Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Free Motion Challenge - January's Tutorial

Two blog entries in one day?!? 
I forgot to write about my Free Motion Quilting Challenge block. I do believe that practice is the key to improving quilting skills, and this challenge seemed like a great motivator to try new designs and pick up tips from some amazing machine quilters. 
The January teacher is Francis Moore, and she demonstrated  a design called "heart shaped leaf".
Pop over to her blog and read her Guidelines for quilting...love it!
I practiced on paper first as I always do, and enjoyed the "feel" of the design. I learned that it was tricky to change the direction of the leaf, but necessary to improve the look. And I learned I would have to force myself to remember the inside vein.
Then I started on my quilt sandwich using some hand painted fabric that I have set aside for this challenge project. 
It was really fun! Here is my finished sample. I just realized there is one errant loop in there...that's weird! There are some spaz-outs where the shape get a little wonky, but overall... I love it! I would totally use this design for a large quilt.
Go and check out the links to over 300 bloggers taking part in the challenge - click here.

11 comments:

Janet O. said...

Yours looks really good, Kathy. I love it on that fabric. Very smooth curves and leaf shapes. I was way too jerky! More practice, I know!

Béa said...

Very successful on beautiful fabric. For me too, it was difficult to change direction of the leaves...

Helen in the UK said...

GREAT job on the quilting practice! Sometimes a loop is handy to travel so looks like your subconscious played a part there :)

Merilyn said...

Wow! you did a really wonderful job with your practice piece, I love it!!! This is something I really should start doing, getting a bit more daring and graduate from stippling LOL!!!!!

Kate said...

Your sample piece looks wonderful. Congrats on mastering that design.

Diane said...

great hearts!!

Robin Quilts, etc. said...

I love your practice piece. You did a great job. Frances is an amazing teacher.

Sew Create It - Jane said...

Well Done looks fab! The secret to FMQ is practice practice practice ! :o)

Ellen said...

Looks great!I will definitely have to check it all out.

sewnut said...

The heart leaves are fun, put on good music, have a nice glass of something wet nearby and stitch away~~~

Unknown said...

I think your leaves look great!