Welcome!
You know, quilters tell me how busy their summer is, but I think fall tops it on my calendar … at least this year!
September kicked off with The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show. And last week was our Customer Appreciation Day in Appleton, but that led right into this week’s Handi Quilter Van Event in both Elkhorn and Appleton plus a quilt show this weekend in Sheboygan! Running shoes on!
Customer Appreciation with Going to Pieces Quilt Shop (Appleton)
Handi Quilter Van Event (Elkhorn)
With all that going on, I wanted to take this opportunity to just wrap things up a bit before moving on to another skill-building topic.
I’ve spent the last four posts covering the methods of longarm quilting: free-motion, ruler-work, pantograph and computerized. But there are some additional quilting concepts that could use clarification, especially for newer longarm quilters.
So today, let’s look at the concepts of style and design that come into play when you’re longarm quilting.
Style Concepts
When I talk about the style of quilting, I’m talking about the overall approach or “look” of the finished quilting. Terms describing the style of quilting include edge-to-edge, custom, heirloom, modern and traditional. Let’s explore the characteristics of each of these styles.
Edge-to-edge (or allover) quilting uses one continuous design stitched from left to right and top to bottom across the entire quilt top. Quilting doesn’t change to distinguish individual blocks or borders. This gives the quilt an overall cohesive look and texture.
Custom quilting uses designs tailored to fit specific parts of the quilt top including blocks, sashing and borders. Each section is generally quilted differently. Custom quilting highlights the piecing and applique work of the quilt top, adding depth and texture.
Heirloom quilting is a particular type of custom quilting. Basically, it takes custom quilting to an elevated, highly detailed level. Heirloom quilting is dense and often layers multiple motifs or uses fine fills, trapunto or micro-stippling.
The result is show-quality or museum-quality design detail. An heirloom quilt has a stiffer texture and feel but the quilting is more decorative due to the increased amount of stitching.
Modern quilting is characterized by bold geometric piecing, solid fabrics and high-contrast colors. The quilting often uses straight-lines, grids or large-scale designs that emphasize simplicity and structure. The quilting supports the quilt’s overall graphic design versus adding embellishment.
Traditional quilting embraces classic motifs and historic patterns. The quilting frequently features feathers, wreaths, clam shells, Baptist fans or cables. It emphasizes symmetry, works well with reproduction fabrics and adds a timeless element to your quilt.
While I’ve described five distinctive styles of quilting, your finished quilt may be a combination of more than one. In fact, part of the fun and creativity of longarm quilting is combining not only styles but also methods and design concepts. So next, let’s see how design factors in.
Design Concepts
Quilting design concepts encompass the specific elements and techniques used to support the overall style of quilting. So, let’s talk about motifs, fillers, negative space, density and scale.
Motifs are the main recognizable shapes used throughout your quilting. Examples include swirls, leaves, hearts, stars, flowers and feathers.
Fillers are small, repetitive background features used around motifs or to accent piecing. They create texture and contrast. Examples include pebbles, stippling, and matchstick lines. Custom and heirloom quilting are good examples of when fillers are frequently used.
Negative space refers to open, unpieced areas of the quilt top. Negative space lets your quilting stand out! Modern quilting frequently incorporates the use of this design element.
Density refers to how tight your design is … how close the stitches are to each other.
A quilt with open or light density will have a softer, more snuggly finish because there is less stitching … less thread. And a design that is more open will stitch out faster.
A quilt with a tighter or heavy density will feel heavier because more thread is used in the quilting. It will be stiffer, less cuddly. Tighter density can add durability to your finished quilt, but it will take longer to stitch out.
Scale refers to the size of the quilt design. Generally, the scale of the design complements the size of the quilt blocks, the quilt top design and the overall size of the quilt.
For example, a small-scale design is often used on a table runner or wall quilt. The design not only adds to the look of the quilt, but it also adds texture, stability and stiffness to the project. Medium to large-scale designs result in soft, cuddly baby, lap or larger quilts.
Quilting methods, styles and design elements give you a lot to think about when it comes to planning the quilting for your quilt, but it also provides you with an opportunity to explore your creative side!
Have you ever considered combining quilting methods? For example, you may use computerized designs to quilt your blocks, then use free-motion or ruler-work in your sashing and borders.
Or what about combining quilting methods and quilting styles? For example, start with a basic pantograph or computerized edge-to-edge design to give your quilt top consistent, overall coverage. Then customize your quilting by adding free-motion or ruler-work designs to fill or accent specific motifs.
The combinations are endless! Have fun! Challenge yourself to try something new! (And if you’d like to explore free-motion or ruler-work quilting, keep reading. Classes are coming up soon. Want help planning how to quilt that quilt top you’ve been puzzling over? Sign up!)
Lots to process! Let’s wrap up with a preview of what’s happening in the near future at The Quilting Connection!
In-person Classes!
Basic Free-motion Class with Wendy Fuller
Friday, October 17, 2025 (Appleton)
or
Saturday, October 18, 2025 (Elkhorn) SOLD OUT
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (lunch included)
These are small group, hands-on classes. Wendy will introduce you to a variety of free-motion quilting designs and the various techniques that can be used to produce them. You’ll look at the many ways to use the designs to fill your quilt blocks and borders.
You’ll also get plenty of hands-on time at the longarm, and you’ll go home with a practice piece to refer to and build on in the future!
Feathers Flowers and Leaves Class with Wendy Fuller
Friday, November 7, 2025 (Appleton)
or
Saturday, November 8, 2025 (Elkhorn)
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (lunch included)
Want to broaden your free-motion repertoire?
