How to make a panto, or continuous pattern/open pattern, from a motif/closed pattern.

What is an open pattern? This is one that has the start point at one side of the design and the end point at the other. Pantographs, line patterns, point to point patterns and e2e patterns are all open.

What is a closed pattern? This usually a motif or single pattern that has the start and end in the same place. 

So, how can you change a closed pattern into an open pattern?

There are a few ways. These are the notes from a class I held in 2015 with steps you can follow. You should all have this holly leaf pattern on your iQ.

Using Holly from Patterns by Helen to create an open pattern.

1. Using Split pattern.

Design/Sew Quilt > Start New > Add Block > Enter Rectangle Manually 

Width 10", Height  10" > Continue > Finished > Finished >Add/Edit Pattern > Add Pattern > Block Pattern > Use Current Block.

Search. Enter holly and choose this pattern.

 

Select holly > Continue > Finished > Split Pattern.

Zoom in to the end of the left hand curl. Turn the zoom off and touch the end. 

Move the target until it’s right at the end then touch Split.

Turn zoom on, then pan and move across to the end of the right hand curl. Turn zoom off.

Touch the end of that curl > Split. Go to zoom full.

Delete pattern. Touch the pattern so this part is red. Continue.

Now you’ll see that there is an S/E in the middle. 

The pattern needs to be combined so that there is only an S at one side and an E at the other. 

Combine Patterns > touch the right hand curl > continue > touch the rest of the pattern > Continue > Continuous Stitch Line. (There is a small gap between the S/E point in the center of the pattern – zoom in to take a look.) Finished.

Before we save this pattern we need to make sure the S and E are on the same horizontal plane.

Modify Pattern > touch the pattern > Continue.

Turn the grid on and turn snap on. Move the pattern so that S snaps to one of the grid intersections.

Stretch. Touch S to anchor that point, then grab E and move it until it snaps to an intersection on the same horizontal plane as S.

 Finished > Finished > Finished > Save Quilt/Pattern > Save A Pattern From The Quilt > touch the pattern, Continue.

Name the pattern Holly open. Select new catalog and name it Holly Set.

Now let’s test that saved pattern to see how it works as a pantograph.

Add/Edit Pattern > Delete Pattern > touch the pattern, Continue > Add Pattern > Pantograph > Use

Current Block > select Holly Open for both the rows.

Change row height to 2” (this is a small block). Offset the rows 50%, flip Y on the right. Use Shift to

evenly space the rows, then use Gap to bring them closer together. Reduce the row height to 1”.

 2. Using Divide pattern.

Divide pattern can be used to create the open pattern in fewer steps.

Here are the steps, starting from where we are. 

Finished > Accept > Add/Edit Pattern > Delete Pattern > Select All > Continue.

Add Pattern > Block Pattern > Use Current Block > select holly > Continue ( Turn off the grid) >Finished > Divide Pattern 

Touch the pattern, Continue.

Look at Mode - if it says open, change it to Divide by first touching the button then the plus or minus button. 

Touch Move and move the green horizontal line up to a position that will make the start and end at the widest part of the pattern. If it looks good to you, touch finished 

Delete Pattern > touch the top of the pattern > Continue. Answer yes to the pop up question.

Modify pattern > touch the pattern, Continue. Note how there is no S/E at the center. Using divide

eliminated it so there is no need to combine the two parts like we did when using split. Also, because we used the horizontal line in Divide the S and E are already on the same horizontal plane.

Because this pattern was an original recording, it is not symmetrical. 

The right hand curl ends higher than the left hand curl. 

Zoom in on the end of the right hand curl. We need to get rid of that little extra line.

Finished > Split Pattern > zoom into the end of the right hand curl > turn zoom off > touch the left hand line next to S > Split > Delete Pattern > zoom in if necessary to touch the little end (having zoom lock on would be advantageous at this step), look to make sure just the end part is red then touch Continue.

Now we need to check that the S and E are still on the same horizontal plane.

Modify Pattern > touch the pattern, Continue > Turn on the grid and snap > move E so it snaps to the grid > Stretch, touch E to anchor it then grab S and snap it to an intersection.

