The Making of the Peak Blooms Pantograph

Have you considered digitizing quilting patterns?

Since the Longarm League began, many of our members have been curious about digitizing. How difficult is it? What is the process involved? How does one sell designs? 

In an effort to show my approach, I started recording my computer screen as I was working on my design that eventually became known as Peak Blooms. 

When I started this design, I didn't know where it was going to take me, and I'm pretty sure I would have scrapped it immediately if I could see into the future and know just how L-O-N-G it would take to tweak all of my blessed petals! 

But, I'm stubborn. "In for a penny, in for a pound", as they say! All told, I recorded about 10 hours of on-screen digitizing over several days. You certainly don't have that kind of time to watch it unfold, so that's why I put this video in hyperdrive to give you a look behind the scenes.

Luckily, most designs only take a fraction of the time from beginning vision to finalization. But, I also don't mind admitting that designing doesn't always come easy for me, and so I wanted to share the full span of my edits to this design. This is real life!

I've been digitizing for just over 2 years now and am still learning new things. My friend Leisha Farnsworth of Quilting It encouraged me to buy Art and Stitch, the software I use to design. When I bought it, she FaceTimed with me to show me the basic commands and tools she used. I also read the owner's manual and did many of the exercises suggested. The rest has been trial and error and asking for help in the Art and Stitch Facebook group.

In the early weeks and months of digitizing, it felt like everything was awful and it took forever to figure out the simplest of designs. But, I've learned so much from trying and doing. Trying and failing, too. So, if and when you begin your digitizing journey, don't forget that learning new things takes time. Be willing to be bad at it! It will get better, I promise!

In the Longarm League membership resources, we have a 37-minute video taking a step-by-step approach for beginning a design like this one (a simplified version). It covers how to start a new design, using the pencil tool, editing the lines, considering start and stop points, saving designs, and prepping files for distribution. 

To become a member and receive instant access to this digitizing lesson and MANY other general quilting and business resources, check out our benefits here.  There is a quick survey to fill out for consideration. If you are newly starting your business, our Rookie Season course could be right up your alley.