SewCalGal - FMQ Challenge - May

Directions: To make double stipple and train variation.

May

Leah Day

Before:  The lesson is very clearly written including a very nice refresher or orientation to FMQing.  Leah is really the best with including information for beginners, and I'm sure she challenges more advanced quilters too.  The designs are both very nice, I anticipate the double stipple will be easier than the train tracks as points are sometimes hard to do.

First Try May 2 - First I drew the double stipple design on paper.  Since I had finally finished my Big Star quilt, it was easy for me to set up to test out the patterns on my test sandwich. The white thread doesn't show up in the photo very well...  Here are my first interpretations:

Back First Try May SCG

First try at both May designs for SewCalGal

My practices did not fill the space as evenly as Leah did in her video demos, but I think they look really nice anyway.

These will be nice designs to use to surround some busy piecing or to have in the background.  Check out Marie's blog to see the pattern done in a larger block - very nice.  (Need to scroll down a bit to see the photos.)

May 25 - in FMQAYGQAL block.  I finally had time to sew the pattern in my quilt blocks!

Front - Leah's Double Stipple

Back - Leah's Double Stipple

I'm having a little problem with the thread getting too loose at the top of the machine, but by going slow (and traveling to be sure some skips were secure) I have a second example of the first design by Leah Day.

This is such a forgiving design, it still looks good with uneven loops!  I think it would be wonderful as an all over design!

May 26 - in FMQAYGQAL block.  I did the second Leah Day design for the SewCalGal challenge.  This time I just did one simple curve so there is plenty of unquilted area.  I really like it!

Front- Leah's Tracks

Back - Leah's Tracks

These designs were really fun to do - I know I'll be using them in my future projects.  Now they are part of the FMQAYGQAL project I'm working on too!



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I'm linking to SewCalGal for my May entry!
http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com/2012/05/may-2012-fmq-challenge-tutorial-by-leah.html
I'm #94!


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You too can join up with the 2012 SewCalGal's Free-Motion Quilt Challenge now to become a better free motion quilter and have the chance to win fabulous prizes!!  

 To enter the May drawing:
1. Write blog entry or post a photo on Flicker. Copy and save the URL.
2. Then go to http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com/p/free-motion-quilt-challenge.html
3. Click on the May link - you'll go to the screen with information about the challenge for May. The direct link is: http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com/2012/05/may-2012-fmq-challenge-tutorial-by-leah.html
4. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and add the link to your site.

I'm #94 on this list! I'm coding all my entries about this project with SewCalGalFMQ2012 so clicking on that will show the most recent post on top.

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http://www.with-heart-and-hands.com/2012/05/praying-for-miracle.html

FMQAYGQAL - Blocks 21 & 22

Directions: Blocks 21 & 22: Row 6 Blocks 1 & 2

Block 22: Quilt Jane's Flower and Echo 

Back - Quilt Jane's flower and echo

Front- Quilt Jane's flower and echo

This design was easy to do - I did draw first on paper though so that probably helped.  I was able to continue the echoing more than in the example so there are few odd pieces in the block.  I do not know what happened with the back of the block - there were unexpected extra poofs of thread.  I was successful with hiding a lot of them....

Block 21: Quilt Jane's Shark Filler

This design was very easy to sew.  I oriented the fabric so I was sewing up for the fins and then down for the waves.  Very clean looking.

Quilt Jane's Shark Filler Front

Quilt Jane's Shark Filler Back

FMQAYGQAL - Linky 5 - Updated

Directions for Row 5 Blocks 1&2: Laura's Feathers
Directions for Row 5 Blocks 3&4: Leah's Sun and Flame Flower
Directions for Row 4 Catch Up: Helen's geometric spirals or Michelle's fireballs

Linky 5 - Backs

Linky 5 - Fronts

I ran out of thread before I could finish the flame flower.  I'm putting in a block I did of stippling in it's place until I get more thread...!

The row 4 catch-up block is included in the photo too.

I've written more on each design as I finished it up - click on FMQAYGQAL to those entries....

Hosted here

I'm linking to Laura's site where the Quilt A Long is being hosted. (I'm #4.) By going to that site you'll be able to see the way the other followers have interpreted the designs (and their comments on sewing them!)

