This new book by Martingale, 180 Doodle Quilting Designs, is just what we, free-motion quilters (and aspiring ones as well), needed. Sure, we could all use new ideas for quilting motifs, but this book is about more than just extra designs. The best way to get over the 'must-be-perfect' state of mind and start free-motion quilting is to doodle or practice the design you want to use first. I learned a long time ago to 'draw' in the air the design with my index finger prior to putting needle to … [Read more...] about Doodle to quilt
free motion quilting
Turkey Wall Hanging
Call me crazy, but I have already done my project for Thanksgiving! This wall hanging is 15" wide by 25" long and features machine applique with a simple pieced border. Although the colors on the picture are kind of funky (weather was not too clear when I took it), you can see they are fall colors with scrappy turkey feathers setting the mood. The background is Osnaburg; I used a high loft polyester batting to provide high relief to the applique and quilting. That chocolate cake would taste so … [Read more...] about Turkey Wall Hanging
Xmas in April
Yeah, maybe I am crazy but I wanted to show you this table runner I just finished. I had these Christmas panels which I did not want to cut. So... I stitched the panels together, assembled the sandwich and went to work. I was really in the mood to FMQ but it took me hours and hours to do the stipple around the blocks with the tiny motif. I used larger stipple inside each block and put the hollies on each corner. I did not draw the leaves, just FMQed them as I went along. The table … [Read more...] about Xmas in April
Free motion quilting for beginners
I have always quilted my projects using my Bernina machine. At first I relied solely on the walking foot. In time I got more confident and used the stitch regulator. Nowadays, I use the darning foot most of the time. Although practice has made free motion quilting easier for me (not many feathers yet!), I still buy books or take classes on free motion quilting whenever possible. If you want to start quilting your own projects but are afraid to give it a try, I just got this book for review … [Read more...] about Free motion quilting for beginners
Quilting motifs with paper
Last night I was preparing to quilt a project using a quilting pattern from a book. Here is my favorite method to do it and if you have never tried it, here is your chance to experiment. After choosing the quilting motif, I get my roll of Golden Threads quilting paper and trace the design on it with a pencil or fine tipped Sharpie marker. If I only wanted that motif in one block, I would pin the paper onto the block and free motion quilt it. However, I wanted it in four blocks. So, I cut … [Read more...] about Quilting motifs with paper
Landscape quilt
Just finished this small (13" x 11") landscape quilt, inspired by a cloudy October day. This mixed media wall hanging features machine applique with monofilament, free motion quilting, free motion embroidery, Prismacolor markers, and Prismacolor colored pencils. The clouds were the last thing I did, even after the binding was applied. The three leaves are hanging on to the tree just like the ones which remained through the entire last winter through wind, rain, and snow, on a tree right … [Read more...] about Landscape quilt