Finally, Setting Triangles finished…Let’s go Pebbling

 

Finally, I have finished outlining all of the flowers in the setting triangles on this huge quilt. Never in a million years did I think about the triangles taking as long as they did, but there have been many interruptions. I love the thread build up and the final effect. Amanda was pleased when she saw them in person. Now I can move on. I initially quilted feather wreaths in each of the blocks (with some really ugly stitches) but they are going to stay just as they are.

I am moving to the sashing now to try my hand at pebbling. My mom asks me every day if I am finished with the quilt, and my answer is not yet. She thinks I have gone completely bonkers. I am enjoying the process and the learning that has occurred in making this quilt, but I may take the prize for the longest time ever  spent quilting on one quilt. Oh well, I am in no hurry and want to make “Lovely Lou” absolutely beautiful for my daughter. She is certainly worth every stitch and every hour put into this effort of love.

 

I am joining Connie’s Linky Party today over at Freemotion by the River. I love seeing what other quilters are doing and always get some kind of inspiration. Thank you, Connie for hosting!   

My first attempts at Pebbling…

     

I just finished watching Leah Day’s Pebbling Tutorial for the sixth or seventh time today, and the above is evidence that practice is certainly required to master this filler design. However, instead of stitching on scraps, I have used this quilt “Lovely Lou” upon which to learn Free Motion Quilting. So ugly stitches, pitiful traveling skill and all, I am continuing to learn from the generosity of Leah Day and other bloggers. The above block is only a 2” square out of this quilt and I figure by the time I stitch all of those 2” squares I should have pebbling down pat, at least at this scale.

I would like to know from other quilters, would you stitch in the ditch around each 2” block to contain the pebbling or allow the back to have a more free-form organic look to it, without a box stitched around the pebbling. Amanda loves the idea of using this quilt as a reversible bedspread on her king size bed. What do you think?

Beautiful Morning in San Antonio, Texas…

 

What a beautiful morning in San Antonio, Texas! The temperature is about 75 and the sun is just above our tree line. My neighbors free range chickens are in my yard, and the roosters are crowing like crazy. I love that they come to my yard for all our bugs and to talk to me. A perfect morning to hang out in the quilting studio/garage with “Lovely Lou.” Still working on setting triangles, outlining the motif on the fabric-who knew it would take this long to do these beautiful flowers? If I were getting paid by the hour on this quilt, I could be debt free by now! However, I am quilting just for the love of quilting and this particular one for my sweet daughter, Amanda.  I seem to be rather slow, but loving every minute of the fun project.

Waiting on photos from all my family and friends! I am in the process of photographing all my old quilts so that I can share the lineage from which I come. Quilters in that day had to be resourceful—no modern conveniences like FMQ, rotary blades, Magic Genie Bobbin Washers, Machingers’ gloves or Supreme Sliders. By the way, the Bobbin Washers, gloves and Supreme Sliders are available from Day Style Designs Quilt Shop. I happily buy those products from Leah Day in return for the wealth of information that she shares on her blog, The Free Motion Quilting Project.

Amanda and Mia   

Photo by Sam Roberts Photography

Motif emphasized…

These awesome flowers are just popping with life with the thread outlining. I am having such a great time working on this quilt! Still undecided about what to do with sashing and borders, but I am following a couple of expert quilters who have some great ideas. One in particular, and that would be the amazing Leah Day. So, you will just have to wait and see what design comes about on this quilt. Keep checking back…
Mark just finished knapping this cool little arrowhead!

Getting Back to the Quilting Habit...

Leah Day has inspired me in one more of many positive ways. I have had  a wonderfully refreshing relief from my daily routine. Now I am ready to return to my habit of quilting and have more fun.  After a break and coming back to Lou, I have made changes while considering a more modern approach. Although I haven’t caught up with Leah’s QAL, I am attempting to apply much of her teaching to the quilt I had ready to quilt. This quilt is for a lively young woman who is best described as a fun and modern (in all the good ways) individual. I want the quilt to reflect the same qualities.

I had done a Loopy Loop in the setting triangles around the quilt. The setting triangles are inside three borders. When I came back and looked, I was not pleased with the effect. So I have spent several days armed with my seam ripper and plenty of patience. I have replaced that filler design with simple stitching on the motif of the fabric. I am liking the thread build-up. I would love for this quilt to come out of the washer with that old fashion crinkled soft feel, but done with a modern twist. Designing the quilting aspect of this quilt or any other is a new skill set for me, and I am open minded about making changes—another “Leah Lesson.”

While ripping I took the opportunity to review many of Leah's fabulous videos to better enforce my grasp of the many aspects of FMQ. I must say once again, she is the best quilting teacher I have found on the internet. I have spent a considerable amount of time looking. I have years of sewing experience and even done some hand quilting, but those skills are not the same set as FMQ skills. No other teacher is willing to spend such dedicated effort emphasizing the basics and other wonderful techniques of FMQ so freely.  Thank you, by the way.
The stitching on the back of the quilt is looking fairly cool. I am looking forward to seeing improvement as I quilt Lou. The print fabric on the back of the quilt is forgiving. I am not happy with the little pointy blobs where I hesitate to move the quilt, but experience will hopefully help with that issue.
                                                         
I think Leah’s latest design, Branch Out with Bare Branches, will have a cool effect somewhere in this quilt. I would definitely like to use her Infinity Tree, but that may be beyond my current skill level. Although I have been practicing on scraps, I have yet to be pleased with my result. I will continue working on the amazing Leah Designs.

