In an effort to build resources for computerized quilters, I've been looking for tutorials that explain how to set up extended-width designs with the various software options available today. Since I couldn't quite find the one I was looking for with Quilt Path, Danelle Howard of Cottage Path Quilting created this video at my request. We've heard from Quilter's Creative Touch users that the screens and steps are similar enough that this tutorial will help them, too. Thanks so much, Danelle! We both hope it's helpful to you if you'd like to explore extended-width designs. 

We created a cheat sheet for you here. But if you need additional support or to get official Quilt Path resources, we suggest requesting to join the Quilt Path Central Facebook group.

The design Danelle uses in the demonstration video above is Driftwood. 

All of my designs come with a PDF that provides the default dimensions. If I use a size different from the default in my examples, they will be noted in the design's bl...

This is Royal, the newest extended-width digital quilting design from your friends (me) at Longarm League! 
 



Royal, as an extended-width design, operates like this:
• The first trip across the quilt will quilt the "crown elements" (aka the spiky shapes) with the circles up.
• Then, it'll quilt a straight line right to left, then stitch two more lines left to right and then right to left.
• Next, it'll stitch the same spikey shapes (circles down this time) left to right.
• This is followed by three more straight lines, ending on the left edge and ready for another repeat unless you need to stop to advance the quilt. 

This edge-to-edge quilting design would look super cute on a princess's quilt (I'm assuming you know one)! But it could also work for a Crown Royal quilt. Have you come across one? They incorporate fabric from the pouches included with Crown Royal Whiskey bottles - it's a thing. Or perhaps you get a Kansas City Royals baseball quilt? Boom! This design would be per...

Fizz is so simple and versatile, it'll work on anything!



This is an extended-width pantograph design, which means one squiggly line will travel the whole width of the quilt and then will travel back right-to-left to complete the bubbles, baubles...? Melon shapes? What are we calling these? Chainlink, but cuter? ;)

The advantages of using this design:
1) No backtracking.
2) Stitches smoothly (no corners or pivots) and quickly.
3) Looks great in either direction — loading a quilt on its side can increase efficiency by not having to advance the quilt as much.

Potential disadvantages of using this design (hey, just being honest):
1) If your machine doesn't do well traveling right-to-left, you'll want to load the L to R version of the design which is included in the purchase. This means manually moving the machine head back to the left edge of the quilt for each line, like you would for straight-line quilting. Kind of a pain. But, even so - no backtracking is still an advantage.
2...

This is my latest quilt, sewn *in season* and just for fall. When the top was completed, I knew I wanted to carry the fall theme into the quilting, but I was wracking my brain to think of a fall-themed design that felt like me.



I'll never say never, but in the past, I haven't been "into" pumpkins, fall leaves, or Halloween ghosts, goblins, or spiderwebs. But knitting? Oooooh! Knitting is another story. The fall season gets me in the mooooooood for knitting! 

I taught myself to knit by watching YouTube about fourteen years ago, shortly after giving up my sewing room so we could have a nursery again for our youngest child. I needed a creative and tactile outlet, especially since I couldn't access my sewing machine, and knitting fit the bill. It didn't take up much space, and I loved the challenge of learning a new technique.


For a long while, I would knit one sweater for myself annually, but I haven't done that in probably five years. I miss it! The cardigan I've started wit...

The Design

Are you familiar with "extended width" digital quilting designs? Usually, the standard files we upload contain one repeat that's multiplied side by side across and down the quilt by our software when in pantograph mode. With extended width designs, the design itself is typically around 100" wide—give or take—with any repeating sections "built in". If you are new to this kind of design, read more here (including specific info if using Intelliquilter). The main takeaway is that they need to be set up as a block pattern.

 Rich Girl is an extended width design that stitches out very quickly. The echoed lines are angled very subtly, but the diamond shapes that result amidst the lines give just the right amount of contrast in their open spaces.

This is a perfect design to use as an alternative to straight line quilting. It will unify a busy quilt top like straight lines do so well, but with a bit of added, low-key interest. 

As I was stitching this out, the design ...

The most important thing to know about our new Driftwood design is that it's an extended width design. This means that instead of a snippet of design that's repeated side by side across the quilt, the design is actually over 100" wide. New to this type of design? You can read more about extended width designs here and see a video of me setting up an extended width design with my Intelliquilter software.

For me, the best part about Driftwood is the organic "pods" of negative space make the texture really stand out.

Driftwood would be a great quilting design to use on a busy quilt because it'll have a unifying effect. I recently pieced together a scrap quilt for which I think Driftwood will be a perfect complement. In fact, I'm planning to load that quilt on its side so that I can get an elongating effect of the lines running vertically on the large throw quilt.

Driftwood would also be great on a nature themed quilt as the organic wavy lines could represent water in addition ...

While this type of design is not new, we as quilters may not see extended-width designs often. However, they seem to be trending in popularity as of late. Unfamiliarity with these kinds of designs can lead to avoidance, which is a valid reaction. But, as the market grows with beautiful and creative new extended-width designs, I'd like to provide some information so that you don't have to miss out on using them. 

First, we'll look at what an extended-width design is, we'll discuss some advantages and disadvantages of the designs, and then at the end, there'll be a list of video tutorials so you can learn best-practices for setting them up with your own software.

What Is an Extended-Width Digital Quilting Design?

To answer this question, let's first look at some "typical" edge-to-edge (E2E) designs that we most commonly buy online and use in our computerized longarm machines.

Above are some of my own designs with varying degrees of complexity. I wanted to show that whether simple or ...