Free Motion Quilting: Stippling and MicroStippling

Learn how to create the most popular free motion quilting filler design

Stippling and MicroStippling are to the quilting world like lipstick is to cosmetics. You can't go to a quilt show and not see stippling or microstippling in at least half of the quilts.

Because of this, stippling is starting to get a bad wrap with quilt judges who are looking for new, innovative free motion quilting designs. Stippling and Microstippling has simply been overused to the point of exhaustion, and just like hearing the same song on the radio over and over, the more you experience it, the more boring it gets.

But Stippling will always have it's place in the quilting world and certainly should have its place in your quilts. Knowing how to create this filler design is much like knowing how to piece, it's a necessary step to becoming an experienced Quilter.

First, let's learn how to make a very wide, open meandering stipple that can easily fill the whole surface of your quilt in this video created in July 2008.

(This was one of my very first free motion video, so please forgive the bad quality)

Keep in mind that meandering over the whole surface of your quilt is a great way to finish it quickly, but not a good way to win ribbons in a quilt show.

If winning ribbons is your desire, you'll need to quilt a lot tighter and denser and with a lot more pizzazz! You're going to need to know how to MicroStipple:

Of course you don't want to MicroStipple across the whole surface of your quilt! That would result in a quilt the consistency of cardboard with the comfort quality of a concrete floor.

Microstippling is used in choice, specific areas to flatten the quilt surface and create a dramatic background effect. This is especially effective around areas of Trapunto where the quilted motifs are raised with 2 layers of batting and the surrounding areas are flattened with very dense quilting.

This filler looks great inside small, tight areas like around scrollwork, Celtic shapes, and inside appliqué flowers.

Learn how to quilt the 4 most popular quilting designs! Click on the links below:

Microstippling

McTavishing

Pebbling

Paisley

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