At the end of the FMQAYGQAL we will have 24 blocks - once you prepare the quilt sandwiches it really doesn't take very long to do the blocks - so do jump in!

Laura is also going to be showing different ways to connect the blocks into one quilt - she knows some way to do it where we somehow use the unquilted borders of each block!  My Plan B is to use the new thread for the four remaining blocks and to place them in the corners....

Update 4-16-12 10:30pm:  I found limabean thread and did the Flame Flower design on a block!  The color matches well so can just continue with the original plan!  So I have 21 blocks done for this project!

FMQAYGQAL - Blocks 19 & 20 Updated

Directions for blocks 19 and 20 (Row 5 blocks 3&4)

The theme is flowers.....  Leah made a special video for Laura's FMQAYGQAL - what a treat!  The video was easy to follow, and the designs are for beginners too!

Block 19: Leah's Sun Flower

Leah's Sun Flower Front

Leah's Sun Flower Back

I may have made the center circle a bit too large, but the petals were nice to sew and I don't think the thread broke at all!

I did stop pretty much after each petal was added.

I was a little afraid to have too much thread build up, but that didn't happen at all - in fact would be nice to have more in the center section of the design.

I haven't compared this to the video, but do like the way it looks.



Block 20: Leah's Flame Flower
I suspect this design will be easy to do, I have run out of thread so need to get more before I proceed....

Leah's Flame Flower - Back

Leah's Flame Flower - Front

 Okay I was pretty lucky - was able to find a store with the same color thread and even though it's not the same dye lot I can't tell the difference in this block!  The inner circle and first part of the filling to that is in the original spool.  And when I filled the bobbin, I forgot and left the new spool on for the top (I have some of the old thread - just not enough for a bobbin and to sew on the top.).

The pattern was easy to do - I need to practice drawing flames - but this design is forgiving so it just looks like petals - pretty good thing to have on a flower!

FMQAYGQAL - Blocks 17 and 18

Directions for blocks 17 and 18 (Row 5 blocks 1&2)

The theme is feathers.....

Block 17: Laura's Echo Feather

Row 5 Block 1 Front

Row 5 Block 1 Back

This block has a single spine - the feathers are free formed.

I started my making the curved spine and the loop at the end.

Then I moved down the spine and created the side of the feather that was away from the loop first, curved and hit the side of the loop, hit the spine, went down beyond where the feather and did it all again.

When I reached the bottom I went back up the spine and did the same on the other side.  This was a good way to make the design.

When done with both sides I went back and added two toppers to each of the feathers, then I did the echoing. I like everything except the echoing - that part is too loopy so doesn't really add anything to the design. But I didn't know what to do instead so I gave it a try.

Block 18: Feathers in a Circle

Row 5 - Block 2 - Front

The directions were clear, but I messed up.  I drew actually three circles on the block as it seemed Laura was suggesting she would do that next time. "More guidelines required next time."  But maybe she meant something else.

Row 5 - Block 2 - Back

I think I drew the center circle too small as my feathers got all smooched and started looking like a stiff fingers.

I added tips to the feathers in the hope of making them stand out.....

Putting the design in a circle makes it very dramatic!





Blogger Note:  I'm going to click on the option I see in Blogger at the right for Enclosure Links and see what happens when I put the link back to Laura's site there....  (I don't see that it does anything!)

FMQAYGQAL - Block 16 (Row 4)

Directions for block 16 (Row 4 block 4)

I did the first design option - or maybe I should say this is how I interpreted the design:

I drew it a few times before doing - decided I wanted to fill it in so the borders were more equal than in the example. 

Row 4 Block 4 - Front

 I practiced a little on a pink sandwich and the thread brock and needle broke too - so I did this very slowly - it was done in one pass!

Row 4 Blcok 4 - Back

FMQAYGQAL - Row 4 Summary

Directions for blocks 13 and 14 (Row 4 blocks 1 & 2)

Directions for block 15 (Row 4 block 3)
Directions for block 16 (Row 4 block 4)

Partial Row 4 - Fronts

I am doing this blocks as part of Laura's Free Motion Quilt as You Go Quilt Along.

