Sunday, May 6, 2012

More Machine Quilting!!

This is the second block I machine quilted from my sampler quilt. I think you can see the quilting pretty clearly in this picture. I quilted a leaf in each corner of the square within a square. I just made a larger version in the center. The remaining squares have a variation of the same motif.

I tackled this block next. I also quilted leaves over the 4-patches. I think my leaf shape is getting a bitter smoother looking and I'm also not marking the block at all. I just sort of keep an idea of what I'm doing.

Here's a close up of the previous block.

It's nice to machine quilt and finish the quilt myself. However, it's a bit difficult maneuvering the quilt. I've become used to making my leaves without moving the entire quilt. I can sew towards me and away from me and then I re-position the quilt. It cuts my "moving" time in half! The other hard part is that each block is different so I can't quilt each block the same. It takes a little bit of decision making before I can start the quilting process. I feel like I'm really getting used to machine quilting a good sized quilt. I think quilting on a small sample is great to learn the pattern but nothing really prepares you for the real thing. You just have to dive in and do it!

I have 3 blocks done so 9 to go! Then, the borders! Too much to think about. I'll do one block at a time!!

17 comments:

  1. Good for you. I really find machine quilting to be a HUGE challenge.

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    1. Thanks, Karen, nice to know someone else knows how hard it can be!!

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  2. It looks fantastic! Do you mark the design on first or just go for it?

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    1. I started off drawing it in but then decided to just go for it. There wasn't much of a difference. Much faster too!

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  3. Sewing towards yourself and away from yourself sounds scary. Wish I had that kind or courage. :)

    You're doing great.

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    1. Thanks! You could do it, too! It's not that bad!!

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  4. Just lovely work, Rosemary; I love the flowery fabrics. Julierose

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  5. I'm not that confident in machine quilting, I've done in-the-ditch on sashings but hand quilted on other areas. You've done a fantastic job on yours! Wish I have your confidence.... =)

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  6. Totally agree with you! Until my last quilt I always just quilted in the ditch or just parallel lines. I started to practice with Leah Day's free motion quilting project and my next quilt was quilted with doodling. There is a big difference between quilting a square yard of fabric or a whole quilt, but what better way to practice than doing it? You're doing a great job, keep going!

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  7. Rosemary..your blocks are just great!! You are doing such a wonderful job!! Many hugs

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    1. Thanks for the nice words! I feel like I'm learning a lot while actually getting this quilt done. I really had to just dive in and get it done!

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  8. You are doing wonderful, Rosemary!

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  9. Best feeling in the world to do it yourself eh! It can be hard to just jump in a do it, but your right there is no other way to learn FMQ! Great work.

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    1. Thanks, Sam! It's not perfect but it's the best way to learn! I really do like to finish my own quilts. I used to hand quilt but it took so long. It's also much cheaper this way!!

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