Tag Archives: free motion quilting

Free Motion Quilt Challenge – May

Posted on May 28, 2012 | 15 comments

I am participating in the 2012 Free Motion Quilting Challenge over at SewCalGal. This month’s free motion quilt expert is the lovely Leah Day, whose blog is the home of the 365 Day Free Motion Quilt Project. Leah is a fabulous inspiration, both as a quilter, and as a generous fellow human being.

Leah gave two assignments…a Double Stipple and Railroad Tracks. Here are my practice pieces.

Yes…I broke the ‘rule’. You know, the one about using the same thread for the front and the back. I admit it…I rarely use the same thread in both. Please don’t tell the quilt police!

And I find that I have trouble creating a large stipple. There is just something in my brain that won’t tell my hands to create wider spaces. I did try. I need to work on that.

Apparently, I don’t do angles either. These are funny lookin’ tracks for sure. A bit more practice and I might even like this. I think the problem, for me, is that straight lines take more concentration. I don’t want to think too much.

Leah does them both much, much better!

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Tagged fmq challenge, free motion quilting, LCsCottage, Leah Day, machine quilting, sewcalgal

Free Motion Quilting Challenge – April

Posted on April 28, 2012 | 11 comments

I am participating in the 2012 Free Motion Quilting Challenge over at SewCalGal. The multitalented quilter, Don Linn, has created a video tutorial for April.

I decided to use a design that I drew in EQ7.

Don Linn has a great transfer method for quilt designs! All I need are simple tools…a Sharpie, an embroidery hoop, and a piece of tulle. Put the tulle in the hoop, lay it over my design (tulle pressed flat over the design), and carefully trace with the Sharpie.

After heat setting the traced design, place it back into the hoop and lay it over my fabric (again, tulle pressed flat to the fabric). Now here is where I screwed up…don’t be like me. I used my favorite chalk marker, but my marks were gone before I could actually free motion stitch. So I faked it, and my stitching is not as accurate as it should be. Perhaps with a less complicated design, the chalk would have lasted longer. With the right marker, the transferring works great!

I used a purple rayon in the top, and a purple 50 wt. Aurifil in the bobbin. I also used a 90/14 denim Schmetz needle and loosened my top tension.

The fabric is my own hand-dyed fabric.

Don Linn also describes an easy way to come up with quilting designs. I chose a simple design from one of my favorite, well-used books. The copyright is 1994. I got mine several years ago (maybe in 1994) from Dover books, but in doing a quick Google search, I see it is still available in several places.

This is so simple! I cut out the teardrop shape.

And I tried it rounded side up (top left of photo) and rounded side down (top right of photo). I like it rounded side down, but tucked under the heart (lower half of photo). Ta-da! New design!

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Tagged Don Linn, EQ7, fmq challenge, free motion quilting, LCsCottage, machine quilting, Pat Holly, quilt design, sewcalgal, Sue Nickels

March Free Motion Quilting Challenge

Posted on March 21, 2012 | 8 comments

I am participating in the 2012 Free Motion Quilting Challenge over at SewCalGal. The talented art quilter, Ann Fahl, has written a tutorial for March.

Ann has suggested keeping a binder/journal of free motion quilting ideas. That is something that I have already been doing and have referenced many times. It is a very good suggestion.

Ann has also suggested learning meandering patterns other than stippling. So I am practicing her stars and loops, spirals and spiral flowers.

I need alot more practice.

Doodling is not only fun, but helps to develop memory and make the motion come naturally when actually quilting on a project.

I warmed up with some feather practice. I learned feathers from Diane Guadynski last month, and I am really enjoying these. I’m gaining confidence.

I’m using a Schmetz 14 Jeans needle and some old Coats and Clark Dual Duty thread that I want to use up. The tension is lowered slightly. The batting is Cotton Classic.

I’ll need a lot more practice with this month’s meandering!