SewCalGal 2012 FMQ Challenge February, part 1

This month's FMQ Challenge from SewCalGal and Diane Guadynski is no piece of cake in the park!  Feathers with echo quilting - wow...this could be daunting to some, right? Not if you draw first! Keeping in mind that a person has to start somewhere and sometime, I decided to get over my fears and get started with this challenge today...perhaps this post can assist you on your way, too.

(Final result photo HERE.)

1.  Read Diane Guadynski's post for February on SewCalGal's blog.

2.  Read Diane Guadynski's second book, "Quilt Savvy:  Machine Quilting Guidebook", pg. 38-49 on echo feathers

3.  Took notes:
a.  quill-tip
b. cotton swap top (options:  lamp or drapery finials, wrought iron fence tops, etc. on google)
c.  1/8 to 1/4" space
d.  use closely matching thread - made note to purchase #100 silk YLI thread this coming week
e.  feathers do not have to be uniform, rather "organic".  The trick is to keep the same 1/8" or 1/4" between them
f.  Stop at the spine to breathe & rethink before continuing on
g.  Wool batting causes an almost 'trapunto' style and saves you time because you don't have to stuff or cut
h.  you can use a seam line in your quilt top (as in between to outside borders) as your 'spine'

4.  Decided to draw first, as highly recommended.  I was very pleased with my results today - thank you, Diane!

Now, before you say "OK, she's an artist, so I can't do that...let me share my first attempt from April 11th, 2011:

Can you say, "Ewww!?!?"

Doodling is the answer.  Practice tracing, drawing/doodling and it will come to you.  Isn't that the perfect thing for long office meetings? :-)

Please allow me to take you through the steps I took to draw out a satisfactory echo quilting feather:

1.  Diane Guadynski's book open and on the table

2.  other books open for 'inspiration' to different feather designs

3.  templates to peek at

4.  one large pad for drawing

5.  one sharpened pencil

6.  time set aside for an hour just to focus on this without interruption

(yeah, right! - without too much interruption - I have a ten-year-old!)

1.  drawing complete

2.  wool batting / muslin sample ready - thinking of switching to satin fabric

3.  need to purchase:  #100 silk YLI thread and #60 Microtex sharp needle for a dry day or #70 Microtex sharp for a damp day  (recommended by Diane Guadynski pn page. 119 of her "Quilt Savvy:  Machine Quilting Guidebook"

Part 2 

I hope you'll join us at the SewCalGal 2012 Free Motion Quilt Challenge

Quilters of any experience level are encouraged to join at any time throughout the year.

If you enjoyed this post, please give me a 'follow' or a 'pin' - thank you!

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Embroidery Machine Quilting...to do or not to do? What is YOUR opinion?

I spent the day at at my local embroidery machine dealer's John Deer (no 'e') event and came up with a question for the quilter's out there...

"Embroidery Machine Quilting....to do or not to do?  

What is your opinion?"  

While at class, I was a bit surprised (showing my ignorance naïvety now) when one of the other attendees mentioned that 4-H groups are not allowed to submit quilts to be judged locally if they are not completely hand made and not done by machine.  Now, I didn't get a chance to ask her if she meant a regular sewing machine, too, or if she meant by embroidery machine.  She did mention that no long-armers can finish their work, either.

Anyhoo...here's some photographs of quilts I took at the event which were completely done by embroidery machine - quilt squares, finishing, stippling, everything....

stippling done by embroidery machine....

Here's the six needle I got to borrow today...

I'm loving the scrapbook approach to quilting here....

Sorry this quilt's picture didn't come through the way it really looks, which is absolutely gorgeous!

There's the Modern Quilt Guild nowadays and many different types of quilting...does quilting with embroidery machine have a place to fit in?  

What is your opinion?

Here's a little more 'food' for thought by Jenny Haskins....

and Anita Goodesign...

I love quilting with needle and thread, my 1927 Singer, Mom's old Kenmore, my daughter's Janome Jem Gold, my Brother Innovis 4000D, and my Pfaff Quilt Expression 4.0.....I think I'm learning to embrace more avenues to getting there and am still wanting to learn enough to finish my great grandmother's WWII parachute silk quilt top she started!

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January 2012 FMQ Challenge (SewCalGal)

January's challenge on SewCalGal are leaves by 

Frances Moore

I began by practicing drawing heart-shaped leaves by hand

Here's the result with thread!

In the sun, the 90% silk batting practice square looks as luxurious to the touch as it feels

I purchased a complete set of batting quilting squares from Harriet Hargrave

and will use twelve for the SewCalGal 2012 Challenge

I cut muslin today and prepared all twelve month's worth in just a couple of minutes...easy to do with pre-cut batting squares from Harriet's!  (They do all the work!)

I couldn't resist putting in a photo of my recently completed first twin-sized quilt for my daughter's high school graduation - I began it 18 months ago - does time fly!

If you would like to expand your machine quilting techniques, please join the 2012 Free-Motion Quilting Challenge

Best wishes,

@

FMQ success and SewCalGal 2012 Challenge

Success on my Brother Innovis 4000D today using free motion quilting "stippling" - I use the term loosely because I've gone outside the lines and crossed over more than I should have, but...it's pretty good for my first fmq quilt.  I've got Sulky 30w variegated in the top thread, Presencia 60w in the bobbin and with tension set to 4.0 I'm quite happy with the result.  I've noticed today how important it is to secure the beginning and ending with four stitches or so in the same spot so that the fmq doesn't come loose.  Amazing what little, but so important, things you notice.  I was very pleased overall with the result.  My machine didn't skip stitches, I broke no needles (knock on wood) and managed to impress a quilting buddy.  All in all, a good day!  Many happy returns, Mary Ann
I've been inspired to join the SewCalGal 2012 Challenge - here's the link if you're interested, too...http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com/2012/01/welcome-to-2012-free-motion-quilting.html