I have added an item to my arsenal of quilting must haves. Because of Leah's instruction, I faithfully use my Machinger’s gloves (available right here from Leah’s quilt shop) every time I quilt. I tie off my threads and consistently take time to bury them, which I do with every thread break. I have found that in order to effectively tie off the  knot and thread a needle to bury the tails, I must remove my gloves.

Burt's Bees Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Creme is an incredible help to control those tails efficiently. When I hand quilt I use beeswax or other product to control my thread. It only takes a tiny bit and then before I put my gloves back on I use a bit more just so that it soaks in to my skin. After working for one of the large retail fabric stores I thought it interesting to learn that fabric absorbs the moisture from your skin just like a wick. So try out Burt’s Bees, and you will be amazed--you'll have experienced a super moisture treatment on those busy quilting hands!

What a fun way to quilt…and a question for Leah???

Free motion quilting has become an exceptional pleasure in my life. I absolutely love it! Leah Day is destined  to be (if not already) one of the greatest quilting teachers ever to be born! She is such a natural, down to earth individual who keeps budget in the forefront for quilters. She stresses that you don’t need the newest, greatest, latest long arm machine or notions to be a quilter.

By studying The Free Motion Project and much practicing on scraps first, I have had the confidence to complete a feather wreath in each of the 24 blocks on “Lovely Lou.” The stitching is not perfect, or course. Nor will it ever be, but I am seeing improvement. My plan for Lou is to better define the spine in each wreath, retrace each feather and then echo each wreath.  I have started with a simple echo. Then, I plan to use several of Leah's filler designs in each block, sashing, and border.

The setting triangles are still to be quilted and the picture at the left is my drawing of a half wreath with pebbling as a filler. My question for Leah and anyone else who cares to comment:  Will such a heavily quilted design be appropriate for the setting triangles? Would another lighter design fit better? Am I overdoing the feather thing? The quilt top is pictured above, obviously before any quilting has been completed.
Help! How should I, a real newbie, quilt this thing?  Perhaps, in the setting triangles, simple echoes around the motifs in the fabric? Larger scale pebbling around the motifs?

Stencil Stitching...

Quilting by stencil is rather restricting and somewhat boring. However, according to many well known quilters, it is helping to reinforce my muscle memory for the shape of these feathers. I've completed 14 out of 24 wreaths, and I am ready to get these finished so that I can enjoy the freeform designs that I have learned from Leah Day on The Free Motion Quilting Project. For several months now I have been following Leah's excellent teaching.

Leah, I spent the last couple of years in my education career evaluating teachers. You have a remarkable gift which you are kind enough to share with the wide internet audience. Your relaxed style is conducive to learning a hands on skill. You have created a unique atmosphere that make your followers feel fearless and capable, resulting in confidence to try something new.  Your instructions are clear and easy to follow; your demonstrations, priceless! Evidence of a strong teacher is the ability to say the same thing several different ways so that everyone in the audience has an extended opportunity to understand what you mean. Not only do you say it in a variety of ways, you show it with fabulous videos, you write about it with great wit. And then, you are willing to answer all of the many questions sent your way. You do all of that exceptionally well!

Started “Lou”

According to Leah Day if you really want to learn a particular pattern, quilt a quilt with the pattern. Even though I am a newbie to free motion I want to learn to do beautiful feathers. Doesn’t everyone?  What better way to learn than doing it.  So I have decided to do a feather wreath in each block of this quilt. I think it will pull the great variety of fabrics together. Any opinions?

My stitches are not great yet, but everyday I see improvement. Thank you, Leah Day. You are responsible for my courage to start quilting this mammoth quilt before I feel like I have mastered the skills. My daughter is going to love the quilt even with missed stitches. I have put my heart and soul into this quilt. I took it completely apart two different times in the piecing process.


            

Lovely Lou

The quilt top above is for my daughter, Amanda. Amanda picked all the fabrics and pattern. The original pattern is by Nancy Rinks, called "Costa Del Sol." I added borders to enlarge the pattern to a king size bedspread. Never in a million years would I have ever put these particular fabrics together, but I love it.

I have been quilting only a short time and have completed one quilt. That particular quilt I quilted in the ditch on my Singer Featherweight and hated every minute of it. Then I found Leah Days' wonderful website and have been practicing free motion quilting like a crazy woman. Leah is a young woman with the ability to teach like no one I have ever seen. She is amazing and inspirational. Because of her I have learned to free motion and I am getting better every day. I now have Amanda's quilt sandwiched and ready to quilt, but I am still practicing on another older quilt that I treasure, but it was falling apart. Practicing on a king size quilt has helped me learn to move the bulk of my quilt. 
Though I have not been blogging, I have been studying Leah's website and it is awesome. She is so free with her knowledge and will be blessed for her giving attitude. Blogging is also new to me, so my learning curve has been quite steep for the last couple of months. All pure pleasure...