FMQ Challenge - March 2012

I am still trying to do a little FMQ each day even if it is only for 10 minutes or so and I must say I think I'm improving although the uniformity of my stitching still has a lot to be desired but I find I am able to quilt more easily without turning the quilt also I am looking more and more ahead of the needle instead of at it.

For this months challenge with Ann Fahl I decided to do flowers because most of my quilts are in some way related to flowers.

In the photos below I used Bottom Line thread both through the needle and in the bobbin with a 80/12 needle.

The photo below show how my sample quilt is looking so far.

Finally Bailey seems to be testing quilt for comfort.

Not long now until April's challenge.

 

FMQ Challenge - February

This month's challenge is feathers and the tutor is Diane Gaudynski, what a combination! Diane's feathers are classic and elegance personified, I am trying so hard to emulate them and I do practice a lot but am having a few problems along the way.

Firstly I have great difficulty in relaxing and have to stop every ten minutes or so to unwind.

Secondly the uniformity of my stitching has a lot to be desired but I guess I'm improving.

Thirdly is concentration. I've found that one of the best tips I have learnt from Diane is NOT to watch the needle but look a couple of centimetres ahead and this works wonders but I forget and my eyes go back to the needle and my stitching wanders.

Lastly I want to be able to quilt in all directions without turning the quilt, I tend to make small quilts, wallhangings etc. so it's no problem to turn the quilt but I am committed to making a very special bed quilt and to continually turn it would be well nigh impossible. So with the exception of the 1st photo all the other samples are quilted without turning.

The first four samples below are all quilted with Bottom Line thread both through the needle and in the bobbin. I used 80/12 needle and Hobbs Heirloom wool batting.

The above sample I did a few months ago. I copied one of Diane's feathers, transfering it to my fabric using lead pencil  (BIG mistake, could not launder out) I was quite happy with the result but in doing the quilting I turned the quilt to suit whichever direction I was going.

These were2 of my practice samples for the February challenge.

Here I have added the feather block to my sample quilt.

Finally about 12 months ago I bought some 100 wt silk thread and have never been game to use it. Now I thought is the time to give it a go. I just love the result and cannot understand why I was so intimidated by silk. This is my favourite of all the above. Here I changed the needle to 70/10.

I am sure there must be a much easier way of blogging than what I'm doing but I guess I will learn as I go :)

FMQ Challenge - January 2012

I have signed up for SewCal Gal's FMQ challenge. I have free motioned quilted in the past and this is my favourite part of the quilt. However I have two major problems, firstly I find it quite difficult to relax my shoulders and secondly I would love to be able to do consistently even stitches. I am hoping that by doing a little FMQ daily even if only for 10 minutes that this might resolve my problems.

I have decided that I will make, as suggested by SewCalGal, a quilt. I feel by doing this I am more likely to follow the challenge right through to the end of the year but before stitching on the quilt I practise on a sample block.

This is my first blog and I'm obviously not very good at it. The photos were supposed to appear at the end of the blog not in the middle. The top one is my practice piece and the 2nd one is the first block in my quilt.