Quilting an Orange Peel Border: One Curve at a Time

Choosing a quilting design for a border can bring me to a standstill. The quilt is almost finished, and one more decision is waiting to be made!

An Orange Peel design is a lovely option. Its repeating curves create a pattern that adds texture and movement while framing the piecing inside.

In this short reel, I’m quilting an Orange Peel border. You can watch the curves build into a continuous pattern as the stitching progresses.

VIEW VIDEO HERE

There is something satisfying about seeing the design take shape, one section at a time!

If you want to try this design, start by drawing a few repeats on paper. That gives you a chance to think about the shape and the stitching path before you move to fabric.

Then try a sample quilt sandwich. Aim for a comfortable rhythm and reasonably consistent curves. They don’t have to be identical for the overall pattern to look lovely.

Come back next week and we will add one small flourish that makes the border even better!!

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A Ribbon Candy Border for your Quilt

Ribbon candy isn’t just a sweet treat—it’s also a lovely quilting design!

With its flowing curves and repeating folds, this free-motion quilting design adds movement and texture to a quilt border. I love the way it creates a decorative finish while giving you a chance to settle into a stitching rhythm.

In today’s video, I’m demonstrating a ribbon candy border so you can follow the movement and try it on your own practice sandwich.

VIEW VIDEO HERE

Before you start stitching, try drawing the design on paper. Practicing the path with a pencil can help you become comfortable with the changes in direction.

Give yourself permission to practice without making every curve identical. You’re building confidence, and that comes one ribbon at a time!

Where would you use ribbon candy quilting on your next quilt?

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Check out my new, ONLINE, ON-DEMAND Free-Motion Quilting Course

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Quilting Waves: A Little More Time, a Lot of Texture

Some quilting designs take a little more time, but when I see the texture they create, I remember why they are worth it!!

This wave design is one of those.

The flowing lines add movement to the quilt, but the TEXTURE is what really makes me smile. Something about those repeated curves makes me want to run my hand across the surface!

It does take a bit longer to quilt. This isn’t a design that I can rush through, so I settle in and enjoy watching the waves develop.

VIEW VIDEO HERE

And as the quilted area grows, the payoff becomes clearer. Those individual lines work together to create a surface with wonderful depth and movement.

Would I use it on every quilt? Probably not. But when I want the quilting to add outstanding texture, this wave design is definitely one to remember!

Sometimes a little extra quilting time makes a BIG difference!!

Do you have a quilting design that takes longer but is always worth the effort?

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An accidental Braided Border

I sat down at my machine to learn a quilting border I had seen. Somewhere along the way, my stitching took a different turn—and suddenly I had a braided border design that I really liked!

In the video below, I show you the design and stitch it so you can follow the movement. Watching the lines develop is much easier than trying to explain every turn in words.

VIEW VIDEO HERE

Why I’m keeping this one…

I love a border that adds movement around a quilt, and this braided effect gives me another option when I want the border quilting to be part of the design. I’m looking forward to trying it on a quilt!

Have you ever been practicing one quilting design and ended up discovering another? Tell me what happened in the comments—I’d love to hear about your happy accident.

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Check out my new, ONLINE, ON-DEMAND Free-Motion Quilting Course

CLICK TO LEARN MORE

FMQ Doesn’t Always Go As Planned!

You begin with a plan. Then you press the foot pedal and start moving the quilt in every direction…except the one you intended.

But every wobble builds muscle memory and improves your control. Once the quilt is finished, those imperfect lines usually blend into the beautiful texture.

Keep quilting—and call the unexpected parts a custom design!

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Do you struggle to decide what to quilt in your blocks? If so, check out my FREE series…..