Finished > Finished > Finished > Save Quilt/Pattern > Save a Pattern From The Quilt > touch the pattern,

Continue. Name the pattern Holly Open 2 and place it in the Holly Set catalog.

3. Adding a Connector

A third way to create an open pattern from a closed pattern is by adding a double stitched line or a connecting line from the geometric catalog.

In the Patterns by Helen catalog, you'll find a pattern called Lob. This is a closed pattern. I simply added a double stitched line to make it continuous. You'll find instructions on how to do that in another blog post at this link.

It is a simple process to add a connecting line to an existing motif or closed pattern.

We'll use Fancy Fish by Vickie Malaski that everyone has on their iQ. To change this into a pattern that can be used as an edge to edge or border pattern, follow these steps.

Design/Sew Quilt > Start New > Block Pattern > Enter Rectangle Manually > width 10", height 10" Continue > Finished.

Select Fancy Fish  block 1 from Vickie Malaski's catalog. If you have re-organised your library, search for Fancy Fish.

Notice where the start/end point is for this pattern. We are going to move it.

Touch Start/End. Touch the  S/E and drag it to the point of the top fin.

Finished > Copy Pattern, touch the fish > Continue > Move.

Turn the grid on and snap on

Move the fish copy to the right, zooming out if necessary. Make the S/E of that fish snap to a grid intersection.

Select > touch the other fish > Continue > Move. Move the S/E pont of the fish so it snaps to a grid point on the same horizontal plane as the other fish, leaving a gap between them. Finished.

Add Pattern > Block Pattern > Use Current Block > choose the geometric catalog and select arc-2.

Flip X. Start/End (note how the S and E switch places.)

Move. Drag the S until it snaps to the S/E of the left hand fish. 

Stretch. Touch the S of arc-2 then drag the E so that it snaps to the S/E of the second fish. Finished.

Combine Patterns. Touch the left hand fish > Continue > touch arc-2 > Continue > Finished > Finished > Save Quilt/Pattern > Save a Pattern From The Quilt > touch the left hand fish > Continue.

Change the name to Fancy Fish cont. and save it to Vickie Malaski's catalog.

Now let's see how it looks as a panto.

Add/Edit Pattern > Delete Patterns > Select All > Continue > Yes > Add Pattern > Pantograph > Use Current Block > Select Fancy Fish cont for both rows.

Change the row height to 2"

Will  it look better offset? Let's try that.

Touch the gear button. If progressive Offset is disabled, change it to enabled by selecting its button followed by the plus or minus sign. Finished.

Offset - either tap the < button or sweep the screen to shift the rows until you like the look of the offset then close the gap if you want to. 

How to create a basketweave pantograph design using your Intelliquilter ...

Tracey shows how to create your own basketweave pattern in this video. There's no need to buy one.

Baptist fan panto - step by step guide.

There is no need to buy a baptist fan panto - iQ lets you create your own, customising it to suit your needs. 

Here are the step by step instructions.

Start at the main menu.

Design/Sew Quilt.

Start new. Answer the pop up questions appropriately to suit you.

Block Pattern. This may seem to be the wrong choice, but you are designing your own pattern now before saving it to use as a panto.

Enter block manually. Since this is design work, the 10" by 10" block will be good. Continue. Finished.

Select the Computer Art Patterns catalog.

Select Baptist Fan, Continue.

Now look at the choices. You are creating a panto. Look at the number of Arcs - you can change that to any number you want. Consider - do you want lots of arcs closely spaced, or fewer arcs so you can make the rows smaller in height? Think about the quilt you'll be working on. I changed from 10 to 5 arcs by touching the minus sign - or you could enter the number using the key pad. Finished.

iQ has put your pattern in the block but at the 100% size you just created. Mine was way too big so I scaled it down. If you want to save this pattern at the scaled down size, touch Update to reset the scale to 100%. Finished.

You now want to save the pattern, so look for save. It's not on this screen so touch Finished.

 Save Quilt/Pattern.

