Category Archives: FMQ

BabyBlanket, Crafting, Finished Tops, FMQ, Quilting

Pink Parade

This last month it’s been “All About The Pink” for me.

I have 5 quit tops now down, baby blankets = yes all in pink.

2 I have actually quilted and bound!!!!

I ran out of backing that goes with the other 3 so I have to get that, but I am practicing the quilting patterns that I want to do on them.

The first one that got finished is simply pink squares – nothing fancy about it. The quilting shows up so nicely on the back – so cute the way it came together. I am proud to say that I actually did the quilting on my HQSS – you start the learning curve all over again when you don’t use her for months/years at a time. 

The binding on these one didn’t go so good, I did learn a lot about what not to do with binding.

 

 

Crafting, FMQ, Project Linus, Quilting

Gracies Garden – Complete

Well it took me a while, but I actually got it done. I finished the 2016 Project Linus quilt.

Join us as we embark on a new quilt challenge for 2016 and then our 2017 contest. Everyone loves a mystery and this is a great one to top off 2016 and lead us into 2017.
Project Linus – Gracies Get Well Garden

I ran into a couple of problems but over all it went pretty well. I did spray baste this quite and I will never do that again. My needle got plugged up with gunk which caused lots of shredding of my top thread. I was actually really surprised how quite the FMQ quilting part really went, but it’s like they say once you get in the grove it starts to flow – except for the shard return to reality when the thread breaks!

Crafting, FMQ, Quilting

Christmas Craft – The Completion

I had a couple of challenges finishing these up but nothing that really mattered much at all when it really comes down to the finished project. When I sewed the back pieces on – I did them wrong side out so the pretty pattern pieces I had to color coordinate with the manes is on the inside of the pillows and there is plain white on the outside. But it’s okay. They washed up super nice – even nicer that I thought they would and the manes got all crinkly which just added even more character to them.

They are not exact, but similar. One has more of a roman nose than the other one – but they are so stinking cute I can’t stand it. The pillow inserts that I got were for a rounder pillow, but they worked out too. So I really can’t say there is too much that I am overly dissatisfied with on this project!!!

The first thing the girls started doing with these when they opened the was start braiding the manes – now, how stinking cute is that!!!!

Crafting, FMQ, Quilting

Christmas Craft – Quilting

Okay, so this was my most feared part of this whole project – yet I wasn’t freaking out as much as I thought I was going to when it came right down to it.

My hubby had brought me home a large doodle pad (2 feet x 3 feet to be exact) so I took that out and tried to play with some design ideas to give me something to start with. Well, when you bring out something new in my house you get a lot of help with it – always. Every being in my house was very interested in what I was doing today.

 

But I came up with a plan or at least some doodles to use as reference

 

I pulled thread out of my stash, setup some samples and started. I even used a star ruler that I’ve had here forever. I did some feathers, some stacked hearts, an exploding star – I just kepting going and going.

The most surprising thing is that it didn’t really take as long as I thought it would. 

 

 

 

I am so loving how these are coming together.

Finished Tops, FMQ, Quilting

FMQ Sampler – Complete

Well, I have had this done for a month or so, just had to do the binding – yuck, I hate binding.

It was a huge challenge to do this but it turned out pretty good, even if I do say so myself. I strongly suggest joining the group on facebook “Sit Down Free Motion Quilters” and doing this tutorial.

Crafting, FMQ, Quilting

Center is done….On to boarders

Well the holiday season is upon us, and I have started 5 new projects – yep! No more to say about that!

I was able to get 1 more lesson done on the FMQ lesson booklet and I added 3 more blocks. I started with a yard of material and expanded the lessons into filling it. I have added 3 other blocks that I found on Pinterest Board: FMQ Ideas to fill in the layout. Of the 3 extra, 2 turned out “Not so bad”, 1 is just bad, but it was challenging.

So here is the last block in the workbook: Lesson 9

I had so much anxiety over this block, that’s why it took me so long to do it. I have a 18″x18″ whiteboard that I have been practicing on for weeks.  It’s not perfect, but I learned alot doing it.

Now, on to the 3 “personal” selection blocks: #10 = Spiral, #11 – Zentangle, #12 Scrolled Heart w/boarder.

block10

block11

block12

 

My all time favorite is #11. I love, love, love things with depth. Whether it is dimensional in space, dimensional in person, or carries multiple meanings…I love it when something is more than what it appears to be.

Now, on to the boarders and corners!!!

Crafting, FMQ, Quilting

Wow – who knew doing circles was gonna be such a challenge?!

I know that I can’t draw a straight line, but who knew how hard it was going to be sewing circles – good grief, Charlie Brown!!!

Had lots and lots of thread issues on these three blocks – shredding like crazy. And as the saying goes, I used one whole bobbin on block 8 and ran out with just 2 1/2 squares (plus a titch) left to do. I thought I was out of white, but I found some more this evening so I could finish up. 

lesson7lesson8The back of 8 doesn’t look too bad, even if I do say so myself!!!lesson8back

Crafting, FMQ, Quilting

FMQ – putting me thru the ringer

So I joined this group on Facebook Sit Down Free Motion Quilters to help push me into using my big sewing machine. I have so many Quilt tops done it’s ridiculous!!!!  So this past weekend, I had a dog and hubby free day – I started the dreaded project of washing all the linens and decided I would do this in between loads – or loads of laundry in between these lessons. Basically it came down to which ever project was making me crazy I would go do the other!!!

But, got 5 of the lessons done – I give myself a solid C, A for effort, but C for abilities.

lesson1lesson2lesson3lesson4lesson5

 

 

 

 

 

I have learned a lot from the group, but it is all about practice and developing muscle memory.  The hardest part for me is making a decision which way to go or what to do.

My worst nightmare is when someone says to me “Just do what ever you want”!!!!!  NOOOOOOOO!