Friday, October 19, 2012

FMQ for October

Here is my October Free Motion Quilting Challenge! This month Teri Lucas, expert machine quilter, was our wonderful teacher. I'm friends with her on Facebook and love seeing her work. I've also heard her name when watching Fons & Porter Love of Quilting on PBS. Her name is always linked to some beautiful machine quilting.

This month, she asked us to sew our names onto silk fabric and embellish the area around it with different quilting patterns and motifs. She also asked us to draw the entire piece on paper first.

You can compare my paper vs fabric. I think I used the same patterns but in a completely different order! I sort of quilted whatever I felt like quilting. I knew I had a few patterns to sew but I didn't really care about what came next.

I'll have to say it was a little difficult to use a silky fabric for a change. I felt it harder to really get a grip on it. I was using machine quilting gloves but ended up taking them off and just using my bare hands. I think it was manageable since the piece wasn't too big. I always use gloves when I machine quilt.


I must admit that I thought this was such fun! I tried a few different things and liked how it came out. I felt as though I got stuck in weird areas once in awhile but I just backtracked over existing stitching and just kept going! I love it!

29 comments:

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    1. It's so great that you found my blog! Thanks for the nice words! We can chat on here too now!!

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  2. wow! Look at you!!! Beautiful. very impressive. Have a great weekend. :)

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    1. Thanks, April! I'm going to work on those Dresden plates!

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  3. Lovely, Rosemary!!
    Meantime: I am still mug-rug-a-ling along; have finished 13 so far--10 will go to Mom's Nursing Home Christmas Sale. The rest for family--have another 13 ready to quilt and bind....and THIS is why my big projects aren't getting done!! Julierose--Enjoy the weekend....

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    1. Julierose, what a great idea! Great Christmas gifts and I bet they'll be a hit at the Christmas Sale. I get sidetracked too but your big projects will just be waiting for you! I'm working tomorrow but off Sunday! Enjoy!

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  4. Wow Rosemary, your fmq is really coming on loads, this looks fab - so now I know the answer, I need to practice more! :)

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    1. I should practice more too! I think machine quilting that sampler quilt really helped a lot. Thanks for the nice words!

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  5. wow...you're doing a fantastic job in the FMQ area, Rosemary! Love that piece and it'll be a neat idea to include names as part of the FMQ design for gifts and such!

    Looking at your progress over the weeks has motivated me to try FMQ and I've purchased the Beginner's Guide to FMQ by Natalie Bonner and another from Angela Walters from Amazon last week. Can't wait to give it a try.

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    1. Thank you! I'm trying! I have that Angela Walters book and love it! I think the other one is fairly new and haven't seen it yet. Hope you like FMQ and I'm sure you'll easily pick it up. You do everything so well!

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  6. You did a fantastic job. Looks really good. It looks as though you WERE have a fun time. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by and saying such nice things! It really was fun!

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  7. It looks awesome! And that's how we should all quilt....what we feel like doing next. I rarely totally stick to a plan. I'm constantly making changes:)

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    1. Thanks, Danielle! I think making changes while sewing works out for the best.

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  8. Wow, Rosemary! You have come so far with your free motion skills! You should turn that little sample into a pillow.

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    1. Thanks! I was thinking of making something with it too! A pillow may be the best idea!

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  9. Your quilting looks great. Isn't it fun to see those ideas happen in thread? I do plenty of backtracking too.

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    1. Thanks! There were times I was just boxed in and had to backtrack. It's hard to plan your stitching!

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  10. WOW Rosemary! You have done a wonderful job! It looks great! FMQ is what I'll have to practice more on too, guess I'm too lazy - lol.
    Have a wonderful Sunday!

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    1. Thanks, Astrid! I don't practice enough either! There's always so much to do!

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  11. I agree -- it felt totally different to be quilting a slippery fabric! I love your distinctive stippling style in the upper left corner, your paisley fill, and your feather. Great job!

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    1. Thanks so much for visiting my blog and leaving such a nice comment.

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  12. Nice work Rosemary. Oh talk about backtracking; I totally agree. I haven't done mine yet but will have to set aside a day to do it. Well done!

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    1. Thanks! The hardest part was getting myself out of corners! It was fun and a nice way to practice!

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  14. great job! Love your feather. I have such a time with them still.

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    1. Thanks! I think feathers are so hard! That's one of my better ones!

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