I have had a few questions about How I mark a grid on quilts. Here is How I do it. Let me say first that the way I do it does not have to be the way you do it….there are as many different ways to do things as there are quilters.
For a whole cloth quilt I find it easier to mark the entire top with a grid and then do the feathers etc. You can use the grid to help you layout the motifs.
The first step is to find the center of the top. Fold it in half and press then fold the opposite direction and press. Now you have a pressed x mark in the center.
I like the grid to be on the diagonal so I use a square ruler to mark the diagonals
Once the marks are on the corners you can draw in the lines
So you can see it in the picture I used a blue wash-away marker. I normally use a mechanical pencil with HB lead and press lightly…it makes a faint mark and washes out but does not rub off like chalk while I am quilting.
I use a yardstick to mark the lines. The yard stick is 1″ wide so it is perfect…no measuring, just line it up and draw lines.
I get the entire top marked and then hand quilted.
Then I go back and mark again to make the grid smaller.
It depends on how small you want the grid. I divide the grid in 1/2, marking the center of each square
then connect the marks
for the quilt I am working on I divide those again
I do the dividing by eye…since the quilt is already been quilted it might be stretched and no longer as accurate so it drives me crazy to try to measure and see that it is not perfect. If I just eyeball the center and then use the ruler to connect the dots I don’t need to know if it is off.
One thing I realized today is that the grid I am doing now is 3/8″. I had the first “big” grid marked at 1 1/2″ inches. 3/8 is still pretty small and I could easily have done it much larger and still had a very pretty quilt, but sometimes I just need to get crazy!
So that is how I mark a grid. Hope that helps
Happy Quilting
Tim
You are an amazing maniac Tim. The very thought of doing the second grid on the quilted material is making my eyes cross.
Well it sometimes makes mine cross too!…must wear glasses for this task
I would say you did go crazy on this one, but it will reap big things when you see all those ribbons and fanfare that goes with it!
I hope so!
Thanks for that Tim , I did the same for my Christmas Star quilt, marking it prior to doing any quilting so know I’m on the right track.
Great….I know it will turn out beautifully
Thanks for your very clear explanation and gorgeous photos, Tim! I’m full of admiration!
thanks Laura…..glad it was clear…It is sometimes hard to know it it makes sense to anyone but me
Gasp! This is just amazing! I stand in awe….thank you!
thanks!
Exquisite.
It’s incredible Tim. Great work.
slow progress…but still fun!
This is going to be amazing.Thanks for sharing your technique, I shall use that on a small(ish) piece some day. I’m glad you mentioned the 3/8th grid is a bit crazy. I”m doing one right now at 3/4″ and wondering about adding one line down the middle, I shall wonder no more.
Mine is an applique 100 x 100 and I sent it out to get marked. No room in my house for that type of work
the center of this one (middle of the feather wreath) has 1/4″ grid….but I think for most things I wont go below 1/2′ in the future for a grid
Thanks for showing your technique – excellent tutorial! Such a beautiful quilt.
Hilda Every Stitch
thanks Hilda
Thanks for the wonderful tutorial, Tim! Love following your progress on this gorgeous quilt.
more progress soon….Im working on quilting in my name and date…will show that soon
Amazing quilting! I’ve never heard of the fold and press method for starting a grid before, but will try it now. Thanks!
I think it is the easiest way to be sure you get it centered and easier than measuring …it is always hard for me to get an accurate measure on a whole top
Tim Do you mark the grid on all of the top and then mark the center on top of the grid?
yes I do. I mark the grid very lightly so I can still mark the center medallion over it and use the grid for accurate placement …