Save A Pattern From The Quilt.

Touch the pattern, as instructed. Continue.

Give your pattern a name then save it to the catalog of your choice. I created a new one named Baptist Fan. I'll probably save more versions with different numbers of arcs and at a different size for future use.

Now you can use this saved pattern to create a baptist fan panto on your quilt. 

Select pantograph.

Enter the dimensions of the quilt.

Select your Baptist fan for both the odd and even rows.

Here's how iQ will initially set it up.

I closed the gap and altered the row height.

Clamshell - step by step.

There is no need to buy a clamshell pattern - just use the geometric catalog to create your own. Follow these steps:

At the main menu select Design/Sew quilt.

Start new. Answer the pop up questions to your liking.

Pantograph.

Enter rectangle manually.

Enter the size of your quilt. Continue.

Check that the dimensions are correct, then touch finished.

Select the geometric catalog. Find half circle and touch it to select for the odd rows. Continue. 

Find half circle offset and touch it to select it for the even rows. Continue.

You'll see that iQ has made the rows 12" high, as usual. Change this to suit your needs.

All done - your clamshell quilt is now ready.

Fooling IQ on where to start

Did IQ ever think it finished a row, but truly hasn't due to a thread break or some other reason? This is how you get it to start in the correct location.

Here's help from Patty on how to restart a panto row in the place you want it to start.

Pantograph pattern editing and modifications explained.

In this video, Tracey Browning clearly explains all the editing features available when setting up a pantograph. If you are a new iQ owner, this video will help you understand all the different ways in which a pantograph pattern can be customised.

Sunburst Panto

In this video Sonya shows how to create a Sunburst Panto on IntelliQuilter. The tools used include fan pattern, split pattern, clipping block...

This is a very good demonstration lesson to follow step by step but if you prefer not to do that, Sonya has kindly made her patterns downloadable for you. The patterns made in the video can be downloaded from Sonya's blog at this link https://tinyurl.com/ycxu4875

Using a clipping block for a Grandmothers Flower Garden quilt.

In this video Sheridan demonstrates how to use a clipping block for the last pass on a Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt so the pattern does not stitch off the edge of the quilt top. The video does have a few shakes with the camera but the material covered should be worth it.

Sheridan Carter is an APQS and IntelliQuilter dealer and educator.

Sheridan Carter's Favorite No Sew Zone Method

There's lots of nuggets of information in this one. No sew zones can be created with less over stitching by using stop and tie off as the transition. Splitting the pantograph will give you a built in stop so you can add a no sew zone block inside the body of the quilt. Another option is to utilize the speed of your presentation clicker to stop IQ. This method allows you to back up and add the blocks. It's so much fun and very successful. Try it and see which is your favorite! Sheridan Carter is Representative for APQS and Intelliquilter. She teaches in her studio and travels to locations where teachers are not available.Reach out to discuss attending one of her classes. skquilts@gmail.com Public classes are listed on skquilts.com and private classes are.... well private.

Intelliquilter Adjusting the Bottom of the Quilt with Clip or Tweak

Sheridan will explain in this video how using Clip at the bottom of the quilt is preferable to Tweak. Tweak is a fabulous tool but may not be the right choice when you have a large design that exceeds the area that you need to quilt. Follow along as Sheridan walks you through the process on her APQS Freddie. Visit Sheridan Carter at Sheridan Kay Quilting in beautiful Hendersonville, NC for information or a demo on Intelliquilter.

Restitching with Intelliquilter

Sheridan Says... There are many ways to accomplish things with Intelliquilter! In this video, I replace stitching that had to be removed. I show how to restitch after reloading the quilt. Next we realign and restart. Restart allows me to start exactly where I needed to. Splitting the pantograph allowed me to change the direction of the stitching. I chose to reverse the direction and I matched up exactly where I tied off the thread from the unsewing. Intelliquilter is wonderful. If you would like a demo or more information contact Sheridan at skquilts@gmail.com

Using Tweak to adjust pantograph patterns, by Jessie Zeigler.

