Freehand Curve Tool

Use the Freehand Curve Tool to draw Freehand Curves. The Freehand Curve Tool draws a polyline that you can convert into a curve. Use the Freehand Curve Tool to draw appliqué patches, quilting stencils and to trace over images. You will find a complete lesson about using the Freehand Curve in the Perfect Quilt User's guide.

Freehand Curve

Click here to see a movie clip of drawing a freehand curve.

To Draw a Freehand Curve

1. Click the mouse on the Freehand Curve Tool to select it. The cursor becomes a cross.

1. Place the mouse on the grid where you want to start the freehand curve.

1. Press the mouse button down and drag the mouse in any direction to form the freehand curve.

1. To finish, release the mouse button.

To Convert a Freehand Curve into a Bezier Curve

When you draw a freehand curve, you are actually drawing a "polyline" which is a line with many points. You can adjust the points on the polyline with the Reshape Tool. You can also convert the polyline into a bezier curve and thereby completely smooth out the freehand curve.

1. To convert the polyline into a real curve, click on the Reshape Tool and then click on the polyline to show the points

1. Click the right mouse button on the curve and select Make Curve. The polyline will convert to a curve.

1. To change the curve back into a polyline, right click again and select Make Polyline.

Once you have drawn a freehand curve, you can easily change the shape of the with the Reshape Tool. To close a freehand curve to make an appliqué shape, see Joining lines and curves.

Adjusting the Number of Points in a Freehand Curve

In the Tolerances Tab of the Preferences Menu, you can set how many points a freehand curve will have. You can set the tolerances from "fewest points" to "best curve" The more points, the smoother the curve will be. "Best Curve" will give you the smoothest curve and the most points.

Set the Smoothness of the Freehand Curve

1. Click on the File Menu and click on Preferences.

1. Click on the Tolerances Tab.

1. Set the smoothness of the freehand curve.

1. Click the Save Button to set your preference and then click the OK Button.