A little while back, I found out about this new quilt along. This one is very different. Instead of making blocks and ending up with a quilt top (also known as a flimsy,) this quilt along is all about the quilting part. Free motion quilting is what we are learning in this. I have done free motion but I want to get better. It is an excellent goal, don't you think? This is over at A Few Scraps blog.
We have learned about things that are needed, how to set up your machine and got instructions to make a simple- VERY simple- quilt top. It is important to not be attached to the top you are learning on. Yesterday the first bit real quilting instructions were posted. It is really simple lines and shapes, but simple can be surprisingly difficult to do well.
Here are a few pictures of my sample quilt sandwich -the practice pad!
This picture shows a bit of all of it. I kinda cut off the close together straight lines.
Here are the zigzags that go between some of the straight lines. Reasonably even stitches- Yaay!
You can see the close straight lines in this too- stitches not as even.
This shows the loops. I am VERY HAPPY with the stitch length on the loops. They were the last step.
I think that shows why you should always do a bit of practice prior to working on your precious quilt. It helps to get you into the groove and get your stitches regulated with your hands, foot and eye.
I am happy to say that this quilt along is one that will make a difference in my free motion work and hopefully embolden me to quilt larger quilts on my machine without doing "quilt as you go."
Why don't you go over to afewscraps.blogspot.com/ and join us?
12 comments:
My problem with free-motion is indeed varying stitch length. This is looking great!
Thanks for this...going over...I have just got myself a new machine that does free motion quilting!!!
Wow great job!! I'll have to go check it out!
You are doing great, I love your progress in your quilting. Bravo.
Great work Gene. My problem is speed. Too much of it. I need to slow down and watch where I'm going or "wonky" happens!
Your stitches look very consistent which is what I struggle with. I'm doing this quilt-along, too, so I'll see you on Flickr!
i like to free motion quilt..........i'm trying to get the hang of stars now, not so good, lol
I found this site too...my problem is that my stitches vary in size....
Good job. I love your free had quilting. I have about 20-30 quilting pads that I have made in my past practicing. It always get starting on a practice sandwich before I start any project, especially if I am putting a different color thread in the bottom or the top so I can tell if the tension is good. Sometimes you will see the bobbin thread come to the top and show the different color so I always do a test run. Great job and keep up the good work. Steph
NICE, Gene.....I am hoping to do more of this in the winter months. Right now, I have too much happening to sit and concentrate on this very effectively, but I do want to master it someday! It is nice that her blog is doing this for us!
Looks great Gene the loops and all I have yet to get started I got my needles on sat to use to practice on I have tried once ,but got cold feet lately. this is just the thing to get back in the swing of things.
i want some of that hat fabric!! it's fab. do hand quilters free motion too......hmmmmm things to try.
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