Doodle Quilting: Over 120 Continuous-Line Machine-Quilting Designs

Doodle Quilting has no photos of finished samples except for the cover and 3 or 4 pages of doodle ensembles inside the book; it is 99% black-and-white line drawings with supplemental text. So why would I rate it 5 out of 5 stars? And what sets Cheryl Malkowski's new book Doodle Quilting apart from all the other free-form quilting books out there?Words.And this is a welcome addition for quilters like me who are left-brainers who benefit from being TOLD - not just SHOWN - how to do something. I like that each drawing has a "think" subtitle, giving the quilter a type of mantra to murmur (or mutter, that happens too) as the fabric (or long-arm) is moved. Some of these are not super-sophisticated ("spiral in, spiral out"), but this verbiage can help unlock those frozen arms or help a newbie break out of the basic meander mode.Right-brain (or visual) quilters will most certainly pick up a few tips and flourishes from the many black-and-white line drawings here, even if they don't read the text. But I encourage them to read every word here, because none of them are wasted. (By the way, if you are looking for a book with lots of full-color photos of samples, check out Leah Day's  365 Free Motion Quilting Designs .)My favorite section is the "Ensembles" chapter where doodles get combined together, creating the unique and attractive design featured on the cover. This is a superb way to practice, practice, practice and at the same time create a one-of-a-kind all-over whole-cloth quilt.Right-brain or left-brain, Doodle Quilting was a no-brainer for me and it was on my wish-list as soon as I saw it was in the works. It works for me because Malkowski gives life to both pictures and words in an encouraging and truly helpful manner.

You have to know the alphabet before you can write words. You have to be able to draw before you can create a complex design. This book teaches you how to draw the simple building block patterns of free-motion quilting designs and then combine them into progressively more complex units. The author recommends tracing the patterns. I traced over the patterns with a blunt stylus then practiced the patterns on a small, 8x10" whiteboard I bought at a local office supply store. I doodled off and on, a few minutes at a time, every evening while watching TV. I found even the simplest forms extremely difficult at the beginning (zero experience drawing) but suddenly, after a month, I realized I was drawing the early forms easily and consistently. I'm still doodling on my whiteboard in the evenings, but I'm becoming more comfortable with the forms and enjoying combining them into my own designs. And, when I look at complex forms on free-motion quilts, I'm not overwhelmed by the complexity because I can break the design apart into its component forms and see how it was constructed. I've watched a lot of YouTube videos and read several books, but this is the best learning tool I've encountered because it starts with the design alphabet of free motion quilting..

I love this book. I wanted an easy inspiring book. This one tells you how to think the design as you go.I use this type inspirational thinking in other art projects. An example would be "go up the hill and then down in the valley."Also, "echo" the design is an art term I have used for myself when painting and she uses these words in the book too.If you buy it, don't just copy the patterns, learn her tricks on how to think the design.

Yes, Fun... that is just what this book is all about. Doodling on paper helps you free up your mind ready for free motion quilting. This, I truly believe is the key to free motion. It takes hours of practice with the pencil and paper then hours of practicing with your quilt sandwiches. (a layer of batting between two layers of fabric, mine were 10 inch squares)I made up dozens of quilt sandwiches before I started my machine practice. I then took this book and followed Cheryl's directional quilting, starting at the very beginning, following her ideas on what to think as you stitch the designs out.I feel it was all worth the slow journey...eventually I was in heaven as it all seemed to 'click '.Practice, practice ,practice...that is the key. Make the time often, to relax and follow Cheryl's hints and simple designs. This book definitely has a place on my quilting table.Everything takes time, however, you will succeed.

Discovering doodle quilting was fascinating but intimidating. Breakingbthe designs into manageable pieces and then gradually combining the pieces into cohesive fill was liberating. I practice on paper every evening and the get up ready to quilt! It is so much fun!

Just downloaded the Kindle edition of this book to my iPad 2 the other day. Since it claimed most of the book was instructional text and black and white line drawings-- figured I would not be disappointed. It downloaded easily to my iPad and I have already read some of the instructions -- which really make a lot of sense. Since I do not have a printer attached to my iPad, I just traced my finger over the quilting patterns and think that may work fine to get my fingers going in the right direction. If I want to try the pencil grip -- I could use a little bamboo drawing tool that works well on the iPad. I haven't tried to download the book to my computer yet. If that works, I could print out the designs too. Also-- I have good reader as an app. It will let you write and draw on PdF files. Don't know if this will download into Good Reader or not. Has anyone tried this?But all, in all, this is a very helpful book as a primer to simple free motion quilting. I really like the instructions to train your motor skills and I like the way she has you combine simple designs to make more complex designs. I'm sure I'll be able to quilt many of these designs :)It was really nice to be able to download this book immediately and to have it in this portable format :)

Excellent for a beginner like me who wants to experiment with top stitching. Easy & logical diagrams to follow that can then be expanded to produce something more complex.

whether a beginner or more confident this book offers GREAT intro skills and pattern breakdown. Ive used it and promoted it as a great ref for classes and frequently refer back for some practice. Excellent . well worth every penny. GET it !

Great book - extremely useful book for anyone seeking ideas and patterns for machine quilting. One of the better books for fmqing on the market as Cheryl brings together ideas from other quilters such as Patsy Thompson et al. . .

Helpful book with lots of ideas for free motion quilting and clear diagrams showing how to create the patterns.

I have just started to learn patchwork quilting - this is a brilliant book for all stages, couldn't do without it.