I am linking to her site.  It's great to be able to see how the other interpreted the directions.  


I seem to be the only one who did not do all the suggested blocks.  It seemed the right thing to do (these different designs) when I was sewing, but now wish I had done the big rose and the tree - maybe later.

I have other posts where I describe a little of how stitching these blocks went for me.  


I see now that the directions for block 16 have been posted, but I will have to work on that tomorrow!

Partial Row 4 - Backs

I'm linking up to Laura's site, I'm #6!

FMQAYGQAL - Blocks 13, 14, 15

Directions for blocks 13 and 14 (Row 4 blocks 1 & 2)

Directions for block 15 (Row 4 block 3)

Directions for block 16 (Row 4 block 4)

Laura continues the theme of Landscapes and Seascapes for blocks 13 and 14...

I wasn't clicking with her large rose with leaves and spiral tree so instead did variations on Leah Day's.  These are variations as I didn't remind myself what the designs actually were officially on Leah's site - I did from memory!

Tree Bark - Front

Block 13: Tree Bark 

Directions here:  http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com/2009/09/day-20-tree-bark.html

I've done this design several times before.  I like the way it stitches up, and I like the texture it brings to the fabric.

Tree Bark - Back

Dresden Daisies - Front

Block 14: Dresden Daisies 

Directions here:

http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com/2009/10/day-66-dresden-daisies.html


This is the second time I've done this design - both times I made the flowers smaller and farther apart than Leah did, but I still think it looks nice.

Dresden Daisies - Back

Block 15:  McTavishing
Directions:  http://www.quokkaquilts.blogspot.com/2012/03/guest-post-fmqal-emma-how-on.html

My First McTavish - Front

This design was really difficult for me to do.  I drew it several times but it never looks great....  My sewing version actually looks better than the drawing!

My First McTavish - Back - Luckily the pattern hides the knots of thread...

The thread is sort of splitting so parts of it gets jammed up before the needle - so then I have to stop, hide thread, rethread and start again.  The thread seems to jump out every once in a while so there is a large section of loose thread behind the machine - I reroll the thread, double check things and can go ahead for a few inches.  But then the splitting is visible so I have to stop, hide thread, and start again.

The sections between the McTavishing look odd the way I'm filling the space so I actually like it better when it's left open...  I may take my machine in for servicing then will continue on this!

FMQAYGQAL Row 3 Summary

Here are my four blocks for the third row of Laura's Free Motion Quilt As You Go Quilt A Long.

The theme for these blocks is landscapes and seascapes...

Front

Back

It's a nice variety of designs - while reading and sewing I realized that:

1) I do not really notice landscapes or seascapes or plants, etc.

2) I think I should make an effort to notice all the nature that is around me...!


I'm linking to Laura's site where the Quilt A Long is behing hosted.  By going to that site you'll be able to see the way the other followers have interpreted the designs (and their comments on sewing them!)

Hosted here

At the end of the FMQAYGQAL we will have 24 blocks - once you prepare the quilt sandwiches it really doesn't take very long to do the blocks - so do jump in!  Laura is also going to be showing different ways to connect the blocks into one quilt - cool huh?

FMQAYGQAL - Blocks 11 and 12

Directions for blocks 11 and 12 (Row 3 blocks 3 & 4)

Laura continues the theme of Landscapes and Seascapes....

Block 11: Landscapes 2

This block is very close to the design I did for the SewCalGal project in January - so close that I decided to use the extra block I made for that and switch to be an official FMQAYGQAL block.

Front

Back

Block 12: Leah's Sea Oats

This is an official 'beginning' design, so I already had tried it out.  Also, since I'm one of the last to finish this for FMQAYGQAL I was able to read the comments others made about this design.  I also do not know what a sea oat really looks like.  I do not know what corn looks like when it is growing and I have never noticed plants in an aquarium (like Leah's Josh has).  I spent a little more time looking at photos and examples of people who have done this design, then drew it out several times. I brought the example photo into Fireworks and changed the direction so I could draw while looking at the example oriented the same way.....

Front

Back

I do not think I made any improvement from my first try - the first row looks the best, but then I got into changing the direction of the off shoots so much that they look more like circles....

