Free Motion Quilting Project QAL Review

I have had so much fun this year quilting along with Leah Day. I've been gently pushed outside my comfort zone, which has actually just enlarged my comfort with FMQ. I have come to the conclusion that I quilt to get to the FMQ part, my favorite thing to do. Certainly over the past year, my quilting has improved, but the biggest difference is my willingness to try anything. So here is some highlights from this year.

The first week we started on stippling. A bit shaky. I also asked how to figure out how to quilt this storybook quilt.

We stippled and played with scale and shapes of independent design. That all led up to this great little whole cloth quilt.

Learned how to outline applique

Mid year I started feeling confident to try out more designs

Micro zippling and railroad tracks

We played with quilt painting

More courage gained to try out more modern motifs

Zen break quilting

Combining designs

Paisley with metallic thread

Pod quilting

This weeks variation of confetti hearts

Ending with Christmas presents for very special girls.

I've had a wonderful year of FMQ, I can't wait to see what Leah has in store for us next year. Linking up to the Free Motion Quilting Project for QAL Wednesday.

Color Me Quilt!

Pat

Bordering on the Edge!

When I finished the first Christmas quilt back in May, I thought I was so cool and ahead of the game! Well, it's now less than a week before Christmas and I'm scrambling to finish everything up. Amazing what a little time crunch does to push some serious productivity.

Over the weekend I got all of the blocks joined, then last night I got the borders added to my Storybook #2 quilt. On the front I used the same Fairy Frost as some of the blocks and small joining strip for the front border. On the back I used a contrasting dark fabric for the border. I will quilt it with a light purple thread.  It should quilt up pretty quickly, I plan on using Leah Day's Spiral Ornament for the border motif.

I do like the QAYG method I used to add the border. Basically you add the front and back fabric, right sides toward your quilt and just stitch it on with a 1/4" seam. Then zigzag on a piece of batting to the raw edge of your quilt. Flip and press the border fabric over the batting and Voila borders!

So, considering that last Saturday, my Storybook 2 quilt was just a pile of quilted blocks and today, all I have left is to quilt the border and bind. I'm pleased with my progress.

But the week wouldn't be complete if I didn't at least attempt Leah's homework - What a Starry Mess.

Front

Back

So next Wednesday is the day after Christmas, I'm hoping that I only have the Elephant quilt left on my WIP list. But for right now here are my stats for the week:

In-process: (4)
Purple heart wall hanging  (quilting and binding)
Elephant quilt
Storybook quilt # 2 - quilt the border and bind
Pod Pillow - add the button

New projects: (0)

Finished (0)
 
I'm linking up with  Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday and The Free Motion Quilting Project for QAL Wednesday

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

Spiraling

This week is brought to you by the letter "S" for Spiraling. You decide if I'm "in" or "out" of control!

If you are looking for my Sew, Mama, Sew giveaway (Rainbow pack of fat quarters) click here. You can enter every day through Friday. 

More fun homework from Leah Day this week, Spiral Ornaments.  This was on a practice sandwich.

I really like the design, but I didn't have any sashing to put it on, then the light bulb came on and I realized I didn't need to stitch it on sashing.

I thought it would be perfect for the envelope flap of my pods pillow. (Isn't that the coolest Christmas fabric I got for the back of the pillow??)

And speaking of my pods pillow, I finished the FMQ on the front and got it trimmed down to size.

Pods pillow front

I didn't get a chance to assemble the pillow yet, but it really shouldn't take to long to do. It will make a great Christmas gift for someone.

Spiral Ornaments wasn't the only spiraling I did this week, I got all 20 of the blocks for my second Storybook quilt quilted with spirals.

The back of the blocks.

Now I need to get them trimmed up and start joining them. I just may make it in time for Christmas.

My stats for the week:
In-process: (4)
Purple heart wall hanging  (quilting and binding)
Elephant quilt
Storybook quilt # 2 - Join the blocks
Pod Pillow - assemble

New projects: (0)

Finished (0)
 
I'm linking up with  Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday and The Free Motion Quilting Project for QAL Wednesday

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

WIPping On Toward Christmas!

Do you realize it's almost December? That Christmas is less than a month away??? I am not ready. I thought that doing "less" quilty presents would make it easier, the problem is that those that I'm making are substantially bigger than the gifts I made last year. I need my head examined!

I did take some time last night to do something fun, my Leah Day "pod" homework. It's the perfect way for someone with a short attention span to quilt.

 This homework was so much fun, truly like doodling. I could definitely see doing a whole quilt like this. I'm not sure if you can tell that I used a slightly variegated green. It was King Tut thread with a 90/14 needle. It stitched really well and the heavier thread shows up nicely.  I think this may turn into a pillow - Pod Pillow.

On to other projects that I worked on this week. I did finish constructing and sandwiching all 20 of the blocks for Storybook #2 quilt. I've even started quilting them. This is a Christmas present so it will be petal to the metal to get it finished.

My stats for the week:
In-process: (3)
Purple heart wall hanging  (quilting and binding)
Elephant quilt
Storybook quilt # 2 - QAYG, quilting the blocks.

New projects: (1)
"Pod" pillow

Finished (0)
 
I'm linking up with  Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday and The Free Motion Quilting Project for QAL Wednesday

Color Me Quilty!

Pat