Free motion quilting Sampler

I’ve been working on learning free motion quilting (FMQ) for a while now, almost since I started quilting. I knew I wanted to FMQ my first project, my Papa quilt, and I did, although looking at it now I cringe at the out-of-wack tension.

I did a few other projects, and kept practicing along the way. But it was only when I made my first gift quilt that I got serious about my studies. That, and the intense trial and error on my Easter table runner.

At some point I searched FMQ on Facebook and joined the group Sit Down Free Motion Quilting. I had no idea what luck I was in! The teacher there has a free sampler pattern, complete with lessons and YouTube videos for 9 filler patterns and 4 borders. Woah!

Here’s my completed sampler:

A closeup of my favorite, feathers:

I learned so much, and finally feel confident about using free motion quilting. You just can’t get the same textures with straight line quilting.

Here’s a teaser of how I’m currently using my new skills. Til next time!

Toby’s quilt

Now that this quilt has been safely delivered to its new home, I can share on the blog. Yay!

This is Toby’s quilt, here before the baby himself! Toby’s mama is a really good local friend, and a quilter herself. I used Diary of a Quilter’s Stick Shift pattern and it came together beautifully.

I decided after it was all together to add a border, and I’m glad I did. I think it really unifies the fabrics I chose, which I liked but then I started doubting later. But then my friend sent me a picture of the quilt *she* was working on for her upcoming arrival, and it was a similar color scheme! Great minds, right? Haha.

And of course, Gigi had to help. I’m still loving this basting method. (I wrote about it before here.)

Quilted using a paisley feather design I learned during the Free Motion Quilting Sampler I worked on in April, but that’s a story for another post. I was happy to use my new skills, and since the back is a high thread count bedsheet, it has great texture & is super soft. And check out those improv blocks with leftover scraps from the front!

Finished off with a handmade label, the first time id ever made one. I’m glad I remembered to stitch it on before quilting!

Now we’re all just waiting on baby. I’m excited to meet you, Toby!

Green Arrow & Speedy (Kid Arrow)

Here’s one of the projects I worked on in April:

My husband is a fan of comic books, and when the local Children’s Museum announced they were going to have a ComicCon, he was excites to take our almost-3-year-old. And I was assigned costume maker.

Not too bad for someone who had never even heard of Green Arrow before now! I used my technique of gathering thrift store clothes and altering them. It cost less than $20 and Daddy was able to share part of his world with Sam. How special.