I had moved the sewing machine to the living room as my son was in the sewing room - and now I know that the living room can't be used for sewing.  The chair was too low, and the table legs interfered with the foot pedal.  My straw spindal does not seem to be the answer for my thread - it still is catching every once in a while so I had to cut thread and restart pretty much at every column!

So not really know what sea oats are, I will just say this is a  science fiction plant found on the landscape of some far off yet-to-be-discovered planet!

I hope you will join us for the second Liberated Round Robin - starting this month!

FMQAYGQAL - Blocks 9 and 10 & Marston/Moran Comments

Directions for Blocks 9 and 10  (AKA Row 3 Blocks 1 & 2)

I'm sewing these blocks in 'catch-up' mode as I spent so much time getting ready for my week long workshop with Gwen Marston and Freddy Moran - then had four days with them - and then had so much to get caught up at home that I'm just now sewing.  (I've solved things by filing for an extension for taxes to give myself some breathing room!).

The theme for this row is Landscapes and Seascapes....

Block 9: Leah's Landscape Stitch

When I was watching the video I thought this would be an easy design for me to do.  (I had a chuckle at the end when Leah advises us to draw our hills like the hills are that we see when we look out our window!  The only hill I see is covered densely with houses - if I were to just draw that hill I'd have one lump and would be done!) I did have to draw it out to figure out why she was sort of back stitching before beginning another hill.  Laura from QuokkaQuilts (running the QAL) mentioned in her notes that getting the hills even was the part that was tricky for her so I was aware of that.  But to be honest the non-example hill that she pointed to on her blog didn't bother me at all.  So after drawing it out I threaded the green thread in and checked that the needle was okay by doing a little stitching on my sandwich that I am practicing feathers and other things on.  Everything seemed okay.

Front - Block 9

But while doing the actual stitching I was very frustrated.  I broke a needle.  I thought perhaps I was pulling the fabric to quickly (as I had done before).  I thought about how cold my fingers were and thought I didn't have good control.  I broke another needle - the first time I 'lost' the point - usually the points stay threaded so they are easy for me to tape up and keep until I can discard in a sharps container at the place where my mom lives.  I broke another needle and decided to stop trying.

Back - Block 9

I thought about not filling the hills in - to leave them open and plain as Laura decided to do....  But with a new day and not feeling as cold I tried again.  This time I broke a needle again.  I could not figure out why this was happening.  I rolled the new needle to be sure it was straight and took really slow stitches....  I thought the thread was being fed unevenly so I found a firm straw and put that on the top of the machine so the cone could be on the machine.  Started again and then I heard the twang sound and remembered to look at the machine to see if the thread had wrapped itself around one of the metal pieces, and sure enough it did!  So I figured out that I could disengage the extra loops and continue.  I did the rest of the design with no breaks - I did cheat and move the block in different directions to make it easier to see where I was going to sew.  I went back and added some extra threads on the top of most of the hills....

I'm pleased with how this looks, but it was very time intensive for me and since my emphasis is on finishing real quilts now (believe it or not!) I'm not sure when I will use it.

Block 10: Leah's Ocean Current

Block 10 - Front

This design is very pretty in the examples - there is an initial line stitched with several hooks to begin the water swirls - that's called a foundation line - then you go back and echo around that line to make the swirls stand out.

Block 10 - Back

I drew the design several times with different spots for the hooks and saw what I needed to do if I got caught inside a part of the design.  I was ready to go.  I guess I should have taken a photo of my foundation line - that really does drive the design....


My water is sort of stagnant maybe there is a lot of trash up stream that is stopping the swirls.....


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So those are my blocks that were being sewn by others in the FMQAYGQAL while I was at the Marston/Moran workshop.  I have not uploaded my photos from that great adventure (yet) - and my experiences yesterday and today with doing these designs sort of cloud the great compliments I got from Gwen and Freddy for my FMQing.... but here is one photo that is special to me....

Marston/Moran admiring my FMQing!