This link will take you to Jessie Zeilger's blog where she demonstrates how to use Tweak to adjust pantograph rows to make them interlock perfectly.

https://www.longarmleague.com/blog/tweak  

Tips for Precise Alignment of pantograph rows from Jessie Zeigler (Longarm League)

I recently came across Jessie Zeigler's blog and web site. She uses an iQ and has great video demos as well as written help for all longarmers.

This link will take you to a post with tips for precise alignment of digital patterns. 

 

Row height and Pattern height.

Row height and Pattern height and the relationship between the two can be confusing. The most important number is always Pattern height. This should never be greater than the distance the throat space of your machine allows you to stitch before needing to advance the quilt. In my case, with an 18" Gammill Premier, I cannot quilt more than 11" safely. 

Row height is the only number that can be changed by using the keypad. Changing the row height simply changes the scale of the pattern and therefore the number of rows, as shown here. The first screenshot shows the row height at 12", so there are only 5 and a bit rows on this quilt. The second screenshot shows a reduced row height of 5", which increases the number of rows and scales down the whole design.

                                                                                                                                                                               

Pattern Height is a combination of Row Height and Gap, or to put it mathematically correct, pattern height = row height - gap. 

Pattern Height only changes when the gap, or space, between the rows is either increased or decreased. This usually happens when the pattern needs to nest, like this pattern. In the first screenshot below, you can see that row height and pattern height are the same, but there's too much empty space. The rows are all 5", with no overlapping. The black lines define the rows. There is one row between them. 

In order to get rid of that empty space, the pattern needs to nest. This is done by changing the Gap.

As the Gap is closed, the pattern nestles into place. You can see that the Gap button is highlighted in the screenshot below. It is being changed by tapping the down arrow, or by sweeping the screen. The rows are now overlapping - the black lines here still define one row, but it has now overlapped the rows above and below it. The pattern is filling the space. In the process its scale has changed - it has become larger.

Look at the numbers - Row Height combined with Gap is the Pattern Height, or specifically in this case where it's hard to see the numbers on the screenshot 5"- -2.463" = 7.463". (the double negative becomes a plus.) 

In the rare event that the gap is increased, spreading the rows apart, the gap number will not be a negative. 

Changing the Gap, changes the Pattern height.

If the Pattern height is too great after altering the Gap, touch the Row height button and decrease it until the Pattern height is suitable for your machine. Decrease it by either tapping the minus button, sweeping the screen or by using the keypad. If you are a good mathematician, you will be able to enter the correct number on the keypad to get the pattern height you want. (In my case, I just keep guessing.)

Always watch the Pattern height.

 

Matchmaker Table runner - An Urban Elementz video

This is a complete project, piecing and quilting. The iQ quilting starts at about the 19 minute mark.

The "Matchmaker" by Melonie Caldwell is stitched. It is available at urbanelemnetz.com.

Winter wonderland tree skirt with Merriment - An Urban Elementz video.

This video was made by Urban Elementz.  The Winter Wonderland Tree skirt is being finished with iQ. "Merriment" pattern by Patricia Ritter and Leisha Farnsworth is being stitched. This digital pattern can be purchased from urbanelementz.com.

Adding Width to the Quilting Design after Starting the Quilt, by Sheridan Carter.

Oops there's been a mistake. The quilt on the IntelliQuilter screen is smaller than the one that's on the frame and this video will show you how to correct the problem.

Properly Shutting Down, Saving Needle Position and Restarting a Panto, by Sheridan Carter.

Join Sheridan Carter as she takes you step by step through saving your needle position, saving your project and properly shutting down. . Next, you are guided through restarting.

Using Adjust when Stitching a Panto

Adjust the edges and include a pause marker to allow Intelliquilter to assist you! Never quilt too far off the edges or stop short of the quilt you planned. Adjust is the perfect answer and it so easy.

Tutorial for Setting up and Saving a Pantograph or E-2-E, by Sheridan Carter

Sheridan Carter takes you step by step in setting up a pantograph on the ClassIQ. Follow along and get comfortable using the IQ tablet off the frame to design and save a quilt to be stitched out later.