Peg’s Challenges–Days 12-14

I decided to try some feathers – used a piece of leftover from another project:

For me, this was a lot harder than it looks – I found that I couldn’t see where I was going, so couldn’t follow the lines of the previous loop.  So – feathers – sometime in the future, when I’ve had lots and lots and lots more practice.

I did finish up the last table mat that was on my original list:

 

Now just binding and it’s ready to use!

This has been a wonderful challenge and a great l3earning experience for the past 2 weeks.  Many, many thanks to Wendy and Joanne for organizing this and giving me a reason for some concentrated practice.

Happy FMQ!              Blessings, Peg

Peg’s Challenges–Day 10-11

Another table mat finished:

Mostly stippling (close-up below) which is getting easier and easier – I did try some shapes in the corner blocks – not very successfully.

Next up – a larger table mat.

Peg’s Challenges–Days 8-9

On to some slightly larger projects – and have finished this one:

Mostly stippled – but did do some treble clefs in the border, and some ‘notes’ in the corner blocks.

Peg’s Challenges–Days 4-7

After practicing pebble quilting for a couple of days, I went back to some basic stippling again.

Day 4 saw these Mug Rugs completed:

Day 5 – time to start on something slightly larger – a hexagonal table mat for our trailer:

Day 6 – another hexie – this time spring colors – and I tried a bit of a pattern, kind of like flower petals starting from the center out:

Day 7 – the last of my hexies – this one is Easter (too late for this year, but that’s what I get for procrastinating, oh well…).  I repeated the idea of the ‘flower petals’ pattern – this went easier the second time through:

The first week is gone – wow how time flies.

This is fun!  I’m learning lots and getting more confidence.  Now on to something a little larger – next up table mats about 30” square.

Happy FMQ!             Blessings, Peg

Peg’s Challenges–Day 2, 3

Well, Day 2 and I did some more stippling on small pieces – felt a little more comfortable this time.  I do find that I can only do a very short time, as my neck and shoulders get very, very sore – probably because I’m so tense trying to get this right LOL!  One of the ‘problems’ I have is working close to the edge of the project because my hands are not completely on the top itself, but rather on the batting/backing and I worry about losing control.  Anybody have any tips about working close to the edges (that’s right and left side – top and bottom center are okay as my hands are on the quilt top).       Anyway, these pieces look much the same as Day 1 – a little more even stitching.  Then I went on to try the ‘pebble’ quilting that Michelle posted here.  I couldn’t find a tutorial, but just plunged right in with a practice piece.

Day 3 – back to more pebble quilting practice.  It’s getting better, but I’m not sure that I like this.

My first try was the top right – progressed counter-clockwise – last try bottom right.  Well it’s fine for a while, but then going over the circles to get to the starting point for the next circle doesn’t always go so well.  Then I have to slow down my hands, which makes for very, very, very tiny stitch length, to try to stay on the line – and makes the stitch lines look ‘bulky’.  Maybe with tone-on-tone it wouldn’t be so noticeable.  Maybe I’ll try that and see how it goes.  When I look back at the Michelle’s pictures, I’m wondering if each circle is done individually, instead of a continuous line – hmmmm.

I was also reading the tip (see tabs at the top of the blog), and there it says to slow down the machine, not the hands – that’s the opposite of what I was taught at a class I took a while back – have to try some of that!

Happy quilting!   Blessings, Peg

Peg’s Challenges–Day 1

So for the first day, I pulled out a set of red and white coasters, and a mug-rug.  These are made from scraps, and I could use all the same thread in the top.

At a class some time ago, it was recommended that we use a heavier weight thread on the spool, and light, very light weight in the bobbin – so that’s what I always do.  At that same class the instructor recommended a metallic needle, because of the groove just above the eye, making for a smoother slide for the thread – so that got changed.  My machine is a Brother, and for FMQ I don’t have the option of leaving the feed dogs engaged.  So with thread changed top and bottom, darning foot attached, metallic needle inserted, feed dogs disengaged, speed set at 2/3 – the gloves went on!  I use garden gloves that I bought, actually, at a quilting shop – really!  The instructor at the class said to never, never use gardening gloves, but I’d already bought them, and I’m not sure the reasoning for not using these – they fit just like Machingers, and much much cheaper!

And at the end of my first day:

        

Some simple stippling just to try to get my speed and stitch length.  I used red thread because I wanted the contrast on the white stripes.

I won’t be doing any other kind of sewing for the next 2 weeks – good thing, I’m pretty well caught up with my projects.

Happy FMQ!        Blessings, Peg

Okay- here goes!

Hi – my name is Peg and I share my quilting, and life, joys and challenges at Pieces on My Mind  And I do love a challenge!  So of course when this one came up, I couldn’t resist – and what a perfect way to get some practice in!

For the challenge, I have a number of small projects to start – larger ones may get addressed given time and the confidence to do so!  I’ve been using up scraps – bins and bins of scraps, and from some of the leftovers, I cut some coasters and mug rugs – so this is where I’ll star (these are just a few)t:

Then I’ll move on to 3 small hexagonal table toppers – here’s a picture of one flimsy:

After that I have a set of slightly larger table toppers, that I’ve been working on for months – just finally got the borders on:

 

Assuming these all get done in 2 weeks, I’ll move on to some lap quilts that I’ve made out of scraps (4 of them all together – but here’s one):

Whee – this is gong to be fun!!!!          Blessings, Peg