• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Pieced Brain

All about quilting, knitting, crochet, embroidery, free tutorials, quilting and crafting book reviews.

  • Start Here
  • Featured
  • Patterns
    • Patterns
    • Pattern Updates
    • Free Patterns
  • Tutorials
  • Programs & Workshops
  • Contact
  • Show Search
Hide Search

FMQ tutorial

By Denise Russell

One of the ways I mark projects for quilting is by tracing the image I want to quilt onto Golden Threads paper. It allows me to be a little bit more precise as I freemotion quilt, and the design possibilities are endless. Here is how I do it:

1. Choose the design you want. The design above is from the book Designs for Continuous Line Quilting by Shirley Thompson (page 55):

I looked everywhere but could not find a link for you to purchase it should you be interested. Maybe you can find it at your local library…

2. Place a piece of Golden Threads paper over the design, making sure it extends at least 1″ beyond the design all around, to allow you to pin paper onto quilt far away from the outline that the presser foot won’t touch it. Trace it using a black Sharpie.

3. Notice that your tracing work does not need to be perfect. To be sure, when you are quilting over it you will likely not follow the lines exactly, anyway. No one will know unless you show them the original design and your quilting lines…

4. Place template over quilt block, pin it, and freemotion quilt over it. I like to decrease the length of the stitches from 2.4 to 2.0 on my Bernina for FMQ. Also, I reduce the speed to half, just in case my hands or my foot decide to run faster than they should. It helps keep stitch length consistent.

5. After quilting, rip paper away from stitches (I do it fast but carefully so only paper comes off, not stitches!). If any paper is left under a stitch you will see it easily because of the black Sharpie you used to trace the design. Using tweezers, pull the tiny piece of paper out of the quilt. (For my favorite time to remove the paper, check out @piecedbrain on Instagram today…).

That is it. I suggest you do all the quilting in one sitting, or on the same day. For this project I did not. So, a week or so later when I returned to it, I forgot that I had added the circle on the middle of the flower and proceeded to quilt remaining 30 blocks without the center. You know what I will be doing as soon as I finish writing this post, right?

Go ahead and give it a try. You will be surprised with the results!

Share This:

Share
Pin
Post
Print

Filed Under: free motion quilting, Tutorials, Uncategorized

Get free quilt patterns and tutorials, as well as blocks and quilts designed exclusively for subscribers.

Find out what is trending in the quilting world and learn new techniques to take your quilting to the next level!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Gloria Cotten says

    at

    Thanks for sharing this, Dense. I have not heard of Golden Threads paper until now.

Primary Sidebar

Denise Russell

Hello, I’m Denise and I love to design and make quilts. You can also find me knitting, crocheting, and making other crafts. Join me!
  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS

Get free quilt patterns and tutorials, as well as blocks and quilts designed exclusively for subscribers.

Find out what is trending in the quilting world and learn new techniques to take your quilting to the next level!

My Patterns On ETSY!

Fantastic Sales! Click to Save!

Fat Quarter Shop Quilting Fabrics and Supplies
Lowest prices on the best yarn - guaranteed at knitpicks.com
Various Logos for Indygo Junction
300 X 250 banner

QuilterBlogs

Footer

Disclosure of Material Connection:

The links above and some of the links in my posts are affiliate links: if you click on the link and decide to purchase something, I may receive a commission. I often receive books from publishers so I can review them on my blog and, at times, I may receive products to use and write about my experience with them. Read my privacy policy.

Recent Posts

  • Jelly roll-friendly quilt pattern
  • Scrappy quilt with stars
  • Flannel quilt for beginners
  • Black and White modern quilt
  • Free star quilt pattern
  • Free pattern for a panel quilt

Search

Archives

Categories

Copyright © 2025 Pieced Brain Quilt Designs LLC. All rights reserved. · Designed by Wacky Jacqui's Designs