4/26/12

April Free Motion Quilting Challenge




While I seem to put off this challenge a little later each month, it is a worthwhile endeavor, and I'm always glad when I complete it.  Each month, I've learned something invaluable, and April's tutorial was no exception.  Quilter Don Linn posted an excellent video about marking a quilt top in a way I've not seen before.  I can see how this would be extremely useful when using a traditional motif or any motif that one cannot easily draw free hand while sewing.

I had a feeling I might have used a tulle that was not fine enough because the marker didn't move smoothly over it.  It kind of bumped along the surface as I traced the design, and then again when I drew it onto my fabric.  That made it difficult to draw the motif smoothly onto the tulle and then onto the fabric.  Nevertheless, I managed to get both tasks accomplished.


Gracie helped to hold the embroidery hoop in place, but she's feeling camera shy today.


It was more difficult for me to try to follow the lines on the drawn motif than it is to just draw things free hand, although I'm terrible at drawing.  As I write this, I'm thinking that it isn't the drawn motif that gives me as much trouble as trying to stay on the lines of this symmetrical pattern.  If it didn't require being even in its points, loops, and lines, it might have been easier to do.  For my skill set, something like this is probably better hand quilted or embroidered.  


It seems as if I've been doing a lot of running around this week, and there hasn't been much time for sewing. Running around and the nice weather we had over the weekend having me feeling a little behind on my monthly projects.  Yesterday, I was able to sneak in some time to draw out the ninth of nine blocks on the Mr. Bear quilt and I'm off to a good start with the embroidery.


Then this morning, I finished the rest of the top-stitching on the Wonky Schoolhouse.  I still want to do a little embroidery on this, and then it will be ready for quilting and embellishing.  What a fun project!   


I'm setting it aside now for a while so that I can make a little more progress on some of my other projects.  Swap blocks are coming out and it's my month to choose a block for the We Bee Learning block bee.  I want to make my block up ahead of time just to be sure the tutorial makes sense.  

This is a sewing day for me with time out to clean my messy kitchen.  How's your day going?



11 comments:

BillieBee (billiemick) said...

It looks like you've done lots to me. I did buy my toile, but still haven't tried this months challenge. Your's looks good.

I'm loving that schoolhouse!

BillieBee (billiemick) said...

tulle not toile......giggle..or maybe that's not right either.

Laura said...

I think it looks great and what a great idea to use the tulle as a tool!!! lol

Vroomans' Quilts said...

Oh Billie - but, good for you in trying the new FMQ Challenge. I have neither the tulle or a hoop and not about to go out and get them just for a technique that uses too many motions in getting a design onto the fabric. A stencil and pounce will work the same and much faster. I just love the Mr Bear embroideries - that will be a fantatic quilt.

Diane Wild said...

Instead of tulle, I used a bit of netting and it worked just fine. Your motif looks perfect. I do like this technique for more complicated designs.

Teresa in Music City said...

Great job on your FMQ! In my first class, our instructor told us that most people are "either-or" - either better at following lines, or better at making up their own lines as they go. I'm like you, it's hard to follow a drawn line, but I love just sewing freely even though the result is not always what I had planned :*)

I am so far behind in my projects this month! The wedding and the travel to and from it have put a huge hole in my productivity! And I'm leaving at 5am tomorrow to go to Paducah for the day. I'm hoping to get a lot of sew time this weekend to get caught up!

meg said...

I'm loving the wonky schoolhouse (an excellent name, I think, for our homeschool, BTW...) and I'll watching your embroidery blocks, too. I just tried some redwork for the first time and I really enjoyed it~

Jacquelin said...

Está muy bien, lo importante es atreverse a hacerlo y aunque no siempre acertamos con las herramientas debemos probar hasta que encontramos la que nos va mejor. A mí me pasó igual con el tul.

LethargicLass said...

Do the Mr. Bear blocks normally have writing? I don't remember that part...

Paulette said...

I haven't done this challenge yet, but I bought my tulle for it. I'm glad to read about your results. One of the tulles is finer than the other (I bought 2 kinds because I didn't know which would work better), so I think I will be using that one based on your experience. I'm a little nervous about this one, cuz I'm not the greatest at staying on the lines when I quilt. It'll be an exercise in concentration, LOL.

Angie in SoCal said...

I didn't use tulle either because I'm on an economy mode and my hoop was too small, so freezer paper again. Yours looks fine.
Your Mr. Bear block is sweet. And love your wonky school house. For someone who didn't have much time to sew, you got a lot done.