Do you doodle or do you draw? How seriously do you take the need to draw to improve your quilting? Recently I took a class from Jamie Wallen who challenged us to draw three or four times a week. Jamie said that drawing for 45 minutes is like three hours of machine quilting, and it takes 30-45 minutes to get a design into muscle memory.
I have always been a doodler, and when thinking of a new design I’d practice on the glass in the shower, decorate my notebooks, and doodle on every scrap of paper around. But taking a specific time and having rulers and paper set up with the intention of creating and practicing new things. That takes this to a whole new level.
I must admit I go directly to my quilt and start quilting sooner than I should which causes me to have to rip out if I truly don’t like a design, but I can hear Diane Gaudynski in my head telling me “If you want to learn to quilt, quilt your quilts!”
I had taken a class from Jamie a year ago, and had drawn on this sample quilt block (ink). I picked it up again and finished the block (pencil) and I do see an improvement in my feathers. Do you?
I think it’s a great idea to draw different lines on paper for shapes of blocks or shapes you want to quilt in the background (stars, hexagons), make some copies then practice, practice. practice. You can come up with so many different designs for your squares.
It’s a challenge to take the time away from quilting to practice drawing, but I think it will be worth it when you see the improvement in your quilting. Anyone going to join me for this challenge?
Gail Renna 