Tag Archives: free motion quilt challenge

Initial Pillow No. 2

Posted on March 20, 2015 | 16 comments

For my first initial pillow, I chose to create a pillow cover for my youngest grandchild.

This time, I have created a pillow covering for my oldest grandchild.  His favorite color is orange, and he is partially color blind.

Aiden Pillow

I wanted borders around the letter and star so that I could use a variety of free motion quilting designs.

Aiden Pillow

Whether I am free motion quilting a pillow cover, or a full-size quilt, I like to begin by stitching in the ditch to stabilize my project.  It also allows me to remove the pins so that they no longer hinder my stitching (I quilt with a domestic sewing machine).

Aiden Pillow

Wonderfil Invisfil is my favorite thread to use for stitching in the ditch.

Aiden Pillow

I used one of Cindy Needham’s stencils to easily mark quilting lines on the star points.  I could have used several choices of markers, but I used chalk that I pounced on.

Aiden Pillow

Aiden Pillow

I also like to use Pam Clarke’s stencils for marking.  The grids are great for spacing even distances for parallel quilting or many other types of designs.

The rest of the free motion quilting on the pillow cover was done without marking.  I use Aurifil 50 weight thread for the quilting.

This is the finished pillow before washing:

Aiden Pillow

The pillow back has a concealed zipper.

Aiden Pillow

There is a lot of texture after washing!

Aiden Pillow

I am doing Option #1 from QuiltShopGal’s Free Motion Quilting Challenge 2015 March (featuring Patsy Thompson).  Here is a link to the post that shows my participation in the Patsy Thompson part of the Free Motion Quilting Challenge 2012.

I am linking up with quiltshopgal. 

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Initial Pillow

Posted on February 23, 2015 | 17 comments

I have decided to make one pillow a month.  One pillow for each of my grandchildren.

I think a pillow with their initial on it would be a fun and personal Christmas gift.

Totally doable for me.  So, yes, for the first time ever, I’m starting my Christmas list early.

Here you see the initial already machine appliqued onto a white background layered with batting and muslin.  I drew a squiggly machine quilting guideline with a blue washout marker.

Nathaniel Pillow

Next time, I think I should space that guideline further apart, but it worked out.

Nathaniel Pillow

The squiggly line was quilted first, then the rest of the filler quilting was done.

Nathaniel Pillow

Oops.  I missed a small section.  I hope the quilt police don’t find it!

Nathaniel Pillow

I made an 18″ pillow and filled it with an 18″ pillow form.  I think a bigger form might look better.

Nathaniel Pillow

I like the railroad tracks filler.  It is fun and wonky.  No rules.  Thanks Leah Day!

Nathaniel Pillow

The back of the pillow has a concealed zipper.

Nathaniel Pillow

I am linking up with quiltshopgal.

The railroad tracks free motion quilting is from Option #1 from the February Pillow Challenge.

Nathaniel Pillow

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Free Motion Quilt Challenge Summary

Posted on December 20, 2012 | 5 comments

Thank you so much to SewCalGal and her talented and generous free motion quilting teachers!  I have enjoyed a year’s worth of practice and growth since joining the Free Motion Quilt Challenge.  Each month, in 2012, a new challenge was presented.

In summary:

January

FMQ January Spiral Leaves

Frances Moore  gave us a fun leaf design to practice free motion quilting.  She also gave us a video to view.  You can see this post here.

February

First Feather Front

One of my favorite experts, Diane Gaudynski, taught feathers this month.  What a treat!  You can see this post here.

March

Flower Meandering

Ann Fahl,  suggested keeping a binder/journal of free motion quilting ideas.  She also suggested learning meandering patterns other than stippling.  You can see this post here.

April

Front Quilted

Don Linn created a video tutorial for April.  He showed a great transfer method for quilt designs!  He also described an easy way to come up with quilting designs.  You can see this post here.

May

DoubleStipple

This month’s free motion quilt expert was the generous Leah Day.  Leah gave two assignments…a Double Stipple and Railroad Tracks.  You can see this post here.

June

IMG_3644b1

The June Free Motion Quilting Challenge was a tutorial by Cindy Needham.  Cindy gave us so much useful information and lots of practice!  I loved this month!  Cindy suggested the ‘divide and conquer’ method.  You can see this post here.

July

IMG_3917

Angela Walters,  Quilting Is My Therapy, taught how to section off the work and then fill in the sections.  She calls this quilting design Tiles.  You can see this post here.

August

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The August Free Motion Quilt Challenge was a tutorial from Wendy Sheppard.   You can find her blog at Ivory Spring.  Wendy shared her “Jester” free motion quilting design for this challenge.  You can see this post here.

September

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The September Free Motion Quilt Challenge was a tutorial Paula Reid.   Paula’s tutorial had us practice with a stencil.  You can see this post here.

October

IMG_4332b

Teri Lucas had us begin this month’s tutorial by drawing our names and designs on paper.  We branched out from there.  You can see this post here.

November

Trapunto added for Texture

Trapunto added for Texture

Sarah Vedeler had us practicing spiral variations; lots of fun!  You can see that post here.

December

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Patsy Thompson shared border design and quilting tips.  She created a terrific video to demonstrate her tips.  I loved this month!  You can see that post here.

Linda Moran, Susan Brubaker Knapp, Diane Loomis and Teri Lucas all provided  bonus challenges.  I look forward to doing those after the holidays.  What a wonderful year of quilting!

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