The third day of the workshop, I had put my finished pieces of the Wonky Shoo Fly on the floor so I could get suggestions for how to put the pieces together.....  But the teachers were busy so I then went around and took photos of all the design walls....  Across the room I could see ten or twelve students looking down at my quilt pieces - I ran over and heard great compliments and fielded lots of questions.  They were amazed that I did the work on my regular old sewing machine.  I made sure again that they knew I had learned from Leah Day. (I had shared my in-progress-LibRR with the group the second day and told them then too so everyone heard that.)  It seems the people at the class didn't do any FMQ.  It was wonderful to hear them oh and ah my work!


The teachers were still busy so I went back to work on my parts for the project I was working on for the class - then someone excitedly tapped me on the should and said Gwen and Freddy are looking at your quilt! They like it!  So I grabbed my phone and took these photos.  By that time someone else in the class had come up to ask for advice so the photos are a little diluted with that - but really they were looking at my FMQing!  Gwen especially liked the big leaf pattern - Freddy came to me and said it was exquisitely stitched and she had never seen a student in all her years of giving workshops with such wonderful work.  I made sure they knew I was learning from Leah Day's site and that I had won some of the blocks I brought from the BlockLotto.


Gwen thought perhaps they were going to be kept separate - like her little quilts she had shared - didn't really have ideas to help me get the pieces back into a bed sized quilt.  Oh well.


Freddy came up to me two additional times and chatted with me - she said that I had found my niche in quilting and should develop that and disregard the color and piecing part unless I wanted to do that....


Pretty fabulous....  


I have to keep thinking about how great I felt when they were giving me compliments while do the actual FMQing now!


(I'll post the photos from the workshop soon!)


I hope you will join us for the second Liberated Round Robin - starting this month!

FMQAYGQAL Row 2 Summary

Front

Here are my Row 2 summary photos for the Free Motion Quilt As You Go Quilt A Long! These designs are all "Pointy Designs".

I have linked to Laura's site - I'm #2 this time!


At the end of the project we will have 24 quilted blocks - she is going to give suggestions for how to get the blocks together so we end up with a quilt.

Back

I have two quilts* that I started doing as QAYG projects, but I still have them in sections to get ready to quilt as there is more to quilt in both of them.  I'm hoping this challenge will make it so I'm better able to do the bed sized quilts - and hope this will be nice enough for me to give to He&Ka...


Laura says she will keep the guidelines up for this FMQAYGQAL so you can join in anytime!


I'm coding all my entries on this with FMQAYGAL - so clicking on this link will show all the related posts. (Most recent will appear first.)

My Other QAYG Quilts

1. Wonky Shoo Fly - FMQ on plain blocks of a quilt 
2. Liberated Round Robin - FMQ done in sections 

FMQAYGQAL - Blocks 7 and 8

Directions for Blocks 7 and 8 (AKA Row 2 Blocks 3 & 4)

Front

Block 7: Spiral Illusion

Back

I hadn't done this Leah Day design before as it is the 204th design and I haven't gotten that far in the Free Motion Quilting Project - but Laura suggested we do it this week so I gave it a try.   The video was clear.  I drew the pattern out then got my block under the needle.  I knew starting the second part of the design might make it have an odd center, so when I got there I tried to make it a little symmetrical....  But by starting it where I did the pattern was not in the center - and it ended up being a rectangle shape.

But I did a pretty good job of keeping the lines straight, so I'm pleased with it. I think I would do this in two passes next time though, then the second box could be totally symmetrical.....

This is one of the first blocks I prepared - the walking foot wasn't set up correctly and there are puckers that I had hoped would settle down.  Hopefully once it's all together the puckers will not stand out....

Block 8: Pointy Paisley

Front

Back

I watched the video - it seemed clear.  I watched the regular paisley design too and then went back to the pointy version.  I drew a few on a scrap of paper and then went to the machine.

This is not an easy design for me to sew.  I really wanted the points to be pointy, but it was the in between places that really stood out.  I went back after I finished the block and added some additional lines to fill in the holes.  Now that it is done, it looks pretty good - but it wasn't a fun design to sew.

A triangle design that I really like to do is Trippy Triangles.  I've done that in both my Wonky Shoo Fly and the Liberated Round Robin.

Ah, and I used a 1/4 inch foot for block 7 so I can't take credit for the straight lines....