This fun, colorful quilt was pieced by another guild member and I picked it up... a while back... to do the quilting. I started on it over 2 1/2 years ago when I was first starting to free motion quilt. I had found Leah Day and was determined to learn how to free motion. I use a Viking 6690 with a 7" throat, and I was a bit intimidated by free motion quilting. With a little bit of help from Gordon at Viking Sewing Center and Leah's great videos, I was off and running. I decided that this philanthropy quilt was a great way to practice. I decided to quilt every other square in a checkerboard pattern, and to use a different quilting design in each of them. I did about 1/2 of the project, then I was hot to do some free motion quilting on some of my own projects. Then I started more other projects. And this quilt sat on the back burner. I decided it was high time to get this one into the finish category, so I made it my October ALYoF Goal. Once again I have ALYoF to thank for getting a project DONE!
The month started with my first 10K, followed by a foot injury that plagued me until right before our trip to Disneyland. I did manage to sew The Girl a new dress for our trip. The kids and I were all sick on vacation and I spent most of this week in the recliner and watching movies as I battled this virus. So I finally got started on finishing up the quilt yesterday or the day before. I had a dozen 6" squares to quilt, plus making and attaching the binding. Oh, and I still had to finish The Boy's Halloween costume. Well, this afternoon about 10 minutes before going out to trick or treat with the kiddos I finished putting the binding on the quilt. Phew! Here are some of my favorite patterns.
I need to free motion quilt more regularly. It would really help me to get back to the Building Blocks Quilt Along for regular practice. It's nice to see how far I've come and I continue to be amazed at how I can see progress on my skills across a project or even a single block!
A couple free motion quilting questions for you quilters out there: What kind of thread do you prefer for free motion quilting? If you piece and quilt with Aurifil, do you use the same weight thread for both?
Linking up to A Lovely Year of Finishes October Finishes Party, Fabric Frenzy Friday, Finish it Up Friday and TGIFF. Yay finished quilt!
Also linking up to Finish Along 2014 Wrap Up Party. Here's my full list of Q4 goals.
Fawn Carriker
Isn't finishing a project a wonderful feeling? Beautiful work. - Fawn
sarah
Post authorThanks, Fawn. SO nice to get it done. We won't count how many projects I started while working on this one. ;-)
Carie
Oh that's a great way to practice new quilting patterns. I have to admit my free motion quilting is mostly swirls, loop the loop or occasionally leaves - I think I need a bit more practice! My favourite quilting thread is YLI and I only use it for the quilting, I piece with standard cotton thread, not least because the quilting thread is more expensive - and it seems a waste to use variegated thread on piecing!
sarah
Post authorThanks for stopping by. I encourage you to try some new designs. They are so fun!
BillieBee
Congratulations on a finish. Love the quilting!
sarah
Post authorThank you!
Bo
Glad you're feeling better Sarah!! Beautiful quilts!!
sarah
Post authorNot quite 100% but it's nice to be improving. I'm glad you're enjoying my quilts, Bo. :-)
Jasmine
Congrats on the finish! Your quilting is beautiful. I have used both the 40 and the 50 weight Aurifil thread for quilting. It just depends on the look you are going for.
sarah
Post authorThanks, Jasmine. I think I'm gonna go for it and try the Auriful 50 wt for quilting a mini I have in progress.