Wednesday, February 8, 2012

WIP Wednesday: FMQ Craziness

For those looking for the my Fabric Giveaway, click here!

I have been FMQ like crazy this week. So to start off with, here is my Leah Day homework for the week. I decided to make a sewing machine cover out of this orphaned block. I stippled in the inner star and the purple star tips.
I had some difficulty stitching over the center because of all the seams coming together there. I think that's why the scale was somewhat off.

I was pleased with my star tips.

I didn't break thread, just stitched in the ditch to the next point.


Back looks good, I think.

I am not happy with this filler stitching.
 So my first question for Leah is: Is there an "easy" way to pick out all of these stitches? Seems like I remember a post you had about a really small seam ripper?


Then I started on my Quokka Quilt QAYGFMQQAL blocks.

Happy with this block.

Then I started this block. See the skipped stitches?


So my second question for Leah is why am I all of a sudden getting skipped stitches. I changed the needle right before the green block above. I was using good quality cotton thread. Any suggestions to fix this?

I finished my Noah's Ark quilt! I can't believe I got it done in a week, start to finish!



I also got 5 more blocks on my FMQ sampler quilted.





So, my stats this week are:
In-process: (5)
Hip to be Square FMQ sampler (25 out of 30 blocks quilted)
Purple heart wall hanging ( needs borders, backing, quilting and binding)
Expanding Possibilities quilt (needs backing, quilting and binding)
Storybook quilt # 1 -  All blocks are quilted
Storybook quilt # 2 - All embroidery is done
Quokka Quilts QAYGFMQQAL quilt (6 blocks are quilted - struggling with the 7th)

New projects in the cue to start: (3)
FLMQG solids challenge crib quilt (Not started)
New Wave quilt (not started)
Sewing Machine Cover - pieced, basted, started FMQ


Finished (1)
Friend's baby quilt -Noah's Ark Baby Quilt  - DONE!
 
I'm linking up with Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday, The Free Motion Quilting Project for Quilt A Long Wednesday!


WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced


 






 



Color Me Quilty!


Pat

18 comments:

  1. Pat, you are a machine!! Everything looks great! I am so impressed with your quilting. I hope you get some answers to those questions, too.

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  2. I love your machine quilting projects, wow!
    I have had the same problem with skipped stitches - it will happen all of a sudden, which is so confusing! What works for me is to use an 80/12 needle and 100% polyester gutterman thread - I don't know why this works, but it has completely solved that problem for me! Good luck!

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  3. Busy Busy Busy!! Love the FMQ! I have trouble with FMQ and things that are symmetrical, they always seem a bit off to me so I just don't do that anymore :) Can't wait to see the sewing machine cover all together

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  4. You are JAMMIN' with your fmq!!! Interested to see answers to your questions.

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  5. Gosh Pat, could you come visit and quilt some for me??? You are definitely quilting up a storm and your stitches are looking great. Look for answers to your two questions tomorrow on Question Thursday!

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  6. Pat, your star quilt is just so beautiful. I love the colors too.

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  7. I think the filler stitching on the triangle looks fine. The lines may not be totally straight or even, but it has a wonky/psychodelic look that works. Thanks for sharing!

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  8. You've been busy! Everything looks really good. Great job! I once read to never FMQ stitch any smaller than you want to tear out! Well yeah! I just don't like tearing out! - I'll be waiting for Leah's answer. ~Jeanne

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  9. Wow! Everything looks great! I love the your quilting - wonderful!

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  10. I love your stippling on those purple triangles! They look gorgeous! And I adore that baby quilt! AND, I think I have more blogging issues squared away. =)

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  11. Beautiful!! I really like your machine quilting

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  12. wow you have been busy :) try a larger needle for the issue you are having of skipped stitches. Use a schmetz needle labelled "quilting" and use a size 90. This should allow for the hook to be able to "find" the thread through the layers and catch it. Hope this helps xxx

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  13. Absolutely lovely. You are doing a fantastic job with your FMQ. Really captures the eye. Love all the designs you are doing. Great job!

    SewCalGal
    www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com

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  14. Oh, Pat your took the star quilt block to another level! It looks fantastic!

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  15. Wow, wow, wow. The baby quilt has come up so well. The star looks brilliant.

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  16. Wow Pat, you've been busy! Your work looks great - you must be very pleased. I haven't posted anything yet - have been away and haven't done much this week. Hoping to catch up over the weekend.

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  17. Pat - You are an overachiever! Nice job on your projects. I love the triangles w/echoes and the swirley-whirley-gigs. Those are two of my favorites. Do you ever have difficulty on triangles going backward? Sometimes my backward line is a bit curvy. Keep up the GREAT work! :^)

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