I just took a customer quilt off the longarm, and it occurred to me that I tend to use my favorite pantographs time and time again. There are others that I’ve tried once and didn’t care for (and I should put them on eBay), and there are others yet that are patiently waiting for their first turn under the red laser beam of light, but the right quilt hasn’t come along yet.
My Cast of Favorites:
- Popcorn by Jodi Beamish (probably my most-used panto – today it was clouds for a child’s airplane quilt)
- Waterworld by Jodi Beamish (love it, but it’s a little more dense)
- Wildflower by Jodi Beamish (hmmm, I see a Jodi trend here. Very nice flowers, not too heavily quilted)
- Spiral Square, 6″ repeat, Keryn Emmerson (good gender-neutral pattern & fun to do)
- Daisy Swirl by Jodi Beamish (another good fresh-looking floral)
- Linda’s Curly Feather Meandering by Linda V Taylor (probably my favorite, but most labor intensive)
- Cascade by Keryn Emmerson (a more widely spaced feathery look)
- Double Rose Vine, 12″, by Norma Sharp (flows nicely, looks great)
- Stars & Loops by Linda V Taylor (you could freehand it, but this is a great panto for kids’ quilts especially)
- Feather Feather by Kathie James (fast, fast, fast, but pretty widely spaced)
- Steam by Norma Sharp (even faster, flows well, great for a quick baby quilt; have used it on kids’ sleeping bags)
So those of you who use pantographs, what patterns do you reach for again and again? I wouldn’t mind adding a couple to freshen up my collection, but it’s always great to start with a recommendation or two or three. Plus I find it difficult to choose patterns based on a tiny drawing!
Sue
this ought to be a good topic!!!
i have to use my Bernina for both piecing and quilting on the frame, so i don’t have too much room to work with. My patterns can’t be any wider than 4.5 inches, so it’s limiting! these are my favorites, and some of them probably come larger.
Dragon Tail — Keryn Emmerson
Chinese Crescents — Keryn Emmerson
Flourish — Keryn Emmerson
Oak Leaf — Keryn Emmerson
Which Way Did They Go?- Judy Allen
I’ve also been known to use stencils traced on a strip of freezer paper as a pantograph, and that works well.
the one I use all the time are Spiral Square and Sprung……both fast and easy……..when my clients want really bargin basement prices its always Sprung……I charge it by the hour instead of my usual square inch pricing. I don’t get to do to many pantos so when I get one its almost a real treat.
Karen L
Fantasia by Lorien Quilting–absolute favorite, flows beautifully as you do it
Lime tree by Keryn Emerson–gender neutral
Wandering daisies by Jodi Beamish–cheerful and easy
Wind and Water by Kathie James–looser pattern that goes quickly
Alfresco by Hermione Agee
Peony–can’t find the maker anymore–it’s pretty old
Flowing Feathers by Hermione Agee
I prefer interlocking pantos that aren’t a repeating symmetrical pattern.