Tag Archives: free motion quilting

Free Motion Quilt Challenge – September

Posted on September 27, 2012 | 12 comments

The September Free Motion Quilt Challenge at SewCalGal is a tutorial from the guest expert, Paula Reid.   I feel a bit of an affinity for Paula since she lives in Palmdale, CA.  Hubby and I have family living in this area, and we both graduated from Antelope Valley High School in Lancaster, CA.

Paula’s tutorial has us practicing our free motion quilting with a stencil.  I drew the design onto my fabric with a blue marker and the use of a light table.

I used a 12 weight Aurifil to quilt the stencil.  I needed a larger needle and couldn’t find a Schmetz denim sharp (my needle of choice) in the size I wanted.  So…I used a Schmetz leather 100/18.  I know!  But I was desperate!

I could hear Tim Gunn, “Make it work!”

I think this might look nicer if the the thread colors were reversed, but, in any case, this will make a lovely pillow someday.

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Free Motion Quilt Challenge – August

Posted on August 8, 2012 | 14 comments

The August Free Motion Quilt Challenge at SewCalGal is a tutorial from the very talented Wendy Sheppard.   Wendy is a pattern designer, teaches free motion quilting, and has been published in several quilting magazines.  She generously shares projects, tips and techniques on her blog,  Ivory Spring.

Wendy shares her “Jester” free motion quilting design for this challenge.  I’ve been following her blog for some time, so I’ve had opportunity to practice this design already.  In fact, I used it in June’s challenge.

I decided to use this design in an art quilt that I am working on.  You can find that quilt here.

I’ll be practicing this design more, as I still must concentrate to change directions.  For some reason, I have a mental block changing directions.  I also want to try Wendy’s variation of her design.

This photo is the back.  You can see it better, I think.  I am using Wonderfil Invisfil 100 weight polyester thread in the bobbin and Mettler 60 weight cotton embroidery thread in the top.  My tension is set on 0.

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Free Motion Quilt Challenge – July

Posted on July 29, 2012 | 13 comments

The July Free Motion Quilt Challenge at SewCalGal is a tutorial from the very talented Angela Walters.   Angela is a professional quilter and successful long arm quilter, as well as teacher and author.  She loves modern quilts and quilting.  Check out her website, Quilting Is My Therapy, for her wonderful books, blogs and tips!

Angela taught how to section off the work and then fill in the sections.  She calls this quilting design Tiles.

Now, I can stipple, pebble and meander, but straight line quilting, without a guide, and swirls are the bane of my free motion existence.  Angela didn’t say I had to practice swirls, but I need to. 

So I drew my tiles and swirls on paper.  I did not take a photo.  You don’t want to see it.  Really, you don’t.  I don’t either.

My fabric sample isn’t much better, but I am starting to relax and feel more confident with the swirls.  Not so much straight lines.

I like the tiling, and its possibilities, so I will keep practicing, and one day, I just might be passably good at it.

Thank you Angela!

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