Tag Archives: machine quilting

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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Free Motion Machine Quilting Challenge – February

Posted on February 29, 2012 | 2 comments

Month (lesson) 2 of SewCalGal’s Free Motion Quilt Challenge.  Feathers.  One of the best free motion quilters is the guest teacher this month, and she knows feathers!  I printed out Diane Gaudynski’s lesson and started sketching out feathers. 

Whooo boy, do I need to practice up!  I don’t want to use stencils…I want to master fun, funky and free feathers all by myself!

For some reason, sketching these feathers is very stressful for me, so I need to loosen up.  A cup of tea, and a search for chocolate is in order.

Yeah, I know.  Desperate times.  It’s all I could find in the house.  Don’t tell Hubby!  

My first feather.  I had problems with skipped stitches.  I tried everything…changing needles, thread, tension, fabric.  I came to the conclusion that my machine may be having an issue.  I am determined.  I end up with a tea-dyed muslin scrap, Aurifil 50wt in the bobbin, WonderFil Tutti 50 wt. in the top, a Schmetz 10/70 needle, and a tension of 1-2.

I also chose to use separate colors in the top and bobbin, so I could really see tension issues.  In spite of skipped stitches, the tension actually looks great.

The back (clicking on any of the photos will get you a larger photo):

The next feather was done at a later time and shows improvement.  I was more relaxed and actually enjoying it.

However, my photos stink!  Sorry!

This time I’m using Mettler 60wt. in the top and Bottom Line in the bobbin (I like this combination).  Muslim is the same and again I am using a Schmetz 10/70 jeans needle.  No problems with skipped stitches.

I kept chanting to myself…around the corner…around the corner…around the corner.  Diane pointed out that feathers were made by rounding a coin.  When I remembered that, my feathers looked better.

These feathers are stitched side-by-side, so I’ll have a sampler to refer to later.

I can do this!

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Free Motion Quilt Challenge – January

Posted on January 30, 2012 | 9 comments

I am taking the Free Motion Quilt Challenge over at SewCalGal’s blog in the hopes of honing my machine quilting skills (And do they ever need honing!).  I am excited about this challenge; SewCalGal is packed full of helpful tips and information.  She has also gone to the effort of procuring a terrific lineup of expert free motion quilting teachers.

January’s teacher is Frances Moore.  She has given us a leaf design to practice free motion quilting.  Her video can be found here.

And yes, I’m posting at the end of the month.  What can I say?  Better late than never…I’ve been busy…life in the way…dog ate my homework?

I divided a fat quarter into thirds to practice this design.

I think I am practicing hearts, not leaves.  LOL!

On the back, I like to write what needle size, tension, and thread I used for practice.  I don’t remember what I’ve done, so I keep my practice pieces for reference.  I’m the only one with this problem, right?

Leaves (in my case, hearts) with a spiral twist.  Cute!  They are more exciting to me; they dance!  I do need  to pay attention…there is one heart without a spiral in it (don’t strain your eyes…I didn’t capture it in the close-up).

The back looks better here!

Leaves on a stem.  These could be lots of fun; I need to practice with these more, and change the shape.  My brain wanted to make fat leaves, but they would look cool if I elongated them.

The back looks good here too.

I would’ve tried a size 16 needle (just for reference) but didn’t have one.  Also, I am using Schmetz denim needles (for the curious need-to-know).  After looking at the back, I much prefer WonderFil InvisiFil 100wt. or Aurifil 50wt. over Bottom Line with the heavy 30wt. YLI.

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