Anita Shackelford
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Trim Backgrounds
Background Patterns with no tie-offs!
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My Trim Background patterns have been designed to stitch a line, grid,
or feather pattern behind applique, without tie-offs. 

I'm offering patterns for funky or traditional styles, large and small blocks,
and the most popular Grid and Frame can now be used
as a background behind applique.  

Add the background pattern to the whole block;
then use the Trim tool to trim out the applique shape.
Or, echo the applique first and then Convert the echo to a Trim line. 

The quilting lines will stitch to the edge of the applique,
then revers direction and retrace, to begin the next line of the pattern. 

Feather backgrounds will retrace without tie offs. A few of the feather patterns
have larger center openings, so when you use them, be sure the appliques are
large enough to fill the empty space.

Lines will tie off where it is necessary to jump over a stem, branch, or other motif within the applique.

I suggest using a fine thread so that the double line of stitching is not too heavy. 

        Link to the Store is at the bottom of the page.                          
Have fun!

Anita

Rectangles!

My newest Trim Backgrounds are designed to fit rectangular blocks.
The default size is 12" x 18" and adjustments can be made as needed
to fit other rectangles.
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Trim Rectangle Grid
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Trim Rectangle
​Grid and Frame
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Trim Rectangle Plaid
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Trim Rectangle Radiating Lines 2
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Trim Rectangle Radiating Lines 3
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Trim Rectangle Spiral

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Sample tulip applique,
with echo, and
​Trim Radiating Lines 3
    Trim Rectangle Grid

Set 1
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Trim Background Wavy Grid
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Trim Background Spiral Large block
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Trim Background Square Feather
Small block
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Trim Background Square Feather
Large block

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Trim Background Feathered Oval
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Trim Background Small Feather 1

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Trim Background Small Feather 2
Trim Background Small Feather 3

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Trim Background Medallion Feather 1
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Trim Background Medallion Feather 2

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Trim Background Large Feather Wreath
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Trim Background Funky Feather

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Trim Background Grid and Frame
​small block
In 6" block, grid lines will be about
1 1/4" apart
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 In 12" block, grid lines will be about
1 1/4" apart.
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Trim Background Grid and Frame large block
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Trim Background Grid and Frame large block  on point

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 Trim Background 
Grid small block
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 Trim Background 
Grid small, no frame
In 6" block, grid lines will be about
1 1/2" apart

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Trim Background Grid large block, no frame
In 12" block, grid lines will be about 1 1/2" apart.

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Trim Background Plaid
In 12" block, spacing between lines will be about 1/8" and 1 1/8".
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 Trim Background 
​
Radiating Lines 1
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 Trim Background 
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Radiating Lines 2
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Set 2
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Trim Background Album Corners 1
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Trim Background Album Corners 2
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Trim Background Album Corners 3

Grid and Fancy Frames - The grid lines will stitch to a trimmed area in the center and then retrace. Border patterns will stitch continuously unless they are interrupted by a trim.
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Trim Background Grid and Feather Frame

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Trim Background Grid and Circle Frame
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Sample quilting pattern. Lines have not yet been trimmed out behind the bird applique.

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Trim Background Grid and Holly Frame
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Trim Background Grid and Ivy Frame
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The grid in these setting triangles is drawn
to match the large grid pattern in a block.
All three will resize proportionately to other size blocks.
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Trim Background Grid Half Square Triangle
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Trim Background Grid Quarter Square Triangle

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Trim Background Hanging Diamonds

In the following patterns, the radiating lines will stitch and retrace.
​
Borders will stitch continuously unless they are interrupted by a trim.
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Trim Background Geo

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Trim Background Spider Web
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Trim Background Radiating Line 3
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The following patterns have offset centers for blocks that have the applique or visual weight toward one side or a corner. Place the pattern in the block and then rotate to put the offset center behind the motif.
Blocks below show radiating lines offset toward a corner and spiral lines with the center offset toward the bottom.
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Trim Background Radiating Lines
Offset 1

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Trim Background Radiating Lines
Offset 2
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Trim Background Spiral Small block

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Trim Background Spiral Offset Small 1
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Trim Background Spiral Offset Small 2

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 Trim Background 
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Spiral Offset Large 1
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 Trim Background 
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Spiral Offset Large 2


Set 3
These trim border patterns can be used as diagonal lines, or flipped horizontally
and repeated to create a grid and a plaid pattern. The trim edge is at the top.
Run one pattern along the bottom edge of the border, below the applique,
then rotate the pattern and run it again, above the applique.
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Trim Background Border Diagonal
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Trim Background Border
Double
Diagonal
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Patterns can be set up in one direction, then flipped and stitched in the opposite direction to make a grid, or double line grid.

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Trim Background Border
Diagonal Scalloped
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Trim Background Border
Double Diagonal Scalloped


These small motifs are designed to fill a cornerstone or small block up to 4" in size.
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Trim Background Cornerstone 1
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Trim Background Cornerstone 2

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Trim Background Cornerstone 3

Corner patterns will quilt the background of blocks like
Drunkard's Path, Grandmother's Fan, or New York Beauty
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Trim Background Corner Small Block
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Trim Background Corner Large Block

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Trim Background Feather Triangle 1
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Trim Background Feather Triangle 2

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Trim Background Fleur di Lis
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Trim Background Hearts and Tulips

Block-specific fill patterns designed with an
opening for a fancy quilting motif or an applique.
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Trim Background DWR with opening for
fancy quilting, a monogram, or applique

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Trim Background DWR melon

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Trim Background Lone Star
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Full Lone Star quilting sample

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Trim Background Irish Chain

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Trim Background Wreath
Center with Flower

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Trim Background Wreath
Center with Bird


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Trim Background Wreath
Center with Butterfly

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Sample of wreath with
​Butterfly inside.

Additional Choices for Extra Large blocks
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Trim Background Radiating Lines 4
Twice as dense as
Radiating Lines 1 in Set 1

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Trim Background Radiating Lines 4
Scalloped

Will fit 18" - 20" block.

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Trim Background Radiating Extra Large

These trim background pattern are drawn to fit a 36" square or other large medallion centers. They are half the pattern, plus a connector line. 

Place two patterns on the CAD, rotate one, align it for the bottom half and toggle it sewn. Stitch the top pattern; roll, relocate, and stitch the bottom half.
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This beautiful medallion was quilted by Susan Campbell of Australia,
using the Radiating Lines, Extra Large.
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Trim Background Radiating
Extra Large Scalloped

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Trim Background Radiating
Extra Large on point 

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Closeup of scalloped edge
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Sample to show Trim Background Radiating
Extra Large on Point as a whole pattern 


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Trim Background
Grid and Frame XL

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Trim Background Fine

Trim Backgrounds on Point

These Trim patterns were designed to fill the background of blocks
on point and the setting triangles that accompany them.

The small pattern will fill a block up to about 8"
and the large pattern will work well at 12" - 16".

Grid lines will stitch up to a trim line placed around a central motif
and then reverse and continue stitching without tying off.
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Trim Grid and Frame
Small Block on Point

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Trim Grid and Frame
Large Block on Point


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Trim Grid and Frame
Small Triangle on Point

Trim Grid and Frame
Large Triangle on Point


Shop all Trim Background collections

No more worries about downloading patterns!
After checking out, click on Return to Thimble Works
You can download immediately.

 You will also automatically receive an 
email with your files embedded in the message.
 
The zipped file will include both QLI and DXF formats.
Click on the file name and save to the desired location.