Saturday, November 24, 2012

FMQ Challenge for November

This month, Sarah Vedeler was our FMQ expert. She has been featured on The Quilt Show. She is also know for machine embroidery designs as well as quilt patterns and beautiful machine quilting. She had printed template pages of spirals for us to practice before we even attempted the spirals on our sewing machines. I found drawing the spirals by hand rather difficult. It's so hard not to make the circles wobbly. I wanted nice round spirals!

The above picture is my first attempt. I used a marker and made grids to quilt my spirals. Some came out okay and some not good at all! You have to really concentrate to get the circle nice and round. I waited a few days and tried again. 

I liked my second attempt much better. They're still not perfect but I could see an improvement. Of course, I need more practice. I do plan on using this design on some of my quilt projects. I think the swirl would look great in many different areas of quilts especially borders.

Thanks again to SewCal Gal for sponsoring these great tutorials for us throughout this year. One more to go!


22 comments:

  1. looking good! I wonder what December will bring.

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    1. Thanks! I'm curious as to what our last challenge will be!

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  2. Just for fun, I tried drawing some spirals on paper. It's harder than it looks!

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    1. I think I made better spirals on the sewing machine than on paper! Hard day today. I have to talk to you!

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  3. I think your spirals are looking good; they would look great on a quilt. Good work, Julierose

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    1. Thanks so much, Julierose! They were fun to make and harder than they look but I like them!

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  4. Your spirals are getting better and better. They look great to me!
    I think they really require a lot more practice than many of the other designs we've had so far! Am also anxious to see what December's tutorial brings and also sad that it will be the last. This has been such fun and a great learning experience.

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    1. I really feel like I've learned so much. I'm so happy I kept up with the monthly tutorials. I feel like I can use a variety of different patterns when I machine quilt since taking part in this.

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  5. I did spirals on my Santa quilt and they are super hard. I actually did a spiral from Leah Days designs that you jump out of the spiral and make a little loop rather than going back out th way you come in. Great progress on your fmqing.

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    1. Thank you for the nice comment, Kristin. I should look into the method Leah Day uses. I love her designs.

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  6. I think you are doing great...agree that spirals are not that easy. Just did some today myself on my practice quilt and found it hard to keep consistency.

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    1. I think the hard part has to be keeping that circular loop consistent. Straight lines are so much easier! Thanks for the nice words, Karin!

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  7. Love your spirals they look great. Well done

    Cheers Pauline

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  8. Thanks for that info!! I tried free motion and I really wasn't any good. I'll try drawing the design and see if that works better. Yours is amazing!!

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    1. Drawing on paper really does help! Try it and let me know if you see a difference. Thanks for the nice comment!

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  9. Thanks Rosemary for stopping by my blog. I too am anxious to see what Bonnie does with the mystery quilt this time. Especially since I am jumping on the bandwagon and making one... She is such a hoot. I got to meet her in Shepherdsville, ky in September and was lucky and got to attend a dinner and a lecture. Her quilts are awsome in person..

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    1. You're so lucky to have met her! I could collect the instructions and make the mystery quilt at a later date. I'll keep an eye on your progress!

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  10. I think you're doing an amazing job with the FMQ! The spirals looks great and look forward to seeing your next FMQ challenge, Rosemary.

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    1. Thanks! Would you believe next month is the last month of the challenge?? It went by so fast. I wonder if next month will be a grande finale?? I'll let you know!

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  11. Those look difficult to do but you did a great job on them!

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    1. Thanks, Sharon. Just saw this! Sorry for the late response!!

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