The FMQ Challenge

Saturday, March 31, 2012

My FMQ Challenge this month

I've done lots of FMQ this month, but not much in the way of background or fillers. So, at the 11th hour I made this little sample of some fillers I commonly use along with some I have wanted to try.

For the grids and straight lines, I used some thick acrylic templates for the first time. By the time I finished, I think I may have had the hang of them. I tried some tiny feathers in there (can you see them?), but they look so much like pebbles I decided they were worthless that small. Another new one I tried was the triangles. I like that one. Kinda fun, kinda funky.

All in all, a fun exercise. And since the point of this was practice, practice, practice, I think I fulfilled that with the FMQ throughout the month and the sampler at the end.

I'll finish this little guy off and send him to AAQI with my other two.

And what else have I been FMQing? Why the Princess Star quilt, of course. Here's a pic of outlining the central motif. I'm working on outlining the star right now, but my Juki is in the shop for timing as is my Brother. That leaves me with the dreaded Janome. It's behaving so far.

-Wendy

Friday, March 30, 2012

My March FMQ-ing

After a busy Feather month in February, this blog has quietened down so I thought I would share my March efforts for the SewCalGal Challenge here as well as on my usual blog.

My practise piece - as you can see I am re-cycling my quilt sandwich!

In the photo below you can see I experimented and taped my applique mat to my table - it's my poor man's version of the slider mat that some recommend. I think it did make the surface more slippery and therefore it was easier to quilt. I am tempted to buy a proper one now.

I thought my Sew-Ezi table would be fairly slippery but not as much as the
applique mat!

I must admit the fillers Ann Fahl suggested took more concentration than I thought they would - I challenged myself to do one loop clockwise, the next loop anti-clockwise, a heart, 2 more loops (both directions) then the star. The changes in direction then the straight lining had me thinking!

I used 40 weight Aurifil thread. I really liked it through my machine.
I usually only use the heavier weight, for my stitcheries.
I'm also trying to experiment with different threads for the challenges this year.

The completed block in my sampler quilt. The photo doesn't do it justice.

I haven't tried the spiral flowers yet - they look fun so will definately givethema try. Also, I went ahead and bought both Diane Gaudynski books after last month's tutorial - love them :-)
Happy quilting everyone,
Raewyn.

Friday, March 2, 2012

And the Winner is ...

Chosen by RNG (Random Number Generator), the winner of "Pathways from Quilt Top to Quilted" is ... Joan in Australia! Any comments Joan? How does it feel to win? What do you think the book will add to your already fabulous quilting?

Congrats, Joan!

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

More February Feathers

A quick hello to you all.
Thank you all for your kind remarks after my previous post.
I've had a lot of fun with my feathers over the weekend..have a little practise, take a little break, another sew and another break.
Here is the resulting practise piece —

and here is my sampler —

Unfortunately, the fabric I have used as my background doesn't show
up the feathers well.

I have written more on my blog, here.

Looking forward to doing more - but taking a break from fmq-ing for a bit!!!
have a geat day, every-one
Raewyn.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

FMQ Challenge 2012 - Feb Feathers

I did two sets of feathers. One on my DSM and one on Long Arm. I'm fairly comfortable doing feathers on my DSM but have only been at the long arm for a couple of months now. I choose a new pattern that I had not sewn on either machine. Used the same fabric and the same thread. What do you think, can you tell which was done on the DSM and which was done on the long arm?

Free Motion Quilt Challenge 2012

I see everyone has been busy with thier feathers from Diane Gaudynski's February Tutorial

It really is a wonderful tutorial .

These Monthly tutorials have been organised by SewCalGal's. You can find all the information here

Here are some of the ones I have done.

This was on some blue satin.

You can see more of these and others on my blog - .here

Some drawings I did in the car on the way to Perth last week.

All a matter of practise :)

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Labyrinth Quilt

This is a wedding quilt for my nephew and his new wife. It took me a long time to figure out how to quilt this one, I really wanted it to be special for them. More detailed pictures on my blog http://suedaurio.blogspot.com/2012/02/labyrinth-quilt-is-done-and-ready-to.html Now to work on my feathers, hope to have those finished by tomorrow.

February's Feathers

I had fun sewing this month's FMQ Challenge feather! Diane Gaudynski's instructions were fabulous (like always).

See more pictures on my blog.

Thanks for hosting a giveaway Wendy - so kind (like always too!) and such a great incentive!

Dynamic Spring Motion 6D foot & Linked Echo Feathers Border

I'm participating in 2012 Free Motion Quilting Challenge hosted by Sew Cal Gal. February's design is feathers by Diane Gaudynski. In free motion quilting, feathers have been my nemesis for a long time. I have been practicing feathers and posted my journey on my blog.
I have a Pfaff Creative 2 sewing machine and recently purchased a new quilting foot.

The foot isn't available with an open toe.

The front of the toe is slanted upward, making visibility when free motion quilting difficult.

I cut the front of the loop off sanded the edges and finished it with several layers of nail polish. Behold my modified open-toe foot.

I used Gutermann 100% cotton variegated thread to sew the linked feathers. This thread colour was not a good choice because all my mistakes show. Ooops!

I used a straight stitch needle plate.

Dropped the feed dogs. Stitch length set to zero and needle down position on.

The quilt border was not marked, the feathers are about 14 inches long. First I stitched the stem and echoed back. Then sewed the feathers on one side and echoed back to the base and stitched the on the other side.

Quilting the border around the corners was challenging.

I love my new quilting foot, no tension adjustments and the stitches beautiful front and back.

After four bobbins of thread the outside linked feather border was complete. I decided to fill in the entire border with echos around the feather border using 100% polyester yellow thread.

In hindsight, I wish I would have used the yellow thread for the feathers as well.

I'm loving this quilting foot.

This is a slow process, I have used 7 bobbins of thread. There are still three sides to finish the outside echos on. I'm pleased to be getting lots of practice echoing around the feathers.