She does the most awesome free motion quilting on her home machine. She has also been trying to encourage me to take the plunge. As you know, I did a little free motion on my sons quilts....
Swirls are easy, pebbles, stippling, but to do feathers and to jump out of my box is scarey.... I guess my main problem is what to do, what designs.
So.....I did feathers....this is at it's worse....but the problem is, I didn't stop there, I kept going and going......then spent most of the morning taking all of it out....oh yes.....alot of froging this morning...
It was fun....but looked terrible.
I was going to just give up and stipple this quilt (yes, that would have been fun and easy and it would be done by now)....but this nagging voice on my shoulder kept telling me to keep trying and not give up.
So I did this....
This is the back.....all I can say is this is not great but it is a start and has me going outside my comfort zone. I will say that the more I do free motion, the more control I have so maybe in a few years I will be a pro....HA!!!!
I took a break from this and cut out 17 pillowcases and worked on my 12 ugly towels for my towel swap. Oh yes....uuuuuuggggglllliiiiiieeeeeeee but my husband told me to make it work. He knows what pains I have gone through to find towels. I have looked high and low. Order some online and then they back ordered. I finally ordered these towels that I have now and they are sooooo uggggliiieeeeee but....I am going to do as my husband says and make them work. Not due until April but I hate waiting until the last minute....Oh well....have a wonderful evening.
32 comments:
Barb, check out Patsy Thompson's DVD's for some helpful tutorials on doing feathers. I have used my 50% off coupon at JoAnn's and have three different DVD's. Practice, practice, practice.
Cowboys don't wear feathers anyway.
Barb, I feel so bad. I figured since they were designed from Nancy Halverson and she uses them in her books, they would be pretty.
Ugly dishtowels....dang girl....no one is going to want to swap with you again. Better re-phrase that and say...."interesting" dish towels....or...."Oddly Unique" dish towels...laughing.
Smiles,
Kelly
My free motion quilting isn't too great either.
Show your ugly towels. Maybe someone will have ideas.
I am going to check out that other blog. Don't know how I missed it on Sew Cal...unless it was last week. I need free motion help!
Like you, I am ascared to try! I like your quilt and think that the design you ended up with is more manly than feathers anyway - or are YOU the Dallas fan?
I pulled my notes from the free motion class I took and the instructor gave us a tip. When learning a new design trace the design on tracing paper, then stitch over it. Tares off easy. I think Kelly is on to something calling them interesting. I bet when you are finished with them they will be beautiful.
Good job! I've also been doing a little practice and plan (hope) to use free motion quilting to finish the project I'm doing right now.
Yah know the more I hear you complain about them...the more I laugh. They can't be THAT bad! LOL! Still trying to figure out if they are mustard or a nasty tan.
Oh and your feathers look better than mine...oh that is right I am chicken...
What exactly does an ugly towel look like? I've seen colors which were not my taste but ugly? Show us the ugly towels!
Your free motion looks great to me.
Free motion takes lots of practice however it's the only way I quilt now. I love it!! Going to check out that blog though, see if I can learn more. Hugs
How wonderful for you to step outside your comfort zone...I have not even thought of doing feathers...way to go girl!
Ahh, I can understand the up and down of trying the new techniques but good for you for giving it a go. I think it looks good.
I tried some of that free motion quilting today. Looks terrible! Yours looks better than mine. I just can't seem to have any control at that machine! I love Ivory Spring's blog. She's an inspiration, isn't she!
I don't think those are bad feathers for a first attempt. practice practice practice. I'm sure you're already wearing gloves like Machingers, but do you have a teflon Super Slider? I got one at Houston and it helps with the movement a lot. I also got the orange hoop thing that is supposed to hold your sandwich flat and steady, but I'm less sold on that. The slider is great though, and I can't do it without my gloves.
Keep at it!
Susan in Texas
I have never machine quilted but would love to learn one day soon.
YES, please be sure you get the right towels, or you'll have some very superficial PICKY women telling you they are not good enough....never again will I be in a swap...
I am just like you right now. Trying and Trying to learn to stipple. I am not good at all but as you say it does get better the longer we do it. But I do think it will take Years and Years for me . But thats OK I have lots of time and lots of things to practice on.LOL
Oh gosh Barbara for years all I ever did was stitich in the ditch. It took me a long time to step up and do something different. Keep going you will get it. Thanks for always hitting my blog. I wanted to have a giveaway and get back to blogging so it is now or never. See you Sunday!
Wouldn't it be lovely to be able to FMQ like Wendy...at least you gave it a go..I'm still thinking about it.
Keep trying Barb
Barb, just keep practicing. It gets easier. And doodle every chance you get either on paper or even just with your finger. If you can doodle it, you can quilt it. Don't forget about buying cheap pillow or wallhanging panels and quilt the designs in them. It will give you a chance to do lots of different shapes and fillers and you won't be worried about ruining something you spent a lot of time piecing. Thanks for the link to the great website as well.
Just keep going with the free motion quilting. I am not "good" at it yet, but every quilt does get a little bit better.
I'm sure you'll perform some kind of magic on the towels, and I love your tulip header.
Hey there Barb! I think the quilting you did on that Cowboys quilt looks pretty darn good! You are way too hard on yourself! And I, too, want to see what those "ugly" towels look like. Is it just the color that you think is ugly? Well, I know if anyone can fix them up, it's you! They won't be ugly when you get through with them!
XOXO,
Cyndi
Hey, I think your FMQ is great. I've seen some of your swirls that I'd love to do as good a job as you do!
SewCalGal
www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com
My hero!!!!I am sure your quilting is wonderful and you are such a critic of your own work! haha ha! Least your feather LOOKS like one!;-)
Ugly towels?? Now Now...must be my colors... hahaha!
;-)
Awesome!!
Barb,
So proud of you for taking the plunge! You had a good start there -- keep quilting, before long, you will be a pro!
I think you are doing wonderfully!! From watching others learn to free motion it will take some time before you are comfortable but once you have it tackled, it will open a whole new world for you :0)
Crispy
Like you, I am never sure what design should go where and end up stippling because of it. I need to broaden my horizons too.
I can not do feathers either; think part of my issue is is that I can not draw. good for you for sticking with it.
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