I've been looking for some kind of practice tool or device to improve my free motion skills, but couldn't find what I was looking for. For sit-down quilting, the kind you do on a home sewing machine or a sit-down longarm, it is the fabric that moves and the needle is stationary. As opposed to stand-up quilting on a long-arm, the fabric is stationary on the quit frame, and you move the needle over the fabric to do the quilting. Sit-down quilting is a different type of skill to master. My DIY free motion quilting tool. Although, I could not find something for sale retail, I did find a home-made device on a blog post at Mary's Quilting Notes. Mary even has a short video for her device on YouTube. This is exactly the type of device I was looking for. Something to hold a pen steady while you move a practice sheet underneath. I went straight to the plumbing/pipes aisle at Home Depot and picked up the pieces I needed. I didn't want to do any measuring, cutting or filing, so mine is just slightly different than Mary's - but even easier too. 😉 Can't remember exact cost, but it isn't much. Think the total was less than $10. No special tools required except your sewing machine's screwdriver to open and close the clamps. Parts for the quilting tool. Pen-holder parts SUPPLIES NEEDED: 1 inch x 2 ft PVC pipe (2) 1 inch 90-degree PVC elbow (2) 1 inch PVC Tee (2) 3/4 inch PVC coupling hose clamp to fit a 1" PVC pipe hose clamp to fit hose adapter 3/4" hose connector (blue piece in photo above) a 3-ring binder with clear plastic insertable-cover (I used an old one I had on-hand) dry-erase marker rubberbands DIRECTIONS: The parts fit together easily. No cutting or filing necessary. Only tool needed is a flat head screwdriver for the hose clamps. Slide the larger hose clamp onto the 1" PVC pipe. Open the smaller hose clamp and loop it through the larger hose clamp. Center clamp on the pipe. Insert the hose connector into the small hose clamp. Use a screwdriver to tighten clamps over the center of the pipe. Pen-holder assembly. Fit each 3/4" coupling into the top of a Tee Bottom pieces of device Fit this piece into each elbow piece. May have to push a little bit for a snug fit. Fit these end pieces into the 2-foot PVC pipe. The end of the device. Cut the spine from the binder. You should have two flat clear plastic-covered panels to use as work boards. Place a work board under the quilting tool. Wrap a rubber band (or two) around the end of a dry-erase marker and drop it into the pen holder. Rubber band-covered marker. Drop the marker into the pen holder and push down until it reaches the work board. You're done! Move the board to Practice Away! The dry-erase marker easily wipes off with a tissue to practice again. Put a copy of your favorite quilting design under the clear cover and practice tracing as well. Tracing a quilting practice sheet. Just wipe off the cover and do it again. A short little demonstration video: I am sharing this post on FreeMotion Linky Tuesday, Fiber Tuesday, Kathy's Quilts Slow Sunday Stitching, Show Off Saturday, and What a Hoot Quilts!. Happy Stitching!