Tuesday, March 13, 2012

WIP Wednesday #9

This week I have been busy doing some unfun sewing... and some really fun sewing.  My lovely Father in Law volunteered my skills to his neighbor who needed the edges of his new pontoon boat cover bound.  Not cool.  I spent the better part of my week putting binding on a huge stinky cover- while I am all about helping out with my sewing, this is definitely not my area of expertise.  I did a pretty good job with it though and the owner of the pontoon boat seemed pleased.  I have warned my Father in Law that I am a QUILTER not a pontoon boat sewer.   Lets just hope he refrains from volunteering me for any other undesirable sewing. 




The rest of the sewing time I had this week was devoted to quilting my baby quilt for my Mother in Law's neighbor Joe.  His daughter is expecting a son very soon and so I have been very motivated to get the quilt done for him as a surprise.  For this quilt I was really inspired after meeting Joe's wife.  She spends HOURS every day putting together puzzles.  It is her favorite hobby.  I thought about it for a while and ultimately decided that I could make my quilting look like a puzzle.  I spent days sketching and experimenting until I finally nailed down how I would do it.  This is the first FMQ design I have ever designed myself.  From all my research I couldn't find it done anywhere else.  It ended up being pretty easy and really fun.  The main trick with this quilting design is you have to be pretty good at travel stitching (stitching over your previous stitches without straying).  It is a basic all over quilting style- but does take a bit of planning and marking.  I did not mark all my lines- I used the seams in the quilt as a guide and on the first quadrant marked it into a grid, so I could keep my design straight.  I realized though that this wasn't really necessary if you stop and visually look at the row above the row you are working on.  So for the rest of the quilt I am doing it basically free hand with no marking and it is coming out fine.  I am just about 3/4 done with it now and am very excited and motivated to finish it up and give it to Joe and his wife.  I decided if I got enough interest I would do a video tutorial next week on WIP Wednesday for this design- so if you would like to learn how to do this design then please leave me a comment saying so.  Also if you aren't a Free Motion Quilter and would like me to quilt your quilt top in this or any other design then please contact me for more info as I have started a quilting service.  Thanks for stopping by and checking out my blog and Happy WIP Wednesday to you all!
I am linking to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced by Lee

19 comments:

  1. What fun quilting! That is so inspired, I'm seriously in awe.

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    1. thanks so much, it was really fun and I will definitely do it again!

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  2. A pontoon boat cover - eek - that makes the prospect of tackling some curtains for the bathroom (rather than my patchwork) seem positively thrilling in comparison! What a clever idea for a quilting mortif. Well done.

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    1. Yup, pontoon boat cover was NO FUN AT ALL... it stunk like mildew too- yuck. I wouldn't take it in my studio and used my back up machine as I didn't want to taint my beloved Bernina with such an unglorious task. Curtains sound way more fun. Thanks for your kind words on my quilting- it really is a fun way to quilt!

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  3. Just call me awestruck. Love this design!

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    1. ohh, thanks Jenny- I am so glad you like it!

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  4. LOVE the quilting! I've never seen this design. I'm not sure how good I am at the straight line traveling, but it's worth a try. I am making a 2.5" scrap vomit quilt and I bet I could use all the seams of it for a guide. I'd be very interested in a tute. I'm a new follower for sure!

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    1. thanks Kathy, love to have new followers! I think a tutorial will be coming along so please do stay tuned- and yes a 2.5 inch square quilt with all the seams as a guide would be PERFECT for this design. If you can stitch in the ditch your are 75% of the way there!

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  5. The quilting is so neat! What a great way to showcase anothers love in one of your quilts.

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    1. thanks Moneik- I really can't wait to give it to them and hope she realizes what she has inspired me to create.

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  6. Love it!!! I am getting inspired for the kids bed spreads I have been talking about for years. Especially since I can just quilt the top and hire you to do the finishing work that I have never enjoyed doing. Sounds like a fun summer project! Maybe you can send me some web sites to look for affordable fabric that would be really beautiful!

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    1. Will do Christin, I would love to work with you on this project.

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  7. what a great idea. And it looks really good too - well done.

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  8. Ohh nothing like unwanted jobs...lol. quilt is lovely though

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    1. Thanks Marjorie, the unwanted job was no fun, but I am having a ball with this quilt.

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  9. Awesome quilting. Lo your design.

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