miller on YouTube. She uses a square grid which is on point. In my sample in the picture above I used a regular grid (like math paper). It doesn’t really matter, the stitch path stays the same; you follow the lines and try to hit the intersections of the grid.

Just by increasing the height of the arc you will create two orange peel patterns at the same time. One orange peel that is based on the grid and a tiny orange peel at the intersections.

Here is a the stitch path I used for the “Fat Orange Peel”.

The stitch path different from the one in the YouTube video. I would use this alternative stitch path if I needed to finish a row instead of going up and down a line for all the rows and columns. If you have a large area to quilt I would suggest you try the alternative stitch path. I personally like the speed with which you can stitch this out. (which does mean that the pattern will most likely not be perfect!)

Warning: You do need to check if your arcs are the same from row to row… I tend to create Easter Eggs where the arc have a fat bottom but then end in a point. This is not what you want. So practice practice and practice some more!

The next sample shows another orange peel but with the grid on point (as in the YouTube video). I used the first stitch path (from the video) and filled the negative space with a spiral that echoes the peel shapes. The negative space can be filled with anything you want. In the sample I drew the arcs in using a ruler before I started stitching; my arcs did’t suddenly get perfect on their own, ha ha!

First stitch out the orange peel and then go back in and add the centre of your choice.

( If you want to draw out your own idea before you start stitching, you can print out grids of your choice from this Incompetech website. I use it all the time! )

Of course you can fill the orange peels them selves! This will create thread build up on the peels. Choose your thread color wisely!

Again, first stitch out the orange peels and then go back in for the pattern on the inside.

And how about just using half of the orange peel pattern (based on the YouTube video)? Fill it any way you like. This sample isn’t my favorite but it does let me tink more about negative space and the shapes the unstitched areas create. I should have drawn in the arcs here before stitching… it is a bit of a mess.

Creative mess, that is!

Hugs

Esther

 

 

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