Time to get some quilting done.....more practice doing the Jester's Hat from this month's challenge. I had several emails and questions about this one. So this shot is a real close up...the motifs are not that huge. The width of the light fabric band is only 5 1/2", so the swirls are not much larger than a quarter. Some areas are closer quilted than others.....I do not strive for perfection. If I get lost or boxed into a corner, I stop, break thread and start again. Or add a little meandering in there to get out ---if I can. And lastly, I listen to music when I do free motion quilting. It helps keep my rhythm steady. Breathe and relax....my best tip!
When I got finished with the quilting and trimmed it all up, I realized I had a wonderful inspiration fabric on the back. It's a fabric I bought on clearance, and had more orange in it than I like. I figured I would use it on the back of something---a busy print hides stitch flaws! But isolate the motifs in it and what a gold mine of designs. I grabbed by FMQ sketchbook and drew a few off. I need to just save a hunk of the fabric too for inspirations.
And the project.....the floral blended braid,
Through My Wall. It was planned and pieced during this summer after I "hit the wall" with my broken shoulder. Thank you, Dana, for telling me to get busy piecing. It was a very nice way to get me to stop whining. I thought it was appropriate to quilt it first after so much progress with PT.
Insight:
If you step into a hole, and break your shoulder, expect it to take 130 days before you can free motion quilt with no pain! Lesson learned.
Happy stitching.
It looks great Debbie. I tried that pattern but kept getting lost. I am loving reading your blog. I am glad I found it. LOL. I suppose something good came of my being to sick to sew.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you were able to break down the wall & finish your quilt. You did a fantastic job on the Jester's Hat FM quilting design. You are so right about a busy print for the back of quilts. I have always known that but still made the mistake of putting a solid on the back of a baby quilt. Oh my....every quilting mistake stuck out like a sore thumb! When will I ever learn?
ReplyDeleteI'm just like Gene....so glad I found you & your blog. Thanks!
Your floral blended braid looks awesome.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear that you are mending.
I broke my wrist last year and my ankle the year before. It takes time to heal bones at my age.
Love the busy print for backing--esp with anything complicated! It all looks great--and so glad the PT has been successful!
ReplyDeleteThrough My Window is lovely and your FMQ is coming along nicely.
ReplyDeleteI'm bleary eyed this morning and after reading this I thought OMG did I tell Debbie to quit her whining? If we lived next door to each other you probably would have heard it, but I would have borrowed Barbara's pom poms and cheerleading outfit. LOL. I'll take any credit you want to throw my way, that quilt is beautiful and going on my to-do (try to-do) list, which is full of things you've taught us.
ReplyDeleteIt looks fabulous!
ReplyDeleteLooks good, Debbie. Maybe I'll try this design on the Mrs. Claus quilt I am going to quilt tonight. I need to get this challenge done pronto and you have inspired me. : )
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