Wendy will guide you in easy and popular ways to create
feathers, leaves, and flowers.
You’ll explore the many ways to use them in overall designs, blocks, and borders!
You’ll do a bit of drawing to introduce you to some designs, then you’ll get busy on the longarm practicing them. And, of course, you’ll go home with your practice piece!
Ruler and Gridwork Class with Wendy Fuller
Friday, November 21, 2025 (Appleton)
or
Saturday, November 22, 2025 (Elkhorn)
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (lunch included)
Ruler Class Description:
There are so many ways to use rulers! In this small, hands-on class, Wendy will show you tips and tricks for using rulers safely and effectively on your longarm to create straight lines, curves, circles, and arcs/swags.
She’ll teach you how to combine patterns to create complex looking designs. You'll learn how to use these designs for blocks, borders, sashings, and edge to edge options!
You’ll also get plenty of time on the longarm to stitch out some designs and try out different rulers to see which ones you may want to start adding to your quilting tool kit. And, of course, you’ll go home with your practice piece to refer to in the future!
Gridwork Class description:
What is "Grid-work"? It's when you quilt a grid-based design that can use stencils/marking or piecing lines to guide your quilting. Some common examples are "continuous curves" and "orange peel", but the possibilities are endless!
After a little instruction, you'll get to practice designs on the longarm that can be done free motion or with rulers. Wendy will show you how to scale the designs to fit your quilt.
There are so many options for blocks, borders, and background fills!
This class is for beginners through experienced skill levels. There are plenty of options to challenge us all!
AN ADDED NOTE FOR ALL OF WENDY’S CLASSES
Have a project you’re not sure how to quilt? Feel free to bring it along, and you’ll work with Wendy to brainstorm specific ideas that fit both your quilt and your skill level. You’ll go home with a ready-to-execute plan to finish your project!
And please know that all classes are adapted to the experience level of the participants!
These classes fill quickly, so check your calendar and sign up soon!
See the Classes page of our website for even more details on all these classes.
Upcoming Events
And looking ahead to October …
Village Quilters of Lake Bluff/Lake Forest, IL
Quilts from the Village
Friday, October 24, 2025
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday, October 25, 2025
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
College of Lake County
Building F (Physical Education)
19351 West Washington St.
Grayslake, Illinois
Admission: Regular $10
Current Military, Veterans & Students with valid ID $5
children under 12 – free
Please join us! Be sure to stop by and say hi!
SALES!
This fantastic sale continues!
If it’s time to replace or upgrade your ironing system, stop in and learn all about the benefits of micro-steam technology! Check out Laurastar!
See the Laurastar page of our website for the sale pricing! Then contact us!
APQS: Live Events and Sale
Live Events
If you’re interested in learning all about longarm quilting and the APQS machines, their Road Show events are the way to go! We’ve held several at both our Elkhorn and Appleton locations, and the quilters that attended them loved them!
Just a heads up that two APQS Road Show events are scheduled for November in a couple of other Wisconsin locations – Eau Claire on November 19th and Madison on November 20th. I’ll keep you posted as Rick and I learn more details!
Please contact us for more details!
Handi Quilter: Online Event
Pro-Stitcher/Handi Quilter is offering a free online education experience! It’s already started, but you can still join in live for the final two weeks. (And the first two weeks are available as replays!)
This series focuses on core Pro-Stitcher skills. Debby Brown, a national Handi Quilter educator, will take you through some of the basics that will make you a Pro-Stitcher pro! (You may remember Debby from previous classes The Quilting Connection has offered … she’s fantastic!)
Here’s what’s still coming live:
Week #3: Align vs. Reposition
September 30, 2025 11 AM CDT
Debby will teach quilters the difference between align and reposition on Pro-Stitcher. While similar, these features are different, and Debby will share when to use each of them!
Week #4: Stitch Settings
October 7, 2025 11 AM CDT
Debby will go over various stitch settings including: knots, pullup, auto and pause/delay.
For more information and the links to join on either Facebook or YouTube, see the Pro-Stitcher – Core Skills with Debby Brown page of their website.
You’ll find the replays of weeks 1 and 2 here as well. Week #1: Five Steps You NEED to Know! and Week #2: Repeating a Design for Edge-to-Edge
(Facebook allows access to replays for 30 days. There is no time limit to viewing on YouTube.)
The Quilting Central Podcast Update
Have you had a chance to catch the latest episode of The Quilting Central Podcast?
Check out Episode 11: “Cozy Quilts & Fall Projects”. Julie, Cathy and I share practical, shop-tested tips for autumn sewing – from fabric selection and color palettes to quick table runners, cozy throw blankets, batting choices and finishing tricks that take your projects to pro-level!
For a complete listing of all our episodes, check out the Quilting Central Podcast YouTube channel! Be sure to subscribe and comment. We’d love to hear your thoughts!
That’s it! As always …
Please remember, if you ever have ANY questions or want additional information about ANY of the products and services we offer, please call us at (262) 723-6775 or email us at info@QuiltingConnection.com.
You can also visit us online at QuiltingConnection.com or in person at 21 Adams Street in Elkhorn, WI (usually M-F 9-4, please call to confirm we’re open) or 1017 W. Northland in Appleton, WI (W, Th & F 10-4, S 10-3).
Finally, check out our blog at QuiltingConnection.com/blog and our Facebook posts.
And please share your thoughts and questions. I’d love to hear from you!
Angie