The 117 Emily's Laurels Pantograph with Blocks by Linda V. Taylor is a continuous-line paper pantograph: flowing laurel leaves that stitch row after row, plus matching block designs for individual blocks and borders. It measures 121 inches long, so one pass covers most quilts side to side.
What the Design Is
A paper pantograph is a printed pattern you unroll on the table at the back of your longarm. You follow the line with a laser or stylus, and the needle reproduces it in the quilt. Because the line is continuous, you stitch a whole row in one pass, then advance the quilt and repeat.
Emily's Laurels uses that format for a leafy, symmetrical design. From a distance the quilting reads as even, leafy texture; up close, the laurel shapes reward a second look. That balance makes it a useful all-over — it finishes a quilt rather than competing with it.
The Matching Blocks Are the Real Bonus
Many pantographs are rows only. This one also includes block versions in five sizes — 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 inches — alongside the rows. That opens up coordinated quilting: stitch the all-over rows across sashing and plain areas, then drop the matching block design into pieced or plain blocks where you want a framed, deliberate motif.
Blocks also help on bordered quilts: a design centred in a corner, or repeated along a wide border, ties the edge to the centre. New to mixing rows and blocks? Start simple — rows everywhere, one block size in the corners.
What Quilts It Suits
Reach for Emily's Laurels on traditional patchwork, sampler quilts and heirloom-style projects where a classical leaf motif belongs. It suits floral prints, reproduction fabrics and garden-themed quilts, where the stitched leaves echo the prints, and it is equally at home on plainer quilts where the quilting itself provides the decoration.
It is also fitting for presentation quilts — the laurel's link to achievement suits graduation, wedding and milestone quilts. On busy prints it settles into texture; on plain backgrounds it stands out, so choose thread contrast to match the effect you want.
Choosing Your Row Height
The rows come in three heights: 4, 8 and 10 inches. The 4-inch row keeps the laurels small and dense — lovely on smaller quilts and projects where you want close quilting. The 8-inch row is the versatile middle ground for throws and bed quilts, giving each laurel room to read clearly. The 10-inch row covers larger quilts faster and keeps the motif bold. Whichever you choose, stay with it top to bottom so the rhythm stays even, and match any block size to the scale of the blocks in the quilt itself.
Using It on a Longarm
Unroll the pattern flat and secure it so it cannot creep. Load and baste your quilt, then stitch a short test section to check tension — leafy curves reward smooth, unhurried movement.
Stand at the back and keep your laser or stylus on the line, moving steadily through each laurel. When a row is finished, advance the quilt, align the next row with your registration marks, and check alignment at both ends before stitching. For blocks, centre the pattern carefully; marking centres in advance makes placement quicker.
Extending the Pattern and Finishing Tips
Need the pattern to be longer than 121 inches? Find where the pattern repeats, mark that point on your pattern shield, and shift the pattern down to make it meet up. That extends the pattern to accommodate larger quilts without breaking the line.
Keep your movement relaxed through the leaf curves, and step back after the first two rows to check density and scale against the whole quilt. Done well, Emily's Laurels gives a quilt a dignified, leafy finish — classical in the rows, coordinated in the blocks, and made to be kept.
Shop the 117 Emily's Laurels Pantograph with Blocks by Linda V. Taylor at Linda's Electric Quilters.
