2012 Free Motion Quiltig Challenge - April

I'm really learning a lot from this challenge. This month's tutorial was by Don Linn. Don gave a video tutorial demonstrating how to transfer and mark designs. The first step was to choose a design. I chose to use the design that Don provided with the tutorial although any design could have been used. This looks like a simple design but there's a lot of backtracking in it. Another thing I need to practice.

 The next step is to stretch a piece of tulle in an embroidery hoop and trace the design onto the tulle using a permanent marker.

Here it is with just a blank sheet of paper underneath to make the design more visible. 

Then,  place the embroidery hoop with the marked tulle over your fabric and trace your design onto the fabric using your favorite marking pencil. I used a water soluble marker.

And, here is my sample after quilting and washing out the marker. 

I'm getting this done and submitted at the last minute, so I just did the basic design. I wanted to add some outline quilting and some background fill around it, but I'm barely getting this done in time so I didn't. 
I think this is a great technique, especially if you're wanting to mark a design multiple times on the same quilt. 

SBS - Clay's Choice

Another simple block for this week. This is Clay's Choice.

SBS - Yankee Puzzle

The last couple of blocks have been a little on the challenging side so I did a simpler block this week. It went together in a snap.

Fiesta de Talavera - Block 2

I've finished block 2! This is such a fun project to hand applique. There are a lot of pieces in each block (this one has 125) and they take a little time, but the majority of them have easy, gentle curves making them perfect for time in front of the TV. I really like working with these bright colors against the dark background. It's so much fun to see the block coming together as I'm working on it.

SBS - New Mexico

The block I chose this week is called New Mexico. The more I work with little pieces, the more I realize I need more practice working with little pieces. The rail fence blocks were actually paper-pieced in long strips and then sub-cut. The same with the nine patch blocks. That helped quite a bit since this is basically a 25-patch block done in 6 inches. That makes for some tricky measurements.




I've mentioned before my journey with Sylvia's Bridal Sampler.  I'm glad to be back on track and am looking forward to having it done. This week's block is number 100! Only 40 more blocks to go! Some time ago I made a graph and have been inserting pictures of the blocks as I do them. Mostly I use this to keep track of the fabrics I'm using so that I don't use the same fabrics in blocks that are next to each other. But I also like seeing how the spaces are filling up. As I insert the pictures some of the blocks get cropped. I don't know why. But, you can get an idea of how this quilt is shaping up.

SBS - Laurel Wreath

This block was a little challenging. I don't usually draw seam lines when I piece, but I did on this one because of all the Y seams. I think it made a world of difference in getting everything to line up just so.

March UFO

Back in 2007, my LQS in Albuquerque did this quilt as a Saturday Sampler. The name of the quilt is Ramblin' Rose Meets Jamestown. The quilt was designed by Marti Michell using her template sets. While it takes a bit more time to cut the pieces using the templates, I think you make up for it with how easy the pieces go together. Some of these blocks would have been very challenging with regular piecing, but with the templates they went right together. I have a couple of other quilts I'd like to make using the templates - someday. The sampler blocks were named to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Jamestown settlement - New Colony, Roanoke Island, John Smith, and Stormy Voyage, to name a few. I had no idea when I started this quilt that I'd one day be living in Virginia.

I got all my blocks made and even had all 24 of the log cabin blocks done by the end of that year. In early 2008, I assembled the blocks and that was as far as I got. For the UFO Challenge, my goal was just to get the borders on. I've also made the binding and have fabric set aside for the backing, but that's all I'll be able to do for a while. This is a king size quilt measuring 104" square. I have an older machine with a very small throat and there is just no way that I can fit a king size quilt in there to get it quilted. I hope to get a new machine in the next year or two. The quilt has been waiting this long, it can wait a little longer.