Lacy Clamshells

I'm excited to share my second design in my Brick Wall Free Motion Quilt Along made out of my gorgeous Island Batik solids.  This pattern is called Lacy Clamshells. I discovered a lot about this design as I was working on stitching it out.



There are some of you who requested a video of how I quilt the patterns.  I wanted to make sure I had pictures too, so I did my video on plain white fabric and took pictures while I worked on the actual quilt. 

Here is the first video with me drawing and quilting the Lacy Clamshells.  Blogger has a maximum size limit so we had to play with the video resolution some.  I hope the quality is still okay.  I'll keep working on it!


Here is the second video with a different way to draw/stitch the design that is easier.  I figured this out after I'd completed the first video.  I hope they work!  If not, no fears, there are directions to download here and pictures below.

Just in case the videos don't work and for those of you who like pictures, here are the pictures I took as I worked on my quilt top.

First, I made an arc.


Next, I made about 1/2 circles back along the arc to where I started.  No, they are not all the same size, but they are similar which is all that matters.  If you only have a partial circle that's fine too.


Then I traveled over and made a second arc and half circles (the lacy part).


Here is the top row of completed Lacy Clamshells.


Here you can see how I started the second row.  I did 1/2 a Lacy clamshell and then a small one.  Then I started the third arc.


At this point I realized it would be way easier to quilt a bunch of arcs in a row and then go back and fill in the 1/2 circles.  So that's what I did.  It was much faster and way less backtracking which is always nice.


I continued this idea and simply kept adding more Lacy Clamshells in a sort of diagonal row.


And it continues...


Okay, but what do I do when I get to the edge?  I did a little to make it look like the Lacy Clamshell went under the border.


And here is the final brick!  I really like this design.  Especially once I figured out a way to make it easier! 

If you make all your arcs the same size your pattern will look more formal.  If your arcs vary in size it will look more relaxed and modern.


I love to see pictures of what you're working on and how your quilt is going!  You can send them to me via my contact me page at the top of the blog or either of my Facebook Groups: Machine Applique Adventures and Free Motion Fun.

Fingers crossed on the videos....it's my first attempt! 

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