QAYG FMQ QAL update - row 6

I fell like all I've been posting are Quilt Along updates. Our life is quite busy at the moment. Ray's dad is in hospice care as is my mom. It keeps us busy. I'm also grading some of those standardized tests that students take at this time of the year so my free time is a limited. There is not enough quilting going on!

It's the last row in the QAYG FMQ QAL with Laura at Quokka Quilts. Row 6 was choose your own adventure. 

I tried some different things. The first two are ones that Quilt Jane did and showed on the Quokka Quilts blog. This is half flowers that are echoed. I am getting some better at echoing!

This is a filler that reminds me of waves and is pretty easy to do.

I did these flowers in opposite corners. I used a marker to help with length spacing on the closer flower and forgot to remove it.

Not being very creative today and not having much time, I did a flower in the sunshine.

Then, just for fun, I made a row of flowers. 

It would be a cute border.

I found a little more time to quilt (sorry no photos). I have shells, a flower that is a spiral made from a wavy line, the letter T over and over, and many loop patterns.

I think this is the end of the Quilt As You Go Free Motion Quilt ALong for me. I don't have blocks to put together and that is what is left.

It has been fun and enjoyable!

 I have learned more about FMQ. 

Thanks Laura!

QAYG FMQ QAL update - last of row 4 and row 5

I am doing the QAYGFMQQAL with Laura at Quokka Quilts. I am not making a quilt but I am practicing each design.


We were missing one block from row 4 and Laura gave us a choice of two. I chose to do Fireballs. It was interesting to do but I got lost every so often - I should have practiced more on paper (I keep getting lost there too.)!

Row 5 is all about feathers  and flowers- which I am beginning to be comfortable doing! But I'm not very good at echoing...

The feathers in a circle went really well but I'm not sure how much you can see. I really have to stop taking photos at night and getting my shadow in the picture - sorry! 

The flower designs are from Leah Day of The Free Motion Quilting Project. For both of them, I used chalk to sketch a middle circle and an outer circle. The first is Sunflower.

And the second is Flame Flower.

I really like the flowers designs - it's hard to believe I easily did these!

QAYG FMQ QAL update

I am doing the QAYG FMQ QAL with Laura at Quokka Quilts. I am not making a quilt but I am practicing each design. The last two weeks have been tough - first the flu and then my FIL is gravely ill - so I haven't had much quilting time. So I've tried each design but there was very little practicing!


I drew the rosebud until I thought it looked like a rosebud - maybe my mind just decided it did!

And then I quilted! This one is rather close.

Next was the spiral tree. I really like the looks of this (not meaning mine!) but my spirals always leave a little to be desired!

Then McTavishing - oh wow! I love the look of McTavishing! Maybe not mine though - at least not yet! I quilted a rose in the middle because I didn't have anything that I could quilt around. Then I tried the McTavishing. My machine is not cooperating very well.

So another try - I just filled the area and this was better.

I was able to get to a quilt show for about an hour the other day. I really investigated the machine quilting - maybe some of mine isn't too bad after all! Oh, I was also able to try a Gammill longarm with a regulated stitch - that was incredible. Now if I just had an extra $10,000!

QAYG FMQ QAL update 3

QAYG FMQ QAL stands for Quilt As You Go Free Motion Quilting Quilt A Long. Laura in Perth, Australia over at Quokka Quilts, is hosting this - see right column for the button. I am linking up to show my progress.

I am not making a quilt but I am practicing and doing each type of free motion quilting.

The four blocks for row 1 use curved stitching.
The four blocks for row 2 use straight stitching.
The current four blocks for row 3 use landscapes and seascapes. I used some patterned fabric so it's not as easy to see - sorry about that!

First is Landscape 1 - hills.

The hills are supposed to be filled in with more stitching like in the next photo. I prefer the open hills above. 

Next is Seascape 1 or Ocean Current. Basically this is connected hooks or 'spirals' that have echo stitching.

Landscape 2 is leaves. This was almost easy and looks so much better than the leaves I did for the Free Motion Quilting Challenge in January.

And the last one is Seascape 2 or Sea Oats. This one gave me fits! First I tried to draw them - I don't even know what sea oats are!

Then I tried to sew them on this practice sandwich - ugh!

I went back to the drawing board and ended up with corn stalks - that's something I understand!

You can't see them very good here so

here is the back!

QAYG FMQ QAL update 2

QAYG FMQ QAL stands for Quilt As You Go Free Motion Quilting Quilt A Long. This is happening with Laura in Perth, Australia over at  Quokka Quilts - see right column for the button. I need to link up to show my progress.

I am not making a quilt but I am practicing and doing each type of free motion quilting. The last update included the 4 blocks for row 1- all curved stitching. Now we have the 4 blocks for row 2 - all straight stitching.

First is Stippled Squares. I found this difficult - not knowing where I was going next was hard as well as wanting to curve my lines!

Second, is Lightning Bolts. Again I found this a little tough because I wasn't sure where I was going. The second part of each bolt - echoing back - was much easier!

Third is Spiral Illusion. I liked doing this - probably because I knew exactly where I was moving to next! It is a little hard to keep the lines even but not bad.

And last is Pointy Paisley. This wasn't too bad but I really squared off my shapes instead of keeping them more triangular.

So my biggest problem with these four squares is my left brain - having trouble when I don't know where I'm going. You know what they say: "If you don't know where you're going...you'll probably end up somewhere else..." Hmmm, wonder where I'll end up!

QAYG FMQ QAL update 1

QAYG FMQ QAL stands for Quilt As You Go Free Motion Quilting Quilt A Long. This is happening with Laura in Australia over at  Quokka Quilts - see right column for the button.


So far we have had 4 blocks for row 1. I may be out of my league here! Since I am new to this, I am not making a quilt, I am doing practice sandwiches that I will keep for inspiration and motivation to improve.


Row 1 Block 1 - practicing curves - loop the loop. 

This was fun and I have already quilted a baby quilt using loop the loop! When I get the binding on the quilt, I'll post a picture of it.

Row 1 Block 2 - flowers - a variation of the loop the loop. This is much harder than I thought it would be! I still need lots of work!

Row 1 Block 3 - spirals taught by Leah Day of The Free Motion Quilting Project - see right column for her button.

I have a very long way to go with spirals!

Row 1 Block 4 - a variation of Leah Day's sunflower. Laura said "OK, don't freak out... We've done curves, we've done flowers, and we've done spirals. Now to put them all together." Help!!! I really think I may be in over my head!

The flower isn't too bad - it is those spirals again! More practice!