Stardust Quilt-along: Combining Digitized Designs and Free-motion

Hi there! I’m BERNINA Expert Amanda Murphy and, as an extra bonus to the Stardust Quilt-Along, I quilt out some more examples of combining digitized designs with free-motion to create a spectacular finish to your quilting pieces. Remember, your free-motion doesn’t have to be perfect—a lot of times it looks better if it isn’t!

Nothing contrasts with and enhances digitized designs as much as free-motion, whether those digitized designs are embroideries.

A large Celestial Lights embroidery from the BERNINA-Exclusive Celestial Lights Embroidery Collection surrounded by free-motion quilting!

Or just feature simple quilting.

The following photos all show quilting designs that I quilted with my BERNINA Q24 longarm using my OESD Quilting Collections that are digitized for both embroidery machines and longarms. Surrounded by free-motion quilting, while it might not be perfect, adds more personality and movement to your quilt than the digital designs alone! Remember, you can also quilt with your embroidery machine!

Stardust Quilt-along Schedule

Stardust Quilt-along: Preview

Stardust Quilt-along: Part I 

Stardust Quilt-along: Ribbon Candy

Stardust Quilt-along: Piecing Tips and Tricks

Stardust Quilt-along: Stabilizers for Embroidery in Quilts

Here is the quilt that I made to give you more ideas on how to combine free-motion and digitized designs. Most of the free-motion patterns are in my new Organic Free-Motion Idea book.

Here is a  video that shows you part of the process.

Here are close-ups of all the blocks, so that you can see how the digitized designs are enhanced with the quilting:

A selection of my Volume 1 designs, with free-motioned open paisleys or petals.

A selection of my Volume 2 designs, free-motioned with rectangular meandering.

A selection of my Volume 3 designs, with free-motioned full moons.

A selection of my Volume 4 designs, with free-motioned stars.

A selection of my Volume 5 designs, with free-motioned ocean waves.

A selection of my Volume 6 designs, with free-motioned stippling.

A selection of my Volume 7 designs, with free-motioned loops.

A selection of my Volume 8 designs, with free-motioned pebbles.

A selection of my Volume 9 designs, with free-motioned ribbons.

A selection of my Volume 10 designs, with free-motioned open swirls.

A selection of my Volume 11 designs, with free-motioned paisleys.

A selection of my Volume 12 designs, with free-motioned stippling.

So remember, the next time you are quilting something, you don’t have to choose between quilting with your machine’s embroidery or with free-motion—you can use BOTH! It is the best of both worlds!

Happy quilting and happy holidays!

Amanda