Hi, I seem to have spent the last thirty years talking about quilting.Then I sit down at the computer and my mind goes blank.Shall we start with the most ask question in my career. How do you get the pattern on to the fabric.
There of lots of ways which I will tell you
before getting to my personnel choice.Firstly the old way ,A favourite of Amy Emms.An old blunt Bodkin,She would put a padded surface on the table .place her fabric on top followed by her her pattern.She then dragged the bodkin around the pattern,On pure cotton this can leave quite a good mark.
Instead of a Bodkin I brought it more up to date by using a Dressmakers Tracing Wheel. Again you need to have a padded surface (old sheet folded) you then just wheel all over your design,You also need put a bit of pressure on .Once on only washing or ironing will remove it.You need lots of copies of what you are doing as your pattern will shred .Again it will leave a very good mark.
I favour drawing my pattern very finely ,working from the centre out (that way you dont rub what you have already done) I use a 2B Propelling (Mechanical) pencil.It might sound obvious but you rarely buy them together ,Buy your leads separate that way you know what you are using.Holding the pencil on at least a 45 degree angle approx one and a half inches from the nib.The point of using this angle is to stop you pressing on.it also allows you to see what you are drawing.If you press on just like the hard leads ,The graphite goes down into the fibres and you will sew spotty dark stitches.Develop a light touch this way and you quilt over it and it disappears.
If anyone has any questions about Wholecloth,I will be delighted to answer them.